Ruairi McConville pulled no punches after Norwich City's 4-3 defeat at Carrow Road, calling his side's defending "embarrassing" and vowing to use the international break to put things right.

The Northern Ireland international had given the Canaries a first-half lead, only to watch Bolton Wanderers overturn the deficit and take all three points with their second successive Championship victory. McConville was directly at fault for Bolton's decisive fourth goal, stepping out of the way of a shot that found the net.

"Very disappointed. It's not good enough," McConville told BBC Radio Norfolk. "We concede four goals at home off the back of conceding four goals last week so it clearly shows we haven't learned our lesson."

"If we want to achieve the things we want to achieve then it's so far from good enough, it's embarrassing really. The fourth goal, I run out of the way of it. It's just terrible defending all over to be honest. We have to look in the mirror and look at ourselves."

The numbers underline just how severe the problem has become. Norwich have shipped 13 goals across their last three matches and are yet to record a clean sheet this season. Their tally of 17 goals conceded in eight games is the joint-worst in the division, level with Burnley at the foot of the table.

The paradox is that the Canaries attack with purpose. They have scored 16 times in those eight matches, playing an open brand of football that generates chances at both ends. Yet that approach has left them sitting 17th in the Championship, six points adrift of the automatic promotion places heading into the international break.

The defeat to Bolton illustrated the tension at the heart of Norwich's season so far: a side capable of scoring freely but unable to sustain the defensive shape required to turn leads into wins. Conceding four at home in consecutive weeks suggests the problem is structural rather than a one-off lapse.

McConville acknowledged the break, while poorly timed for momentum, may offer the coaching staff a chance to address what has gone wrong on the training ground.

"We lose as a team so we have to work on the training ground to improve on things," he said. "Maybe it's come at the right time. I'll be thinking about what's happened and try and fix what I've done wrong on the pitch. I, more than anyone, want to change things quick."

For Bolton, the win continued a run that is quietly building confidence at the club. Back-to-back Championship victories have lifted the mood after a difficult opening to the season, and a trip to Carrow Road that ended with three points will do nothing to diminish that.

Norwich, by contrast, return from the break needing to answer serious defensive questions. Clean sheets have been the currency of promotion challenges throughout Championship history. Until the Canaries find a way to stop conceding in clusters, their goal-scoring quality will only carry them so far.

McConville's willingness to hold himself accountable publicly at least signals that the dressing room understands the gravity of the situation. Whether that honest self-assessment translates into defensive improvement when league football resumes remains the question Carrow Road needs answered.

Frequently asked

Why have Norwich City conceded so many goals this season?
Norwich have conceded 17 goals in eight Championship matches, the joint-most in the division. Defender Ruairi McConville admitted the defending has been 'embarrassing' and the team is yet to keep a clean sheet, with 13 goals shipped in just three games before the international break.
What happened in the Norwich vs Bolton match?
Bolton came from behind to beat Norwich 4-3 at Carrow Road. McConville scored to put Norwich ahead in the first half, but Bolton overturned the deficit to claim their second successive Championship win. McConville was at fault for Bolton's winning fourth goal.
Where are Norwich City in the Championship table?
Norwich sit 17th in the Championship heading into the international break, six points off the automatic promotion places. Despite scoring 16 goals in eight games, their defensive record is undermining their season.