Norwich City winger Robert Snodgrass insists Norwich City's players must ignore the pressure on Chris Hughton and just focus on beating Sunderland this weekend in the Premier League.

Hughton was forced to dismiss weekend reports he expects to leave Carrow Road, whether or not he keeps the Canaries in the top flight, after being berated by sections of the travelling support in the 4-2 defeat at Southampton. Snodgrass admits the season-long speculation over the manager's future is an unwanted distraction in the survival battle.

'It seems like the manager has been under pressure in the media most of the season,' he said. From my side as a footballer, you don't think like that. He is the manager, you have your team mates and you work for that result at the end of the week.

'Against Tottenham we won when people were saying that was a big game, against West Ham we won, against Hull as well. In terms of the unity it is there for all to see. Whatever anyone above us thinks is something you can't affect as a player. All I can affect is my performance to help the team win football games. If you look at Sam Allardyce there is the proof of the pudding. It is about faith and loyalty but lets be honest there isn't any loyalty these days. You see people lose their job within two months. All Chris Hughton can do is get results.'

Snodgrass warns it is vital City stick together after a mauling against the Saints ahead of the Black Cats' visit.

'You're not going to get anything out of a relegation dogfight if you don't stick together so we need to do that as a team,' he said. 'It is just not happening away from home right now. If you put performances like that in, it is definitely not going to happen. We let ourselves down playing like that.

'We battled towards the end but we can't give a team like Southampton three goals. It doesn't work like that. I really can't put my finger on it but we will keep going because we're in a relegation fight down there. We could go down so we just need to roll our sleeves up and keep going.'

Snodgrass scored his third goal in the last six Premier League games at Southampton and the Scot insists everyone must chip in to solve City's chronic goal shortage.

'We all have to take responsibility for the goals. I would never have a go at the strikers,' he said. 'Their records speak for themselves. They all want to score goals, they have that hunger and they would be disappointed themselves, but it will turn. You just have to keep supporting the boys. I've scored a few goals and chipped in with some assists and I've had chances to score more. This is the happiest I have been this season because I have been hampered with injury from the start.'