Norwich City 2 - 0 Aston Villa

Paul Lambert refused to commit his future to Norwich yesterday as Alex McLeish insisted he will not quit as Aston Villa boss.

Fans of both sides sang the name of the Canaries boss in the closest and most entertaining encounter of the afternoon.

Norwich supporters are desperate for Lambert, who has led City to 12th in the table after two consecutive promotions, to stay and build at Carrow Road.

But Villa fans want rid of McLeish after another abject display which sees them finish the season with a run of 10 games without a win. The former European Cup winners avoided relegation by two points and Lambert is among the candidates touted to takeover next season.

Whether McLeish is replaced after only 12 months of his three-year contract will be decided at a meeting with owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner this week.

But Lambert, who is on on a 12-month rolling contract, certainly did not rule himself out of the running when asked if he would still be at Carrow Road at the start of next season.

After a long hesitation, the former Celtic midfielder said: "It is a hard one to answer that because I have a contract here and everyone is doing great in their respective jobs.

"I will get this season out of the road and then I will see what happens and think about what is going on and the achievements we have done and then we will see."

After Aston Villa's lowest ever points total in the Premier League - nine fewer than promoted Norwich - McLeish admitted this great club could not continue like in the past two seasons. Yesterday's defeat summed up a horrible season featuring only seven wins. Even without the injury to Darren Bent, it simply hasn't good enough for Aston Villa either on or off the field.

"That was an unacceptable performance - I have got to make changes and there will be changes," said the former Birmingham manager.

"I believe I can turn Aston Villa around by changing things, adding to the quality, bringing players who work their socks off for this club and for Alex Mcleish. I am not a quitter."

When asked if he feared for his future at the club, he replied: "No, you can start fearing for your job at any time. that would be really negative. I will go into the meeting as positive as possible."

Yet winning over Villa fans looks mission impossible for McLeish.

When Norwich fans sang "There's only one Paul Lambert", Villa supporters responded with the same chant. Then the Canaries chanted at McLeish: 'You're getting sacked in the morning', and again the demob happy visiting supporters gleefully echoed the cry.

"I can totally understand the fans frustrations and I am the man who carries the can for the performances, but it is also frustrating for me to watch that kind of stuff," said McLeish. "Unfortunately I don't tell players to make a ten-yard pass and not find the target or a team-mate.

"I am the guy who is responsible for results, and am the one who is going to get hammered. "I accept that, and it happens to any manager. It is up to me to turn the opinion around and will do my best."

Norwich took the lead after eight minutes when Grant Holt gave his England claims a final push by using his shoulder to divert home a Bradley Johnson free kick for his 17th goal of the season. The lead was doubled after 22 minutes when Carlos Cueller marked his final appearance for Villa by diverting Kyle Naughton's long ball back across his box into Simeon Jackson's path. Shay Given saved his first effort but the Norwich striker tapped home the rebound.

The Republic of Ireland keeper made four other saves during the first half while Villa managed one effort on Norwich goal. The visitors were better after the break - England hopeful John Ruddy made a super save from Gabriel Agbonlahor - but it wasn't hard.

Lambert said: "It was a fantastic performance and it was a fitting way to end an incredible season."