- Pelle Mattsson continues to impress with his performances for Norwich City
- The Canaries made it six away wins in eight against Charlton last Saturday
- Gibbs impressed at full back, making it seven different positions played in 95 games
Norwich City made it 10 wins in their last 13 Championship games away to Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon at the Valley. But what can we as fans take away from the game?
1. Don’t stop believing
Philippe Clement’s early words as Norwich manager were that he “demands, not asks” his players to give their all in games, and that is very much evident in the hearts and minds of this current City squad. Not one player stops running. They don’t stop fighting. They don’t stop believing that they can beat anyone they play against.
It is that attitude that, paired with the tactical and technical elements of Clement’s game, has seen them win 10 games from 13 in the Championship and get six wins in their last eight games away from home. The Belgian head coach has created a team that can win anywhere in any circumstances.
That is why more than 3,300 City supporters packed the away end at The Valley and why they have taken both Clement and this set of players into their loving arms.
2. Pelle > Pele
If Pelle Mattsson can continue to perform at the intensity and desire he is showing, then Norwich City have finally found their replacement for Alex Tettey after all these years.
Mattsson’s goal at the weekend was his first in a yellow and green shirt. It was also his first anywhere since a Superliga Europa League play-off clash against Randers in June 2025.
Mattsson is getting better and better. He is beginning to look like a consistent top-end Championship performer. The fact that Clement, who often chooses his words carefully and with purpose, recently offered a warning that City would need to match the pace of his levels of performance, felt telling that he feels they have a rapidly developing asset on their hands.
3. “Liam, can you play left back, son?”
In the recent weeks, when Norwich have needed someone to play in a position unnatural to them, they tend to go with Liam Gibbs.
Saturday was another new position for Gibbs, his seventh for Norwich in only his 95th game for the club. That list has included right wing, left wing, attacking midfield, number six, striker and most recently, left back.
That said, this was never going to be an outing where Gibbs turned into prime Cafu, but he provided energy, solidity, and his full commitment throughout. Yes, there were rogue passes and a few duels lost, but once again, Gibbs brought what his managers value most, reliability in a crisis.
He looks to have become the player to rely on when a gap needs filling. It’s certainly kept him valuable to Clement, but it is up to the head coach to decide whether or not Gibbs can be a permanent wall to build on.
