CHRIS WISE Darren Huckerby was in Nigel Worthington's bad books at the weekend - after his name went into the book of referee Andy D'Urso.his side when he was shown a yellow card for speaking out of turn.

CHRIS WISE

Darren Huckerby was in Nigel Worthington's bad books at the weekend - after his name went into the book of referee Andy D'Urso.

Many players have been cautioned over the years for arguing against the award of a penalty - but Huckerby had just won a spot-kick for his side when he was shown a yellow card for speaking out of turn.

Worthington vigorously defended his player against accusations from the Leicester camp that he had gone to ground rather too easily under a challenge from young defender Richard Stearman - but he refused to back him over the bizarre booking.

“As far as the penalty is concerned I thought the referee got the decision spot-on,” he said.

“It was a stone-wall penalty as far as Darren was concerned and I agree with him on that.

“It's also worth pointing out that we could have had one, or maybe be two penalties before half-time.

“Then Darren got a booking and I have got no complaints whatsoever about the referee's decision.

“I know why he was booked and I won't stand for that.

“Our players do not talk back to referees. That's something that Darren had in him when he came to the club but I thought we had got rid of it. There was no need for it and he might find himself getting a little lecture.”

Once order had been restored Leon McKenzie's 77th minute spot-kick earned the Canaries a fifth straight home win and Worthington declared himself well satisfied with the result, even though he admitted himself that free-flowing football was at a premium for much of the game.

“That was an extremely hard-fought victory,” he said. “I have said it many times before, and I'll say it again, that is what this league is all about - grinding out results.

“Leicester have come here and they have worked very hard, and they have made us work very hard. I have got to say the character of the players was first class. They have stuck to their task and have come through another big challenge.

“As far as the performance was concerned it was a mixture, and that is what you are often going to get as this level because teams work so hard.

“The quality was decent at times, and it could have been better at others. But we have always worked hard to get the ball back and we have tried to get it down and pass it.

“It was about earning the right to play and then going on to win the game - and that's exactly what we did.

“It's a good win because, let me tell you, because Leicester are no mugs and have been playing extremely well since Rob Kelly took charge. To get three points off them, even though we were at home, is an excellent result.”