Norwich City's return to the Premier League under Alex Neil lasted just one season.
The Canaries found themselves back among England's elite courtesy of their Championship play-off win in 2014/15 and there was an air of positivity surrounding Carrow Road.
Young manager Neil had overseen a stunning run of form heading into the top flight campaign and things were looking ok after the first six weeks.
But the Norfolk outfit won just four of 22 between mid-October and mid-March which ultimately sealed their fate, as did five defeats in their final six outings.
Summer arrivals Dieumerci Mbokani and Robbie Brady plus winter additions Timm Klose, Ivo Pinto and Steven Naismith were passable, while youngster Nathan Redmond was a shining light, but it was a distinct lack of quality over the entire squad which led to Norwich's downfall.
Neil is expected to stay on in the role next term and will need to make some astute signings in the next transfer window if he wants to resurrect this slide and fire the Canaries back into the top 20 of English clubs.
CANARIES SNAPSHOT
POSITION:19th - Relegated
WIN-DRAW-LOSS RECORD: 9-7-22
POINTS: 34
GOALS FOR-AGAINST:39-67
NORWICH'S TOP 3
SCORERS: Dieumerci Mbokani 7, Nathan Redmond 6, Wes Hoolahan 4
ASSISTS: Wes Hoolahan 9, Jonny Howson, Nathan Redmond, Robbie Brady all 4
CLEAN SHEETS (leader): John Ruddy 3
YELLOW CARDS: Alex Tettey 10, Ryan Bennett, Jonny Howson, Gary O'Neill all 7
RED CARDS: Gary O'Neil, Steven Whittaker, Russell Martin all 1
EA SPORTS Player Performance Index: Robbie Brady 427, Nathan Redmond 379, Jonny Howson 366
TRIBAL'S TOP BOY
TWITTER TALK
Thank you to every #ncfc fan that has supported us this season! The backing home and away was 2nd to none. #muchappreciated
— Gary O'Neil (@Gazoneil) May 15, 2016
Tough loss to take today knowing all the lads have everything! Last 3 games to fight to the end! #OTBC@NorwichCityFC
— Redz (@NathanRedmond22) April 30, 2016
I woke up this morning after yesterday's defeat and I couldn't afford to beat myself up or feel… https://t.co/tiqPi1uhuY
— Sebastien Bassong (@BassongOfficiel) May 8, 2016
FROM THE BOSS
"If they've got any sort of professional pride then it shouldn't be tough. Certainly for the 2,000 fans that have travelled up, the least they deserved was for every player to give their all.
"If everybody wants to call themselves a professional football player, the first part's the essential part - professional.
“I think regardless of what game you're playing, you should be up for it 100 per cent."
- Alex Neil, May 2016
STAT STORY
*Thanks to Opta
5 – Norwich kept just five clean sheets this season in the Premier League this season, a league low figure. Porous.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 16, 2016
