Norwich City conceded seven goals at the home of the Premier League leaders Chelsea and club captain Grant

Hanley has sent an apologetic message to fans for the performance

Grant Hanley has issued an apology to the Norwich City fans who watched their heavy defeat at Chelsea.

Outclassed and outfought the Canaries suffered a 7-0 loss at the home of the European champions on Saturday.

Mason Mount scored a hat-trick among the goal glut with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell also getting on the score-sheet.

Max Aarons scored an unfortunate own goal and Ben Gibson picked up a red card following a late and rash challenge on James with the score at 5-0.

Club captain Grant Hanley admitted that the travelling Canaries fans watching at Stamford Bridge deserved better.

He told the Norwich City club website: “We really appreciate their support.

“After a result like that, it is an apology from the players because that is not what we are about and that is not what we want to give to the supporters because they are there every week home and away for us and we really appreciate it and they deserve better.

“We knew it was going to be tough, Chelsea are a world-class side but that is not an excuse.

“We know that we need to do better in every aspect of the game. With the ball, without the ball.

“The manner that we conceded the goals is disappointing. It is massively disappointing for the supporters as well.

“They always make the trip and support us as well and to lose in that manner is really disappointing for us.”

Adding further to City’s misery was the fact that teams around them at the foot of the table also picked up points.

Newcastle United and Burnley, also in the relegation zone, drew at Crystal Palace and Southampton respectively.

Watford managed to come back from 2-1 down at Everton to win 5-2 and climb up to 14^th in the Premier League table.

Norwich’s next opponents Leeds United also picked up a point with a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road.

This has left Norwich five points adrift of 17^th placed Leeds when Marcelo Bielsa’s side travel to Carrow Road next Sunday.

Daniel Farke says his side will give themselves a couple of days to recover from the disappointment of such a heavy loss.

“We will allow ourselves two days to feel really down and also a bit embarrassed that we conceded seven goals and that we finished with just ten lads on the pitch,” he said.

“From Tuesday on we won’t speak about this game and then there is just one topic and that’s to win points in our next home game.”