Beaten, battered and envious – Norwich City can do nothing but look on from the outside of the Championship promotion picture this Easter.

Eastern Daily Press: Cameron Jerome heads home what proved to be just a consolation goal against 10-man Fulham at Carrow Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesCameron Jerome heads home what proved to be just a consolation goal against 10-man Fulham at Carrow Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

The rebuilding task ahead was emphasised again as Fulham turned Good Friday into a painful precursor to Easter Monday's trip to Preston, and left striker Cameron Jerome lamenting what should have been.

The Cottagers are two points outside the top six, frantically chasing the play-off pack – although if they repeat their Carrow Road performance for their remaining four games, they will surely extend their season.

'Obviously you envy them for being in that position, and we've only got ourselves to blame for us not being in the same position,' said Jerome.

'But we've still got a job to do. We've still got fixtures to fulfil and we owe it to ourselves to be professional, we owe it to the fans and to everyone associated with the club.

'We're playing for our own futures as well, so we've got to be professional and try to win games.

'We went out here with every intention of trying to win, but we just came up short again. Key moments changed the game and we couldn't get that breakthrough when we had the advantage in the second half.'

MORE: No consolation in goalscoring form for Cameron Jerome

City's 3-1 defeat leaves them 12 points off the top six with only 12 points to play for – meaning everyone's focus is switching to what happens come the summer.

'It's not up to me (if others are given a go at Preston),' added Jerome. 'It's up to Alan (Irvine). It's whatever team he thinks is best equipped to win the game.

'There are players who are contracted further than this year. There are a lot of players whose futures are probably up in the air with being out of contract or options, so there are going to be wholesales changes.

'We're aware of that, and there probably needs to be. I think there needs to be a freshening of personnel and that will be up to the powers that be, the new management team and the people that make those decisions.

'As a player you can only state a case for you wanting to be a part of the club going forward. I think there are a lot of players in there who want to be there, so there will be decisions to make. But that won't be down to any of us – it will be up to people above.'

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