Tony Mowbray reveals message to West Brom players after frustrating last-gasp defeat

The Baggies lost for the first time in seven Championship fixtures in a gut-wrenching 1-0 reverse at Carrow Road thanks to a stoppage-time Josh Sargent winner.

The clash looked like meandering to a third draw on the spin for draw-happy Albion but a defeat leaves Mowbray's men in sixth having made no ground up on rivals in the tight play-off race.

Mowbray felt his side were much the better team against the mid-table Canaries. Albion forced the majority of their chances in the first half as Angus Gunn just about kept out Karlan Grant and Torbjorn Heggem. Chances were few and far between in the second half and Albion's only real opening of note came even later in stoppage time.

The head coach believes he saw enough from his side that will go on to secure a top-six finish.

"We'd have been disappointed with 0-0," Mowbray said. "We've gone to Elland Road and Turf Moor and felt disappointed with the draws. So to get beat is even harder to take.

"What I've said to them is if the performance level remains at that then we will win enough matches to achieve what we're trying to.

"So that's what we're trying to do. We've got some really big games Coventry, Bristol City, but there's absolutely nothing to fear. We'll go and apply ourselves, like we did today, but we've got to put the ball in the net."

The Baggies forced 16 shots to the hosts' nine and seven on target to Norwich's three. Mowbray's side also boasted a slightly superior expected goals (xG), but it was the home fans cheering come full-time.

Albion remain sixth but missed the opportunity to climb above Coventry, who suffered a defeat, and are level on points with Middlesbrough and Bristol City in seventh and eighth.

Mowbray did not turn to his bench until the 78th minute, where Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana were introduced. Will Lankshear and Tammer Bany came on shortly afterwards, with Isaac Price unused after international duty.

Albion's boss added: "Ultimately we're left disappointed and frustrated. I thought it was a game that we dominated.

"I think we controlled it pretty well - but you have to score.

"That's the bottom line. We didn't score a goal. So we didn't deserve to win.

"But I'm not sure we deserved to lose. Frustrated is the word and a bit cruel as well, I think, because the performance level of the team was of a good level and we deserved to get more out of it than we did.

"We have to put the ball in the net. I think their keeper made a number of really good saves, but that's football. That's my synopsis of it for you."