Blackburn chief Owen Coyle admitted Norwich City bullied his side into submission.

Coyle's first competitive match in charge since replacing Paul Lambert went rapidly downhill when the Canaries raced into a 3-0 lead inside 30 minutes.

The ex-Burnley and Bolton boss is warning his new squad not to be so naïve again in the Championship stakes.

'You can't let players like Wes Hoolahan and Steven Naismith get on the turn because they are so talented at what they do. We needed to get a tackle in and do whatever it takes,' he said. 'With all due respect, with the first three goals and even the fourth one, I'd suggest we never did that. We allowed them time to play and when good players pass and move at pace, it causes anybody problems. On the back of the passing and moving, the finishing was as good as it gets.

'When you take that nosebleed you've got to stand up and be counted again and I felt for that ten-minute period in the first-half we were like rabbits in the headlights. Of course when that happens the confidence drains away from the players after conceding those goals.'

Jacob Murphy's thumping opener set the tone.

'The boy scores a wonder goal, but for us we should have got pressure on the ball before he is able shoot from 25-yards,' said Coyle. 'From our point of view we can effect the ball better when he gets on the half-turn we must get pressure on the ball. I am not sure he will score that many in his career as good as that. Norwich have so much quality. They were unfortunate to come out of the Premier League and they have punished us and been ruthless and clinical to punish every mistake we made.

'We can't take anything away from Norwich, they were outstanding. When all said and done, as the manager I take full responsibility for that, but we have to stand up and be counted, take it on the chin and make sure that we are better moving forward.'