Norwich City boss Chris Hughton has defended the changes that he made to his starting XI for Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Southampton in the Premier League.

Hughton brought in five new players at St Mary's Stadium, with captain Sebastien Bassong and club-record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel among those who were dropped.

However, those alterations did not stop the Canaries slipping to a third loss in five matches.

"We have lacked that consistency which is why I made a few changes," Hughton is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "I wanted to give others an opportunity to come in and put pressure on the lads they were replacing.

"What you can do as a manager is prepare during the week, set the team up but you are then reliant on good individual displays. It was a reaction to form.

"They are all difficult decisions whenever you change the team but we have others who are fit and pushing to be in the team and competition in the squad and all I try to do is pick the best side for each opponent."

Norwich are currently in 15th place in the Premier League table, four points above the relegation zone.