Paddy's Pointers: Five observations from the Canaries' 3-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester City

1. Losing culture

When Dean Smith talked about the need to transform the culture, the lack of fight, the lack of anger and the acceptance that greeted a recent Premier League home defeat to Newcastle, he later insisted he was not referring to a losing mindset within his dressing room.

But a fifth consecutive top flight defeat, a fourth consecutive game without scoring a goal, and another abdication of responsibility after matching Leicester for the opening period say different.

Even the presence of the likes of Angus Gunn and Tony Springett in the starting line up were unable to mask the underlying frailties and deficiencies that burst to the surface again once Jamie Vardy fortuitously put Leicester in front.

City have perfected the art of implosion, the consistency in the way they roll over and leak goals on such a scale at this level is impressive. Time and time again they threaten to match teams for a portion of a Premier League game, but then fall away in dramatic fashion. It is a losing culture, plain and simple. It is why they are heading back to the Football League.

2. Green for Gunny?

A first Premier League appearance since February 25 and maybe a point to prove for Gunn. Tim Krul’s understudy could have felt a touch hard done by to make way again for the fit-again Dutch international after an improving seam of form during his previous extended run in the side.

But at that stage perhaps Krul’s experience and standing within the group tipped the balance. Recent errors opened the door again.

Gunn strode purposefully through it in the first half and erected a one-man barricade to keep it firmly shut.

The double save from Youri Tielemans and Vardy was the type of reaction work keepers love. The fully-extended parry to foil James Maddison was extra-special. His one time Norwich team mate looked incredulous in the aftermath at how Gunn had managed to tip his goalbound effort around the post.

There was another top drawer entry later in the opening period to kick away Ademola Lookman’s close range shot. But in contrast the second half brought him crashing back down to earth. Such is the life of the last line he was left clutching at air as Vardy’s strike clipped Grant Hanley and spiralled over his outstretched arms to put the Foxes in front. The rueful smile as he sat grounded with his hands on his knees said it all.

He will surely feel he should have done better than parry Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's cross into an area Maddison attacked to lash home Leicester’s third. But overall consider this a statement of intent. Whether the time is right for Krul to move on or not this coming summer, one thing is for sure, Gunn wants a bigger role when the Championship ranges into view.

3. Springing into action

A first senior start of Springett’s career. A first Premier League start no less. The teenage Irishman may well have had his first senior goal too had Milot Rashica not underhit a square pass to the unmarked youngster with only Kasper Schmeichel to beat. There was also the timing and the execution on a ball that set Teemu Pukki free in first half stoppage time, only for the Finn’s low effort to strike the base of Schmeichel’s post.

These were eye-catching interventions that peppered a shift where Springett betrayed no sign of nerves, or a feeling he was out of his depth. Perhaps that is why Smith has exposed him in the past two top flight encounters.

Yet there was also a pertinent reminder this is still a raw, callow youth in the manner he was shrugged off the ball too easily by James Justin to spark the move that ended in Vardy’s second. It is not simply his talent but maybe his temperament which had seen him for now shoot past Jon Rowe. Although Rowe joined him for the closing stages.

Games where the intensity and the pressure have now disappeared, with relegation confirmed, might be a world away from the intensity and the expectancy around Norwich back in the Football League. But Springett must continue to strive to make a persuasive argument to be part of what comes next.

4. FCM

It was no secret Sam Byram had left a big impression on Smith. Perhaps quite how much was underlined by the head coach’s pre-match assertion he is ‘future captain material’.

What that says about the status of current incumbent, Hanley, ahead of a summer transfer window is a moot point. Certainly the manner Smith delivered his words on Tuesday did not suggest he was laying the ground for an imminent departure.

Nevertheless, Byram’s versatility, class, composure and his leadership attributes mark him out as a key figure in Smith’s next phase.

Now Byram is seemingly over that nightmarish two years of surgery, rehab, more surgery and real doubts if would ever return, he looks a reliable pillar for the rebuild. Not so long ago Smith singled out Byram as the player who had impressed him and his assistant, Craig Shakespeare, more than most.

The inference was the former West Ham and Leeds defender was better than they had expected at close quarters. Everything he has seen since both at right back and now centre back would appear to have underlined his assessment.

But the manner of the second half capitulation underlined, equally, it will take a lot more than Byram stepping up.

5. Return to sender

Ozan Kabak has already left the building. Mathias Normann looks to have played his final game in green and yellow. Brandon Williams was omitted for this game, after that toxic and disturbing episode involving fans and social media posts following the weekend defeat to West Ham.

You would have got long odds at various stages this season on Billy Gilmour being the last loan man standing.

There was the usual glimpse of quality on the ball. There was also the by now usual demonstration of his defensive limitations. Tielemans robbed him in his own half in the first chance for Vardy after 10 minutes. He was also painfully slow to react when Gunn’s block shovelled the ball in the direction of the Scot, who was beaten to the punch by Maddison. That is not his game.

That will never be his game. But there is precious little now to benefit either party from the final throes of a Premier League marriage which promised much but was unable to overcome irreconcilable differences.

The focus on City’s recruitment last summer has been forensically examined already, as that inevitable relegation drew ever closer.

But even allowing for the injuries that have dogged the likes of Kabak and Normann, in particular, the loan business has proved woefully inadequate.