1 – No way through

Yesterday’s clean sheet was the Canaries’ seventh of 2026, with Philippe Clement’s men boasting the best defensive record in the Championship this calendar year. They have conceded just 10 goals in 15 games, an average of 0.67 per match.

If they maintain that rate across the final seven fixtures, they will finish with fewer than 15 goals conceded, a projected 14.7, over a 22-game span.

It also marked their second victory over the Addicks this season, winning both meetings 1-0. The Boxing Day clash at Carrow Road marked the halfway point of the campaign, game 23, and at that stage Norwich had managed just two clean sheets.

Clement’s influence on the team’s significantly improved defensive structure has been clear, and it is even more impressive given the injury issues he has had to navigate across the back line.

Under Liam Manning, the Canaries let in 23 goals in 15 games and kept one clean sheet. Under Clement, they have conceded the same number of goals in 24 matches, with eight clean sheets. Their total of 46 goals conceded this season leaves them seventh in the Championship for goals conceded per match, averaging 1.2 per game.

On only two occasions under the Belgian have they conceded more than two goals in a game, the same number as under Manning, despite playing nine more matches.

This defensive improvement should breed optimism ahead of next season, provided they can keep the core of their defensive unit together and, more importantly, fit and available.

2 – 1-0 wins

The last time Norwich won 1-0 against the same opponent in a league season was in 2018/19, when Daniel Farke’s side beat Middlesbrough 1-0 both home and away.

Teemu Pukki scored the only goal at Carrow Road in September 2018, poking home from eight yards via a slight deflection. The eventual title winners then travelled to the Riverside Stadium in March 2019, where they also won by the same scoreline, courtesy of Onel Hernandez’s strike from the edge of the area.

Seven years on, they repeated the feat yesterday afternoon, with Pelle Mattsson’s powerful strike the difference at the Valley. Jovon Makama’s goal on the hour mark in the reverse fixture at Carrow Road had already secured three points in Philippe Clement’s third win as Canaries boss.

It was a hard-fought victory in south-east London. Nathan Jones’s side are one of the best teams in the Championship in terms of physicality and came into the game unbeaten in their last three matches, collecting seven points as they aim to secure Championship survival for another year following last season’s promotion via the League One play-offs.

The Addicks had also scored in seven of their last eight games, but they failed to find the net on what was a relatively quiet afternoon for Vladan Kovacevic in the Norwich goal.

3 – Super Pelle Mattsson

Mattsson finally got off the mark with his first goal in yellow and green and clearly savoured the moment, as he revealed in his post-match media duties. The Danish midfielder is not exactly famed for his goal-scoring exploits; that strike was just the eighth of his senior career, having netted seven for Silkeborg since the 2022/23 season.

There are very few weaknesses in his game. His all-action performances under Clement have really caught the eye. That said, contributing more goals and assists remains an area he is keen to improve and one he is actively targeting as he develops his game.

Mattsson has become a key player under Philippe Clement (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Clement was asked about Mattsson’s potential ceiling after the win against Sheffield United at home a few weeks ago, and his response highlighted just how highly he rates the midfielder.

“I hope we as a club grow fast enough that we don’t lose him along the way, and he just follows the road that we want to go,” City’s head coach said.

The pursuit of his signature was long and hard last summer, with both Norwich and Silkeborg holding firm over the fee. It was only after Marcelino Nunez’s departure to East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town that they opted to sign him, having signed Mirko Topic instead earlier in the window. Thankfully, Mattsson came their way in the end.

4 – Happy Birthday, Philippe.

Three points at the Valley proved the perfect birthday gift for Clement, who turned 52 the day after the win. He was set for a well-deserved day off with his wife to mark the occasion and has rightly received plenty of well-wishes from the Canaries fanbase.

Philippe Clement turned 52-years-old this weekend (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

He is yet to suffer back-to-back defeats since taking over last November, a run that has seen the former Rangers boss guide Norwich from 23rd to 10th in the Championship table. That level of transformation has even led some to draw comparisons with Paul Lambert, who took over in August 2009 after having been in the opposition dugout when Colchester United won 7-1 in the Fine City on the opening day.

Lambert’s first consecutive league defeats came in his 44th and 45th games in charge but spanned two seasons, with a home loss to Carlisle on the final day of the 2009/10 campaign followed by a home defeat to Watford in the opening game of the 2010/11 season.

Yesterday marked Clement’s 24th league game in the dugout, so he still has some way to go to match that feat. But given the backdrop of injury challenges, the Josh Sargent saga, and the size of the task to steer the club to safety when he arrived, there is little doubt about his ability to eventually do so.

5 – London Calling

29 of Norwich’s 54 points this season have come on the road, with eight wins, five draws, and seven defeats. Their next away trip is to the Den to face Alex Neil’s promotion-chasing Millwall. A win there would give them a 100% record in London this season, having already beaten QPR and Charlton.

Jovon Makama scored the winner at Loftus Road in January 2026 (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Under Johannes Hoff Thorup last term, Norwich lost both their capital city fixtures, falling 3-0 at Loftus Road in December 2024 and 3-1 at the Den in April 2025, while also suffering a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Carabao Cup.

Even during the play-off season under David Wagner in 2023/24, Norwich picked up just one point in London, which came against QPR after losing to the Lions. They also endured a standard defeat at Craven Cottage in the League Cup but claimed their most recent London win before this season with a late winner from Jonathan Rowe in the same competition against QPR.

You have to go all the way back to March 2023, still under Wagner, for their last league win in London, when the German boss guided them to a 3-2 victory.

6 – Out for revenge

The international break puts a stop to play for almost two weeks, with City having a large contingent heading across the globe to represent their countries. The scheduling of this break around the Easter weekend fixtures has added extra strain to an already busy period, something Clement was critical of ahead of the Charlton clash.

When they do resume action on Good Friday against Portsmouth in NR1, they will be seeking revenge for last season’s 5-3 pummelling. Of those who started on that day, four were also in the starting XI yesterday at the Valley: Kellen Fisher, Jose Cordoba, Kenny McLean, and Anis Ben Slimane, with Amankwah Forson came off the bench in both matches.

With Pompey suffering a 6-1 thumping away at QPR on Saturday afternoon, which kept them one point and one place above the drop zone, albeit with a game in hand, they will travel to Norfolk desperate for a win as they fight for survival.

Former Canary Ebou Adams is set for a Carrow Road return on Good Friday (Image: PA)

But it will not be an easy test for John Mousinho’s side, given that Carrow Road has become a fortress in 2026, with only Birmingham City and Stoke City managing to come out victorious. Norwich have won all seven of their other home games in all competitions.

While Norwich’s top six chances are very slim, Clement will certainly not let their standards drop between now and the end of the season. Here’s hoping their positivity lasts into what promises to be a big summer.