Norwich City captain Ivo Pinto admitted he felt for the fans as Daniel Farke’s side slipped to a fourth defeat in five EFL Championship games at Nottingham Forest.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich City skipper Ivo Pinto is halted by Barrie McKay during the visitors' defeat at Nottingham Forest. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesNorwich City skipper Ivo Pinto is halted by Barrie McKay during the visitors' defeat at Nottingham Forest. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Former Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy’s 77th minute winner proved enough to sink the Canaries, whose performance was brighter than their 1-1 draw against Barnsley at Carrow Road three days earlier – yet their result was worse.

It means the stakes will be all the higher when former boss Alex Neil makes his first return to Carrow Road on Saturday, with his current side Preston North End – and Pinto wouldn’t blame the Canaries supporters if they are restless.

“We can’t blame them,” said Pinto. “As I’ve said, they’ve never failed us. Once again on a Tuesday night they are all here with us and I do really appreciate it, because you know the relationship I have with them.

“They are fantastic and they deserve points, they deserve wins. They deserve to see the club where it deserves to be.

Eastern Daily Press: James Maddison is left with his own thoughts at full-time, as Norwich City slip to defeat at Nottingham Forest. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesJames Maddison is left with his own thoughts at full-time, as Norwich City slip to defeat at Nottingham Forest. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

“So we can’t blame them, but they know that we need them and we know that they will be there – but we can’t take that for granted. We need to give them something as well, in return.

“We have to make sure that on Saturday we give everything that we have, and hopefully get three points.”

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Thaere were 1,466 City fans in attendance at the City Ground and while there a successive defeat on the road was all they could take from it, Pinto felt the story could have been different.

“I think we played a good game, especially in the second half,” added Pinto. “Unfortunately we conceded another goal. We’ve already spoken about it, because at Bolton we conceded a similar goal.

“It can’t happen. We keep saying we are playing better than the other teams but we are not scoring and we are conceding goals and losing points, and this has to stop.

“As a team, as individual players, I want to win and we all want to win, but this has to stop now. Now is the time and we have the chance now on Saturday to go again and try to get the three points.”

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