Norwich City Boss Glenn Roeder has criticised his players for their role in Swansea loss.

Norwich City boss Glenn Roeder was left reeling after Swansea City downed the canaries in a thrilling 3-2 win for the Liberty Stadium side and has bemoaned his defence for their part in the defeat.

Goals from Jason Scotland, Darren Pratley and the 7^th of the season for Ferrie Bodde punished a sloppy Norwich defence much to the displeasure of Roeder who has questioned his players defensive responsibilities as he told First news.

“It was just diabolically poor play and poor defending, we work on set plays a lot both in an attacking mode and as far as defending set plays are concerned. The player who is asked to play in front or level with the near post should ever let anyone get in front of you - you make sure your body shape is right, you see the ball and you see what's going on behind you. If anyone tries to break in front of you, you block him and you remain in front of that first attacking player and we didn't do that. “

It leaves the Norfolk club just two points away from the relegation places but keeps Swansea in touch of the play off spots. Speaking after the game the former Newcastle United boss believes that the result could have been different but old habits snuck into the Norwich game and gave themselves too higher mountain to climb after his side went 3-1 down.

"We played some very good football today, people won't remember that - they'll remember five or six minutes when Swansea scored three goals and they will go away with the memory. That is life, that's how it is in football but I have to look deeper than that. We deservedly took the lead, we could have been in front before that and we could have scored more than one goal in the first half, and then two minutes before half-time we concede a goal by them getting behind us. Jason Scotland made a terrific run, he took Doherty into the near post and it was absolutely perfect. Within two minutes of the second half we've done what we've done too often this year, we've shot ourselves in the foot and given ourselves a mountain to climb."

Photo: Action Images

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