Paul Trollope insists he will risk his reputation in defence of Cardiff City, despite their poor start to the season.

The Bluebirds’ 3-2 defeat at Norwich City on Saturday has left them just a point above the relegation zone after six Championship matches during which they have won just once.

Even that victory – over Blackburn Rovers – did not involve any authentic club goal-scorers and although Trollope at least saw his own Anthony Pilkington twice find the net, he admits he could soon be known for his hard luck stories.

“I don’t want to be known as one of those coaches who always comes and says ‘we didn’t get what we deserved’, but I really thought that was the case,” said Trollope.

“We came here with a plan and were confident we could get something against a good Norwich side and I was pleased with the way we went about it.

“Having said that I was disappointed with the first two goals we conceded, they were both soft. The first one was a poor cross that somehow ended up in the back of the net and for the second we switched off at a set-piece.

“The main positive from my point of view was the spirit the lads showed when they went 2-0 down. They showed what they are all about by making a real game of it.

“We are not where we would like to be in terms of the number of points we have picked up but I believe in this group and if we keep working hard together we will get there in the end.”

Cardiff gave Ricky Lambert his debut but Norwich looked to be cruising to their third Championship win of the season following Cameron Jerome’s close range finish and Russell Martin’s header.

Former Norwich winger Pilkington gave the Bluebirds hope four minutes from time and although Josh Murphy restored the two-goal cushion, Pilkington struck again in stoppage time.

But the hosts held on to secure all three points to move to within a point of the automatic promotion places.

Cardiff will now hope to add to the problems of two clubs who have made a worse start than themselves.

They travel to bottom-but-one Preston on Tuesday night, before hosting Leeds United on Saturday – both clubs stranded with Blackburn in the early season relegation spots.