Adam Drury acknowledged a bit of delayed communication ultimately cost Norwich City the opening goal at Ewood Park.

The veteran left-back and Andrew Surman appeared to leave Maura Formica free at the far post as the Rovers number 10 volleyed home Morten Gamst Pedersen's superb centre to get the strugglers a crucial first goal at the weekend, four minutes before the break.

'I think he should have stayed with him . . . ' joked Drury, speaking on Sky Sports' Goals on Sunday.

'I had this chat with him (Surman) at half-time. Once he got back he did actually say for me to take him, but because it was too late I couldn't then go and he said if he'd shouted it as he was running back then we would have been all right.

'But it was a great finish. I think maybe down a league or two you might get away with that, he might not finish it. But at this level, you make a mistake or there's a bit of a lack of communication or anything like that, and you get punished for it straight away.

'We saw it the week before against Manchester City. They were clinical.'

Junior Hoilett's sublime effort four minutes after the break arguably did more damage, as Norwich failed to get a foothold in the contest after the break. And Holt hailed the forward's performance – especially given Hoilett scored in similar fashion during the 3-3 draw shared by City and Rovers in October.

'He was a threat all afternoon and when he gets the ball on the right and comes inside, he can hit it – and it was pretty similar to the one he scored against us at the start of the season,' said Holt.

'To be fair to Russ (Russell Martin) he was trying to show him down the line and he cut inside and Russ couldn't catch him, and it's a great finish. From there I think you'd be kind of happy (if he shoots) but obviously you're not happy when it goes in the top corner. What can you do about that? John Ruddy's a big lad and he couldn't get it. Top player.'

Holt added: 'We were disappointed with the goals that have gone in but on the day we performed well, I thought. In the first half we moved it really well and just couldn't get that goal. They hit us just before half-time and just after, which killed. But credit to them. They were under pressure and they held on.

'It was unusual (for Norwich not to score). We had a few chances and I had couple of headers, but we've been free flowing and scoring goals, and it was just one of those days really.'