Alan Irvine insists Norwich City will not down tools on his watch over the Championship run-in.

Irvine is expected to be in charge for this weekend's home test against Barnsley, ahead of the upcoming international break, after stepping in following Alex Neil's exit. The experienced Scot wants to stay on at Carrow Road but made it clear after Saturday's 2-2 draw against Blackburn there can no slacking as the club gear up for a massive summer.

'Anybody who thinks the season over is wrong,' he said. 'I told the boys before Blackburn there were 30 points to play for. I believe in this division most teams can go on a winning run. Whoever comes in and whatever happens there needs to be a positive reaction not a negative one to Alex going; regardless of what the players on an individual basis think. For next season it depends on the summer and which players come in and go out. Like every other squad in the country there will be changes. Hopefully whoever is making those decisions can make the right ones that take the club to a position they should be in.'

Irvine accepts the players and previous management have fallen short over the past eight months.

'Basically as a whole group, players and staff, we have not performed as well as we should,' he said. 'I think this is a streaks league. Look at our season. We have had periods when we have won a number and lost a number all together. It is incredible how powerful momentum is and how that affects confidence. I don't think you have to look too far than Leicester City last year to see what momentum does for you. We have certainly been responsible for mistakes this season as a team and they have cost us valuable points and ended up with a lot of results that are not good enough. That has forced the board to make a decision. The timing is what it is. I have been in that position three times and it is never a good time.'

The 58-year-old had to run the gauntlet at Carrow Road for his decision to replace Alex Pritchard against Rovers, following Mitchell Dijks' early red card.

'The last thing I wanted to do was take Alex Pritchard off because I think he is a really good, really talented player but we had to do something to make sure we were as solid,' he said .'I understood the frustration of the fans. I have been in the game a long time.'