Here is Connor’s verdict on Dean Smith’s Norwich, who received another Premier League thumping at the hands of West Ham United.

• Tim Krul 4

The goalkeeper came into this game already under pressure after an array of errors and that won’t have been eased by another tough afternoon at Carrow Road.

Aarons deflection on Benrahma’s shot for the opening goal caught him out and he failed to adjust his body position accordingly to prevent the ball from squirming underneath him and into the net. He then failed to show authority to claim the ball after Bowen slotted Antonio through on goal.

The Dutch keeper sought to push the ball away from danger only for it to deflect off the West Ham striker back towards goal, leaving him with a tap in. Chants of ‘that’s why we’re going down’ came from the stands after that mishap.

The question for Dean Smith is now whether to stand by his goalkeeper or opt to hand Angus Gunn a chance in the remaining games this season.

• Max Aarons 4

Struggling to find his rhythm in a Norwich defence that is being tested on regular occasions. Benrahma caused him plenty of problems throughout this encounter before being forced off due to injury.

Got his foot on the ex-Brentford winger’s shot for the opening goal only for the ball to squirm under Krul. One shanked clearance in the second period that looped into orbit before being claimed by City’s keeper.

• Sam Byram 5

Second game at centre-back and was unable to stop the regularity of major opportunities conceded by City.

The defender thought he scored his first goal since 2015 when he prodded a corner into an empty net after Fabianski’s failure to catch the cross, only for VAR to intervene and judge the ball hit his hand.

His versatility offers reasons for encouragement.

• Grant Hanley (C) 4

Involved in the shambolic mix-up for Antonio’s goal but an array of important blocks and headed clearances throughout. The Scot is attempting to piece together a backline that has shipped too many goals this season.

Wonderful piece of defending to catch up with and then dispossess Benrahma as he was played through on goal.

• Brandon Williams 4

Failed to read the flight of Fabianski’s long-pass that set Bowen away in the first half. Let Antonio pull away from him far too easily as Bowen squandered a golden chance at 1-0 and then drifted too far in field to allow the winger space to pick out Benrahma for the third.

Trademark rash tackle on Fornals in the right-back position. Nobody can accuse the Manchester United loanee of downing tools but questions remain over his defensive capabilities.

• Jacob Sorensen 4

Offered a reprieve to the starting line-up due to Mathias Normann’s thigh injury and there were some important moments of firefighting that prevented West Ham from cutting through more regularly than they managed.

The Dane lacks the intensity to fully satnd up to the central midfield battle at Premier League level, but there is enough there to suggest he should be starting between now and the conclusion of the season.

Conceded the penalty with a handball after connecting with Fornals’ corner.

• Billy Gilmour 4

There was some good work early on that included winning an important header that set Norwich on an attack.

From there, it was the same old story. There were some lovely touches and cute passes without really impacting the game. Gilmour is a facilitator in a team that struggles to create chances. Did little to suppress calls for Smith to ditch the loan stable entirely.

One free-kick late on that saw him fail to hit the target. One moment in the first half where he sought to gallop past Declan Rice – there was only ever going to be one winner in that contest.

• Kieran Dowell 4

Just couldn’t get himself in the game consistently.

There was a glorious chipped pass to Pukki in the second half that displayed his technical proficiency but it feels as though he is gaining more attention from opposition defences due to the impact he had when he first entered the team.

No question of a lack of character and no waiving of the white flag, but Dowell failed to show the same promise many had been holding onto recently.

• Pierre Lees-Melou 3

Has offered shoots of progress as an attacking midfielder in recent weeks but failed to make any lasting impact on the encounter here. The Frenchman played one nice through pass to Pukki that set him away down the right in the first half, but this wasn’t an afternoon to saviour.

Formed part of a City midfield that saw its soft underbelly exposed by the quality and physicality of this West Ham outfit.

• Milot Rashica 3

Dean Smith described the Kosovan as ‘ineffective’ after City’s second goal, perhaps anonymous would have been a better word.

There was one nice piece of combination play with Pukki in the first half that saw the Finn send Rashica towards goal. He cut inside and saw his shot blocked by Craig Dawson. Hooked at half-time. His last Carrow Road appearance could come on the final day of the campaign.

• Teemu Pukki 5

The Finn is cutting a frustrated figure, and who can blame him? He had two good opportunities late on to get the goal that would have seen him equal Grant Holt’s haul during his Canaries playing days. Showed plenty of endeavour and a willingness to press from the front.

He will be Norwich City’s player of the season this year and had his name chanted by supporters in the closing stages of this match.

Subs:

• Lukas Rupp (for Pierre Lees-Melou, 45) 4

Nice footwork to find Kieran Dowell on the edge of the area for a major Pukki chance. Helped City reduce the bleeding against a physical Hammers side.

• Tony Springett (for Milot Rashica, 45) 6

A bright spark on another dark Premier League day for the Canaries. On his senior debut, the winger was fearless and worked a couple of promising crossing opportunities only to find few options in the box. One impressive piece of defending that saw him block a potentially dangerous cross. His work was received well by a frustrated crowd.

• Przemek Placheta (for Kieran Dowell, 72) 4

One shot that was collected routinely by Fabianski and a loose touch that went out of play for a goal kick as he looked to beat his man inside the box.