Keeper Will Norris has revealed that the Town squad had a "good, honest chat” in the dressing room following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

The loss was the Blues’ second in two League One games - and third in a row in all competitions - with Town now without a win in five league games since they beat Rochdale 1-0 at Spotland on November 5th.

Saturday's reverse at Fratton Park saw the Blues drop to third behind leaders Wycombe by seven points and Peterborough on goal difference.

“It was one of them that could have gone either way, and it hasn’t gone our way unfortunately,” Norris said after Saturday's game.

“We didn’t quite have the rub of the green in certain situations, they’ve taken their chance and it’s one of them.

“We had a good, honest chat in there as a group and we’ll put it right [on Sunday] on the training pitch.

“It was a good discussion, a very honest discussion. I’m not going to say what was said but the manager and the boys have all had a good reflection on that already and we will again tomorrow, and we’re going to put it right.”

What was the mood like in the Fratton Park dressing room? “It was a very disappointed atmosphere. We have had an honest conversation, it’s something that stays in the changing room.”

The 26-year-old says that in those circumstances everyone has their say, not just the senior players.

“Of course, we’ve got an experienced group,” he added. “It comes from the leaders on the pitch, like the Skuses and Chambos, but everybody does get their say.

“We’re all pointing in the same direction and I think this is a tough place to come at any time but if we want to achieve what we want to achieve this season, we can’t be losing games like we did today.”

Norris says it’s not unusual for a squad to have a chat along those lines: “Not at all, we all get our say whether we win, lose or draw. But today it’s not gone our way and it’s important how we bounce back.”

He says manager Paul Lambert instigated the conversation to get the squad’s views: “He always wants to hear our thoughts as players, it’s not just a one-off thing because we’ve lost today and we’ve lost two on the spin now.

“It’s not something that he’s just instigated because he always wants our feedback, he wants to know what it was like out there for us and wants our opinions and that’s a good environment to achieve what we want to achieve.”

Norris believes it’s better that a manager takes that approach rather than being more dictatorial: “Yes, he can shout at us until he’s blue in the face but that’s not going to change anything that’s happened today, I think you have to have a conversation like adults sometimes.”

Did the discussion cover the situation more widely rather than just the Portsmouth game? “Yes, he wants to pick our brains, he wants to know our thoughts and we told him as a group and he’s told us what he thinks as well.

“I’m not going to get into what was said in the changing room, it will have happened in the Portsmouth changing room too, [their manager Kenny Jackett will] probably ask what they thought today. It’s something that happens in football.”

Norris says the squad feel they can be honest in those circumstances: “Yes, definitely. You can’t hide behind excuses or lies or untruths, it is what it is. You call a spade a spade sometimes.”

Reflecting further on recent downturn, Norris said: “No one likes to lose games. And if we want to achieve what we want to achieve this year then this run of form isn’t good enough and it needs to stop.”

After the impressive start to the season, Norris was asked if he was surprised that the Blues now find themselves in their current circumstances.

“Every team is going to have their purple patch in the season, every team,” the on-loan Wolves man continued. “At the moment it’s about limiting how many points we’re dropping and getting back to winning ways.”

His message to fans given the recent run? “Stick with the boys, it’s the same squad that was winning every game at the start of the season. All you can do is stick with the boys, it was a fantastic support down here today and keep backing the boys.”

Norris made a number of important saves against Pompey, was he pleased with his display? “There’s always room for improvement, I’m my own biggest critic. No one has to tell me about my performance today. Like I say, I’m not here for a pat on the back, as a team we lost today and that’s what hurts me the most.”

Regarding Ronan Curtis’s winning goal, Norris says he’ll look at whether he might have kept it out back at Playford Road.

“I thought I got a good hand on it, it’s had a wobble, but it’s one of them,” he reflected. “ I’ll review it tomorrow with Wacker [keeper-coach Jimmy Walker] and the goalkeeping department and speak to the manager about it. It is what it is, we haven’t taken our chances today and they’ve taken theirs.”

Norris says the rest of the squad felt sorry for Toto Nsiala, who was subbed seven minutes before half-time due to concerns that the centre-half might pick up a second booking.

“That was nothing to do with his performance, he got a very unjust yellow card, I thought,” he said. “It was player protection from the manager. It was purely tactical and not a reflection on Toto or his performance at all.

“It was a tactical switch, there was no sour grapes from anyone in the team because it was a tactical decision and I thought Toto was playing really well.

"His confidence on the training pitch is high at the moment, and he can go in and do a good job. It’s not a reflection on him at all.”

Norris has played five games since keeping his last clean sheet at Rochdale with Town having gone six games since last not conceding. The one-time Cambridge United man knows that the Blues need to return to their early season tightness at the back.

“Yes, definitely, I feel like the goals are coming and the clean sheets are coming,” he insisted. “We’ve just been on the wrong side of a few results lately, it’s no time to hit the panic problem, definitely not.”

Norris says the squad are still confident that they can achieve their aim of winning promotion this season.

“This time last year, you had Portsmouth and Sunderland top, and they’re still in this league, he added.

“No medals are handed out in this month, but this is where they’re earnt.

“I think today we need to have a look at the performance and we need to be winning these games, but no medals are handed out this month.”

Photo: TWTD

tractorollson added 08:33 - Dec 23 We havent become a bad team overnight, just stick with the team,screw the cups play youth team and start scoring again!
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GiveusaWave added 09:08 - Dec 23 Taken a step back from football this season but did get to see this game.... Reminded me a lot of what I saw last season... Clearly we had a great start to the season but we seem to have last our way. Toto looked out of position and seemed to be trying too hard. Garbutt played some great passes....shame that most of the time no-one was anywhere near them. Midfield seemed devoid of ideas....same with our strike force... We need to make sure we go up this season...if we get stuck I fear we will stay for the long-term and lose many of our best players next season....on the evidence of what I saw though...promotion (at least the top 2 places) seems unlikely....

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r2d2 added 09:22 - Dec 23 If you had a good honest chat, did anyone have the b@lls to tell him to stop this stupid rotation week in week out?
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ChateauWines added 10:19 - Dec 23 It started for me with the ridiculous hand holding celebration at gillingham. They and us, to be fair, thought we were up as champions. We started season on front foot taking the game to whoever we came up against. That's how we won 8/10 games. Our blip has now lasted 12 games, that's half the season so far, making it not a blip but what we are. Now we are ponderous and slow going forward. Judge, Nolan and Huws always have back to goal and play stops whilst they turn around. Garbutt, Edward's, Rowe, Vincent Young and Jackson offer real pace and a threat. We need to return to that. The confidence appears to have disappeared. I like Norris but he is no better than Holy who is ours. What other team rotates keepers? We need to get back on front foot and settle side down. I've no problem with changing wingers during a game but keeper, defence and strikers leave alone injury, loss of form or suspension dictates. Rant over and Happy Christmas

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LondonBlue73 added 10:28 - Dec 23 Seasons Greetings - I have not posted for a while as usually I get bored of negative comments. The last few weeks have been poor and we should be producing more consistently in matches. All said and done though I played at a decent level and all teams do have periods where it goes wrong, we have to find a way out quickly. What I don't agree with is drastic over reaction, yes I get frustration and Portsmouth as with other recent games was not an enjoyable watch. However a little more composure in front of goal and we would have scored a couple, whilst Norris did save two good attempts first half that is his job, those stating he saved us is that not what keepers do week in and week out. Personally I believe we have the best manager we can get and change will do no good. We have a great squad and the team needs to be more settled, hopefully lessons will be learnt. I believe a fit Keane and Sears will give us different options - I personally am confident we will go automatically and that we will be top half Championship next year, I expect a few more tough games and disappointments and I won't over react BUT I also want to see some mistakes corrected in team selection and identity and I want to see us start attacking early. Hopefully a fit Sears and KVY with a fitter Huw's and Keane plus Bishop to get back will; be the boost we need and that is not players finding fitness in matches. Happy Christmas one and all and lets celebrate wins against Gillingham, Lincoln and Wycombe and we will all feel different. COYB

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Razor added 12:05 - Dec 23 Could somebody have a good honest chat with the manager!!
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Saxonblue74 added 12:09 - Dec 23 Put it right on the training ground hey? Makes a change from putting it right at the next game I suppose!😂
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Palestine added 12:24 - Dec 23 Some thoughts based on the games I've seen this season. On the whole we have not played well all season. For the first 1/4 of a season we seemed to get results despite playing poorly/being outplayed by often lower table opposition. totally agree with @ChateauWines - the team handholding celebrations were completely inappropriate because - despite winning and being top, we weren't playing well. Really dumb move. Save that for when you go up, or for when you put on an excellent, fluid, confidence performance. We seem to struggle to string passes together, show any fluidity, system, or style. We look really nervous and lacking in confidence. Basic passes fluffed. Crosses routinely overhit. Shooting poor. And this was when we were top of League 1?! Now we are still playing poorly but getting what we deserve from games. Imagine having a season ticket (home and away) for only the first half of games? From what I've seen/heard that would a nightmare. Often I've bought the iFollow (£10?!) and then pretty much regretted it by the end. Othertimes I didn't manage to get it, and then realised I dodged a bullet. I like Lambert/want to like Lambert but it does seem he is really struggling, and half the problems he has created himself - mainly chopping the team/formation every game. I have no reason not to believe two Norwich friends(!) who told me he is tactically lost without Culverhouse - who was the footballing brain. He has galvanised the fans and the club which was well-needed, so fair play. That buys him the year's credit he's had. Now he needs to deliver something more. League 1 is actually much poorer than I thought it would be. Promotion is so achievable. But we look pretty much like last year, only in a much worse league. I'd worry about is in the Champ which is a horrible, hard league. I hope they told him not change it as much and stick to a system. COYB

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dirtydingusmagee added 14:20 - Dec 23 Lambert talked the fans around when we got relegated, the gates have been great,the fans have been great, but if this season goes t##ts up now, all that work will be unravelled, he wont talk his way out of trouble next time. Form has indicated things are not going well, early optimism is fading fast, .
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 06:58 - Dec 24 Bluearmy. Ha ha ha ha ha . You wouldn't know objective if it smacked you in the face
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:44 - Dec 24 The empty vessels are making the most noise, again.
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