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Norwich boss Alex Neil offers no excuses after shock loss to Wigan

Norwich manager Alex Neil
Image: Alex Neil: Disappointed with defeat to Wigan

Alex Neil had no excuses after watching his in-form Norwich side crash to a shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of struggling Wigan.

The Canaries boss admitted his side deserved nothing from the game, with a flat performance following Sunday's derby win over Ipswich.

Neil said: "My overriding feeling is one of disappointment because if I am being honest we didn't do enough to deserve anything from the game.

"Regardless of how the opposition set up, or how much time they waste, you have got to do your jobs properly.

"We didn't start well and then switched off at a short throw, allowing them to score early. That gave them something to hang on to and we just weren't good enough to break them down after that. I can't remember us creating many clear-cut chances

"In the run of six straight wins we have just had the players worked really hard and got their reward. But tonight the intensity just wasn't there. We huffed and puffed, especially in the second half, but overall we were lacklustre and got punished for it.

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An early Kim Bo-Kyung volley helped Wigan to a crucial win over Norwich as the Latics claimed back-to-back wins in the Sky Bet Championship.

"It was one of those nights and now we have to make sure we get it right in the next one."

There was a further blow for Norwich with the news that striker Lewis Grabban looks set for a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury picked up in the East Anglian derby.

"Lewis is having an operation," said Neil. "He was okay immediately after the game but it just got worse and worse afterwards and when he came into training he could hardly walk on it.

"I don't know how long he will be out - but hopefully it won't be for the rest of the season."

A poor game of few clear-cut chances was settled after just eight minutes when a neat move down the left ended with South Korean midfielder Kim Bo-kyung blasting the ball past an exposed John Ruddy.

From then on the Latics rarely threatened - but it was a similar story at the other end as a side who had won their previous six matches failed to seriously trouble Scott Carson.

That was down to a strangely disjointed display from the hosts and some heroic defending from a team who have now won successive away games to reignite their bid to avoid the drop.

Wigan manager Malky Mackay was understandably proud of his players after watching them win away for the second time in five days to move to within six points of safety.

He said: "We knew it would be tough coming here. I watched Norwich beat Ipswich and they were really top class.

"But we worked out a plan to beat them and I was delighted with the way the lads carried it out.

"We defended well, there was a calmness about us in possession and I thought we were well organised in both halves. It was a very disciplined performance and I can't remember them having too many sights of goal.

"It's well documented that we had to move a lot of players on in January, with six or seven players coming in on loan. But the group I have got now have really bonded and I thought you saw that out on the pitch tonight.

"I have always believed we can stay up - and taking six points from two away games has cut the gap down to six. The challenge now is obviously to build on these wins."

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