Canaries might not be big enough

Gary Doherty scored his first league goal in three years at Selhurst Park

Norwich City skipper Gary Doherty says his side are disadvantaged in size compared to their Championship rivals.

The Canaries twice conceded goals from set pieces in the 3-1 Boxing Day defeat at Crystal Palace.

And Doherty told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It's getting annoying because we're playing so well.

"We're conceding silly goals from set-pieces and we're physically a small team. If you're a small player you've got to be stronger."

Palace defender Jose Fonte doubled his goals tally for the Eagles with a Boxing Day brace against the Canaries.

And Doherty, who used his own head to score the Canaries' first-half equaliser at Selhurst Park, admits that both Fonte's goals were preventable goals.

"There was certainly a lack of concentration for the first goal," said Doherty. "And probably the second goal as well.

"We lost the man and let him have a free header from five or six yards."

Norwich have made a habit in recent weeks of playing pretty football but missing out on results. But Doherty says that they must get used to playing against teams with a long ball approach.

"90 per cent of the teams in this league are going to be doing that," he added. "At home I think we're comfortable with it, but away we've got to be stronger.

"Once we start doing that we'll pick up more points."

The Canaries' next test is on Sunday at Carrow Road against managerless Nottingham Forest (1500 GMT).