1. Sacked in the morning

The Robins’ travelling support were already taunting former boss Liam Manning before kick-off. By the full-time whistle there was plenty of home fans willing to join in with the same chant.

Manning’s desertion after leading Bristol City to a first play-off finish in 17 years in the second tier was clearly deemed unforgiveable by those who made the long trek.

The Bungay-bred coach left because in Norwich he clearly calculated he was joining a club with bigger resources and a higher ceiling to achieve his own personal ambitions.

He may be leaving rather quicker than he anticipated through the trap door. Measured in the fury of those who remained in all four home corners of Carrow Road at full-time that tipping point has been reached.

Not simply with this head coach. But for the first time there was real frustration directed towards sporting director Ben Knapper, and even a chorus or two during the game towards executive director Zoe Webber.

That angry midweek meeting around the proposed Carrow Road revamp still fresh and still raw for many in attendance. What a toxic mix. The scale of the angst must be lapping across the pond now to reach Mark Attanasio and Norfolk Holdings. How could it not?

This was a fitting epitaph to a horrendous period that now includes six consecutive home defeats and a first East Anglian derby setback in 16 years. City fans wants answers, they want action and they want to be listened to. This feels rudderless from top to bottom.

2. No hiding place

Nail on the head from the legend that is Darren Huckerby prior to the game. A player who made it his stock in trade to lift Norwich fans out of their seats, not leave them slumped in them like this current crew.

Huckerby’s social media output is usually entertaining and cutting in equal measure. But this was his post on X pre-match.

Game day, probably the most important home game in years, no hiding place today, need a performance and a result, get the fans onside from the off. Players need to step up and do their jobs , no more no less! Game on! #Ncfc

— Darren Huckerby (@DHucks6) October 18, 2025

Whatever happens from here to Manning. Or Knapper. Or Webber for that matter, can any of this squad look in that mirror Manning referred to in recent days and say they stepped up? Be it against his old club or at any point in this wretched season?

Did they grasp the enormity of Huckerby’s clarion call for so many reasons on and off the park that this felt like a seismic afternoon in the Canaries’ timeline? If they did the message got lost in translation.  

The collective lack of energy, the lack of urgency was something to behold. Granted, confidence looks at rock bottom but where was the bravery and the leadership Manning also demanded?

If this does end with another turn of the head coach wheel what does that say for this group of players? Many of whom remain from the failed Johannes Hoff Thorup partnership which was only dissolved five months ago.

The bigger picture worry is whoever is in charge of this group they look so far away from that top six ambition reiterated by everyone from Knapper downwards since Thorup’s exit.

There is no magic bullet to remedy this malaise. The focus right now might settle at board and executive level. It should not exclude the dressing room.   

3. Jump leads

A second league start for Matej Jurasek under Manning. Another chance to really push his claims for the type of leading man role most expected the Czechia international to assume, after a much-heralded arrival earlier this year.

Another chance to underscore those fitness related concerns are well behind him. Another chance squandered.

Jurasek was not alone in a sluggish first hour at Carrow Road from the hosts but the 22-year-old look laboured physically, and his work in possession sloppy.

Perhaps there is a lack of self-confidence and self-belief at how things have unfolded thus far in England. But the only way that changes is for Jurasek to grasp every opportunity going. Contrast this display with previous cameos against both Southampton in the League Cup and Wrexham in the Championship.

Plenty to work on in both those outings but still real moments of quality, vision and awareness. There was none of that against the Robins.

His latest shift typified in the 30th minute when Vladan Kovacevic attempted to spark a quick break with a throw arrowed at Jurasek that hit him on the leg and rolled out of play in the City Stand.

His eight months in Norfolk have set the tone but this was the type of offering that must set alarm bells ringing. If starts and match minutes are not the antidote, that what is?

Contrast Jurasek’s limp efforts with the non-stop running and unquestioned commitment of Oscar Schwartau on the opposite flank.

4. Hot shoe shuffle

Jeffrey Schlupp back into a Norwich starting line up in the league for the first time since the opening day. Tony Springett appearing in a City matchday squad for the first time in a year, after a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a back injury.

While Manning indicated at his pre-match media Shane Duffy is set to be in contention for upcoming league tests following his calf issue, and no game time yet this season.

Add Ben Chrisene and Mathias Kvistgaarden to that roll call, with both also set to be involved in short order after hamstring and knee injuries respectively, and there should be some cause for cautious optimism.

But this was still a roster that prompted more scrutiny of City’s recruitment in recent windows, and perhaps challenged the narrative a hectic summer turnover had added depth and quality.

Lucien Mahovo was a surprise omission, with Manning delivering in his post-match media the latest in an endless cycle of gloomy fitness bulletins. The youngster has been scanned in the past 24 hours with a ‘re-injury’ in the same quad region that had previously cut short his promising first team elevation.

Schlupp was recruited to add some Premier League nous and experience and, in truth, this was his best offering yet in a green and yellow shirt. There was purpose to his work and glimpses of a decent understanding with Schwartau down the Norwich left.

But it was still hard to escape the sense when Manning turned to his substitutes’ bench in the second half two years into Knapper’s tenure his recruitment specialists must remain busy in the windows ahead, despite a summer drive that brought 12 new senior faces to the club.