David Wagner accused his Norwich City players of ‘losing their heads’ in a 6-2 Championship horror show at Plymouth.

The Canaries crashed to a heavy Home Park defeat after going in at the interval 4-0 down. Adam Idah’s second half brace was no consolation on a sobering afternoon against the league new boys.

Wagner was particularly unhappy at the implosion in first half stoppage time, that saw Plymouth double their 2-0 lead.

Sections of City’s support expressed their frustration at half-time and full-time, while some booed Kenny McLean and his players as they returned to the park following the interval.

“I’m very angry. A horrible afternoon for us. I’m very angry about how we responded after the first goal,” said Wagner. “We totally lost our heads after the first two goals. This should not happen, could not happen. But it did. Then we conceded four counter goals. We played in spaces we shouldn’t. Centrally. We played it to players who were marked. Then our rest defence was not there.

“This can’t happen. Football is a game of mistakes. But you can’t lose your head. You have to stick to your pattern. You have to keep calm. Especially if you know you are good at what you have done.

“(Is that embarrassing as professionals to perform in that manner?) Listen, everyone is down now. We really feel we got hurt by this performance. Individually and collectively. When we look later it will be ‘bloody hell, what I have done?’.

“(Response at HT) If you mean did I express that anger? I was very loud at half-time. It was how it should be. We wanted to win the second half. But we conceded two further counters.

“I feel very sorry for our supporters that we have not given them something to cheer. They have shown the correct reaction. They celebrate with us if we play good. If not, they have the right to show this as well.

“They were frustrated, they have come a long way. They deserved to show that reaction. We have not looked vulnerable in the past this season. But we did here. This is a heavy defeat. A deserved defeat.”