Dave Penney had an upbeat message for fans, even though Latics remain in the relegation places following the 1-0 home defeat by Norwich City.

The Latics manager took great heart from the way his side pushed the Coca-Cola League One leaders all the way for their slender victory at Boundary Park.

"If we continue to perform like that we will be fine," declared Penney who said he could find little fault with his side's showing against the Canaries.

Penney said: "I thought our performance was excellent, but it difficult to have a go at the players because they gave 100-per-cent. The work-rate, effort and commitment was first class and I feel sorry for them to have got nothing after putting in a shift like that.

"It  was the same old story, a failure to put the ball in the back of the net. Apart from the first 20 minutes, when Norwich started better than us, we were as good as them and we had some good chances which we need to start taking them. That is why strikers are paid the top dollar because they get you the points.

"It is the same old story and I am repeating what I have been saying for a long time that if we don't score goals we aren't going to win games."

Penney added that it is a case of perservering, though he conceded there may need to be a change of personnel and rejig the squad to recruit a goalscorer.

The Latics manager brought in Joe Colbeck on the right wing in place of Deane Smalley and preferred Kieran Lee at right back to Alex Marrow, the two changes from the starting line-up at Leeds.

Grant Holt, League One's leading scorer, was a handful in the goalless opening half having four clear-cut chances including a goal chalked out for offside.

All Latics could muster was a Dale Stephens free kick from 25 yards which dipped just over as it landed on the roof of the net.

Pawel Abbott had a half chance early in the second half before Norwich broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Holt scored his 25th goal of a productive season.

Lee failed to cut out a Wes Houlahan through ball as Anthony McNamee broke on the left and crossed to the far post where the lurking Holt fired into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.

Latics kept battling as Dean Furman and Chris Taylor had openings, though they never seriously looked like scoring.

Penney brought on Keigan Parker and Smalley and went basically 3-4-3 in the last half hour in pursuit of an equaliser.

And fortune so nearly favoured the brave as Latics were desperately unlucky not to draw level late on.

Parker burst through on goal on to a Furman pass only to be denied by a superb save from Fraser Forster who confirmed his standing as a keeper of great promise.

Moments later Forster was beaten by a Reuben Hazell header only for Korey Smith to save the day for the Canaries with a goalline clearance.

They were anxious moments for the leaders and their 1,455 supporters and the cheers at the final whistle were more of relief because Norwich had to weather a Latics onslaught in the latter stages and, had there been a modicum of justice, there is no way Penney's side would have come away empty handed after a display which ought to give them confidence in their battle against relegation.

Latics (4-4-2): Brill; Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson; Colbeck (Parker 61), Furman, Stephens, Taylor; Abbott, Price. Subs (not used): Whitaker, Black, Marrow, Flahavan, Eaves.

Norwich (4-4-1-1): Forster; R Martin, Nelson, Doherty, Rose; McNamee (Spillane 80), Smith, Lappin, C Martin (Johnson 80); Hoolahan (Hughes 67); Holt. Subs (not used): Steer, Gill, Adeyemi, McVeigh. 

Referee: Mr R L Shoebridge.

Attendance: 5,344.