Delia: I was only trying to help

"The media all agreed with Nigel after the game that the tremendous reaction from our fans in that situation had been a key factor in the amazing turnaround which followed and described them as 'adding a 12th man'.

"Maybe in the heat of the moment I didn't choose the best words, but what I was trying to do was tap in to that again."

Last night's outburst left Norwich fans distinctly unimpressed. They say she should have saved any motivational speech for the players in the privacy of the dressing room rather than such a public arena.

One fan said: "It was disgraceful performance - she was yelling at us in the Barclay stand which is where the most die-hard Canary fans go - we were right behind the team and had been singing our hearts out in the first half.

"She was clearly well-refreshed and stumbled over her words and we felt it was out of order for her to have a go at home fans."

An unofficial Norwich supporters' website was crammed with messages from fans today poking fun at Delia. However, a poll on the Eastern Evening News website was more complimentary. Nearly half (49 per cent) viewed her speech as "rousing", although 51 per cent said it was "embarrassing".

Rob Emery, of the Norwich Supporters' Consultative Group, said: "She's an interesting character - particularly when the red wine is flowing in the boardroom and it sounds like one or two glasses had been flowing more than they should have done.

"But you can't knock someone who has put as much time and money into the club as she and her husband have done. I wouldn't steep to do that, but we could have done without it.

"What stirs people most on the terraces is what happens on the pitch, and what generated most noise was the Jonsson sending off.

That's what built the crowd into something of a frenzy - not Delia's party piece."