1. City chimes
What a statement win so early in the Liam Manning reign. Portsmouth and Fratton Park is one of the most difficult Championship outposts.
To put that in context Pompey only lost five times at home last season on their return to the second tier. One more than promoted Sunderland.
The ground is old school, the confines suffocating, the fans vocal and passionate and proud of their club.
It made for a vocal mix in that second half which culminated in Adrian Segecic’s strike and Vladan Kovacevic’s superb penalty stop.
Norwich earned a slice of luck when John Swift’s rising shot, in the midst of 10 additional stoppage time minutes, struck the woodwork and rebounded into play, but the Canaries merited that for a performance steeped in characters.
Two challenging away tests in recent days. Two hard-fought wins and that all important momentum Manning has cited as vital to accelerate the process underway. Norwich can now lean into this experience when they have their backs against the wall for the rest of this campaign of discovery.
Best not to get carried away at this early stage but the celebrations and sense of unity at full-time between coaches, players, staff and the packed away end evoked memories of a bygone era, and a promotion-sealing win in this neck of the woods under Paul Lambert.
2. Fast learners
Kovacevic and Jakov Medic might have been forgiven for sitting in the sanctuary of the Norwich home dressing room after Millwall and quietly contemplating what they had let themselves in for.
Kovacevic had to deal with a barrage of balls flying across his six yard line and under his bar as the Lions smelt blood. But the City number one announced his arrival at Fratton Park in superb style.
Big keepers step up in big moments and Kovacevic delivered in either half. After Harry Darling had headed Norwich City in front, the Serb threw himself across his goalline to brilliantly keep out Regan Poole’s near post strike. Within a minute, Norwich had surged up the opposite end and Sargent had doubled their lead.
Then as Portsmouth’s pressure told, and Kellen Fisher conceded a spot kick on Florian Bianchini, Kovacevic threw himself to his left to smother Colby Bishop’s effort. He sprung to his feet to be engulfed by his new team mates. So early in his Norwich timeline it could prove a ‘sliding doors’ moment as he strives to fill the big gloves of Angus Gunn.
Medic left the headlines to his fellow summer recruit at Fratton Park. But after a very difficult debut against the Lions, and another uncomfortable moment on cup duty for Watford’s late riposte – when he was squared up inside his own area by Kwadwo Baah – this was a step forward from the Croatian.
His reading of the game and success in nullifying the pace and guile of Josh Murphy should give him confidence moving forward.
3. Top drawer Topic
Hard not to get over-excited on the early body of evidence watching City’s shiny new holding midfielder. Which is a label that would do Mirko Topic a huge disservice.
He showed on his fast-track Championship debut against Millwall he had an eye for a shot, and is equally comfortable operating on the edge of the opposition penalty area as patrolling his own.
But in the testing environs of Fratton Park Topic looked like a midfielder who had played many a game in the English second tier. There was even a smart yellow card for seeking to delay a home free kick a fraction longer to allow City to re-organise.
Just as impressive is the speed he appears to have established a seamless understanding with Marcelino Nunez. The Chilean has been just as good these past few days before he was forced off early in the second half following the after-effects of an awkward late first half challenge that left his ankle swollen.
Topic is also a crucial component of how Norwich want to invite the opponent on and then play through. In the early sparring there was one instance when he received the ball under intense pressure from Jose Cordoba, and turned out of trouble to find Nunez.
It was the act of an operator confident in his technique, and at ease with the high tempo and pressing intensity he can expect on a routine basis in this league.
A later ball around the corner took him away from three Pompey players to spark a counter that ended with Ante Crnac flicking a leg at Jack Stacey’s cross.
Topic’s biggest challenge from here will be to maintain the consistency he has shown in his first few outings in green and yellow. But given the 24-year-old himself revealed City had made their initial interest known 12 months ago, it appears he is keen to make up for lost time in an eyecatching start to his Canaries’ career.
4. Emi flip
A lesson in why this summer transfer window, and Norwich, remain fluid partners. Emi Marcondes’ representative appeared to be touting his client with a late career move to Brazil, birthplace of his mother, over the summer.
City exercised a one year option for an attacking midfielder who produced a respectable level of goal contributions, after he linked up with Johannes Hoff Thorup on a free agent mission, to address a lack of available resource in forward areas this time last season.
But a new head coach and a new outlook, coupled with Marcondes being used sparingly in pre-season and then omitted from the matchday squad for the opening Championship hit out against Millwall, all added to the sense of a potential exit route in what remains of this transfer window.
Although Manning was quick to point out after this Portsmouth win that Millwall absence was more to manage a heel issue ahead of expected involvement in recent days.
That has brought starts against Watford and Portsmouth, and praise from his new boss for the 30-year-old’s impact and game intelligence in those pockets behind Josh Sargent. It looks a role perfectly suited to a player with his technical attributes.
Marcondes is also one of the few in this group with experience of Championship promotion at both Brentford and Bournemouth. Anis Ben Slimane and Shane Duffy would appear to be on the same twin track that led to Brad Hills departing earlier in the week.
Manning has been open about the desire to trim his bloated roster and be alive to any late disturbances around the key elements of his squad. But Marcondes looks to have carved out his own niche.