Ipswich Town skipper David Norris admitted that yesterday’s 4-1 Championship defeat at Carrow Road was an embarrassment.

And he says that Town supporters deserve much better. He said: “It was hard to even go over to them at the end game. They stood out yesterday and when a few of us went over to their section they clapped us. It was almost embarrassing to take it.

“We have got to start giving them something back starting with Wednesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final against West Brom.”

And Norris is well aware of the seriousness of the situation after Norwich’s best ever East Anglian derby victory.

“To the players it was probably just another game – another three points,” added Norris, who is currently the subject of contract discussions with his current deal running out next June.

“But to the staff their jobs are on the line. And to our fans there was local pride at stake, and the derby really means a lot to them. We let them all down. It was an embarrassing defeat with no positives and us players we have got to look at ourselves.”

Norris gave his thumbs-up to the manager on behalf of the playing squad as Roy Keane’s tenure becomes increasingly insecure.

“The manager and staff prepare us right on the training ground,” stressed Norris. “They can change this and change that but once we cross the white line it is down to us.

“The manager is coming under increasing pressure as we all do when you are losing games.

“We are playing for new contracts, and it is part and parcel of football, but we have to give ourselves a chance.

“This was no ordinary game and after losing three on the trot this was a match that could have put right the wrongs of the three previous games.

“As mistakes go the first two Norwich goals were shockers. We are not picking on individuals and it was from players you can normally rely on. But they had no place in a game like yesterday’s.”