DEFEAT for his side was not Steve Wigley's only worry. He also feels Saints have "kick-started" Norwich's season.

With the Canaries not having won a league game all season, anything other than victory against Saints would have made it a very tough battle to survive.

Now, though, the two sides are level on points and both are right in the mix.

Wigley said: "We got the win against Portsmouth and, if we'd have got any kind of result against Norwich, it would have helped our momentum.

"It's the first game we've lost in the Premier League in five and we've kick-started Norwich's season - and that's something I didn't want to do."

He added: "I looked at the players this week and was happy with their preparations.

"But I'm now desperately disappointed to have got our noses in front and then let that go.

"Kasey Keller made a great save before their winner and all my defenders had to do was their job.

"They got the first header but Damien Francis pulls off somebody else and scores the goal. That's the thin dividing line.

"What the players have got to do is continue to work very hard and make sure that, when we have our spell, like we did in the last 25 minutes, our final ball is better into our front men."

What has disappointed Wigley most is the sloppy nature of some of the goals Saints have conceded over recent weeks.

Previously, Saints were tight at the back but struggling to score - now it's the opposite with goals flying in at both ends.

Wigley has tried numerous defensive combinations, but still they are conceding.

He said: "When you're in the position we're in, confidence can erode a little bit.

"Early doors, Norwich came out like we thought they would, but once we got in front, that's when you've got to start enjoying playing a bit better. I don't feel we did enough of that.

"There were opportunities, because Norwich were adventurous and we should have picked out our passes better."