Players to blame for Norwich situation - McLean

Kenny McLean has been with Norwich City since the January 2018 transfer window

Norwich City captain Kenny McLean says the players are to blame for the club's predicament near the foot of the Championship.

The Canaries suffered a fourth successive defeat at Derby County on Tuesday, a result that dropped them into the relegation places.

It also increased speculation about whether head coach Liam Manning, who has only been in charge since the summer, will lose his job.

"The position we are in is completely on us. I feel the fans' frustration, I feel their anger. It's their club and we've got the privilege of representing them, representing this football club and right now we're not doing enough and that's why we get the reaction we're getting," McLean told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"There's nobody to blame but us. Honestly, I think the players should get more [stick], that's my opinion."

Norwich produced an improved performance in the first half against County and had 17 goal attempts during the match but they could not find an equaliser after David Ozoh put the Rams ahead although Ante Crnac went close when his shot hit the post.

"It was the same old story. We conceded a cheap goal and didn't show enough bravery, enough character, to get back in the game," said Scotland international McLean, 33.

"We keep saying about responsibility and accountability - we're not seeing enough of it. What's a good 45 minutes if you're not getting anything off the back of it?"

Manning's side have not won in seven games and have lost every home match they have played so far this season.

Asked about whether there is enough quality in the squad, McLean said: "The quality maybe should be doubted because it's not coming out enough. We do something brilliant but then the next action, you're scratching your head and that's where we're at.

"You can't play in this league in moments, you need to be taking part in the game at all times and it's not happening enough right now.

"People have a right to doubt that there is [quality] and that's completely on us as players. We put things in place, we analyse, we're given so much information to be as good as we can be when we step on that pitch. I wish I had an answer as to why it isn't there all the time, I really do."

Top scorer Josh Sargent failed to find the net for the seventh successive game but McLean insisted the team could not rely on one man.

"Someone needs to step up and take a bit of pressure off his shoulders," he added.

Norwich are next in action on Saturday when they travel to south Wales to face Swansea City.