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Norwich manager Chris Hughton has said he can understand the criticism he is receiving from the club's supporters.

His side lost 4-2 at Southampton and are now only four points above the relegation zone with a tough run of matches at the end of the season.

With the Canaries 2-0 down, some Norwich fans chanted "you don't know what you're doing" when Hughton made a triple substitution in the second half.

"It's never nice to hear those chants but I understand," said Hughton, 55.

"We have more than 2,000 supporters who have travelled to watch the game and it's their club, and they want to see a team competing.

"What they saw for too long was a Southampton side that were better than us. It's never nice but you have to take the criticism on the chin."

Hughton has been Norwich manager since June 2012, but has only won 23 of 79 matches in all competitions and his side lie 15th in the Premier League.

Last month, he was told by the club's chief executive David McNally that results had to improve and a 1-0 win against Tottenham followed, but they have now only taken one point from their last three matches.

They face fellow strugglers Sunderland, Swansea, West Brom and Fulham in their next four games, before ending the season with matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Southampton appeared to be heading for an easy win as they led 3-0, but goals from Johan Elmander and Robert Snodgrass set up a thrilling finish, before Sam Gallagher scored an injury-time fourth for the Saints.

"For the majority of the game, a very good Southampton team were better than us and if you concede three goals like we did you make life very difficult for yourselves," added Hughton.

"At 3-0 down it was tough and it was nothing less than what we deserved, but we dug in and showed character.

"Our intention was to give a very good Southampton side a decent game and, for large parts of the match, we were unable to do that."