David Cuffley Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn accused his players of 'capitulation' as they kissed goodbye to Championship football with a 4-2 defeat at Charlton. Barnsley's 2-1 win at Plymouth made the Canaries' defeat irrelevant in terms of survival, but Gunn was distraught to see his side go three goals down at The Valley inside half an hour en route to League One football next season.

David Cuffley

Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn accused his players of “capitulation” as they kissed goodbye to Championship football with a 4-2 defeat at Charlton.

Barnsley's 2-1 win at Plymouth made the Canaries' defeat irrelevant in terms of survival, but Gunn was distraught to see his side go three goals down at The Valley inside half an hour en route to League One football next season.

A goal from Nicky Bailey and two from Deon Burton gave Charlton a 3-0 lead and left City's thin survival hopes in tatters.

Gunn said: “To go out on the pitch and capitulate after 30 minutes is not good enough. That's one the reasons that we've been down at the bottom end of the table, fighting the relegation battle we have been fighting, not only today but all season.

“Those three goals were devastating. We did pull one back before half-time to give us a fighting chance but in the second half we didn't go out and have a right go as we asked them to do. We shot ourselves in the foot again and at 4-1 it's a long way back from there.”

Goals from Alan Lee and Sammy Clingan were not enough to salvage City's pride and it was almost a shame-faced salute to 3,300 travelling fans at the end.

“It was a gut-wrenching experience going on to the pitch at the end. I had a similar experience back in 1994-95 with relegation as a player, walking on at Elland Road with a broken leg,” said Gunn.

“Today was no different. I said to the players afterwards it is probably one of the two worst experiences you will suffer as a player, being relegated and the day that you're told you can no longer play football.

“They will have to live with that. They're part of a squad that has been involved with Norwich City all season and they will have to deal with that as well.

“The fans are very important in the whole equation at Norwich City Football Club. They spent hundreds and thousands of pounds this year supporting us home and away and as a player, and as a manager, you have to show them respect and I was just making sure that the players would do that. It's not an easy experience standing in front of them like that and I wanted the players to have that experience and I hope they won't have that experience ever again.”

Gunn insisted he wants to carry on as manager next season as City prepare for their first season in the third flight of English football in 49 years.

“I take responsibility for my part in the last 19 games but we've given ourselves a fighting shout right up to today.

“I want to be involved next season and I'm sure I'll be speaking to the directors and the owners over the course of the next few days.”