CHRIS WISE Norwich City defender Gary Doherty is still smarting from what he regards as a “kick up the backside” from Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones - and he is determined to set the record straight at the weekend.

CHRIS WISE

Norwich City defender Gary Doherty is still smarting from what he regards as a “kick up the backside” from Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones - and he is determined to set the record straight at the weekend.

The Canaries' poor display in last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Plymouth prompted the club's majority shareholders to issue a strongly worded statement berating the lack of passion on show, and telling manager Nigel Worthington and his players that they had two games to “rectify the situation.”

Having slipped below his own high standards at Home Park, Doherty could understand where Delia and Michael were coming from when news of their harsh words filtered back to the City dressing room, and believes there is only one way to answer the criticism - by getting things right on the pitch in Sunday's televised clash with Burnley at Carrow Road.

“It's not really up to the players to talk about that,” said Doherty when quizzed on the 113-word statement that has thrown Worthington's future into doubt.

“We have just got to get our heads down and really try and play well on Sunday. They have obviously questioned our passion - which is the worst thing you can say about a footballer - but they were probably right.

“We weren't good enough on Saturday, we know that as a team. We went down there and were disappointing all over the pitch. “That's something we have got to put right this weekend - it's only the players that can change that.

“Maybe we can call it a kick up the backside. Hopefully the players can react in the right way.”

Doherty admitted to feeling despondent after the defeat at Home Park, not just because of the result but also because of his own performance at the heart of the City defence.

“Plymouth was a massive low,” he said. “The defeat was bad enough but I wasn't at the races either and that is something I have got to put right. A lot of us feel we really let ourselves down, our manager down - and all the travelling supporters as well.

“It has been a tough week - but then every week in football is tough, so this is no different.

“But the good thing about this league is that there is always another game just around the corner where you can put it right. In front of our own crowd and the Sky cameras that's just what we will be trying to do. We want to put in a good performance on Sunday and get everyone happy again.

“It's a massive game, there's no doubt about that. It's one we are looking forward to and it's one we have been working hard on all week. We want to put it right after the last few results we have had.”