- Norwich City lose on the final day of the Championship season.
- A tale of two halves against the play-off bound Tigers.
- Ratings each of Norwich’s players from their 2-1 defeat to Hull.
Norwich City finish the 2025/26 Championship season in ninth place. Imagine telling someone that when Philippe Clement first took charge…
The Canaries were 23rd in the table when the Belgian took the reins after 15 matches, and they came within two games of reaching the play-offs.
Norwich have been phenomenal under the former Rangers boss, but too many players let their levels drop against Hull City on the final day.
The defence
Vladan Kovacevic: 7.5
Hull would have won the game by more than one goal had it not been for a couple of brilliant saves from City’s number one, who could do little about the two goals that he conceded.
Jack Stacey: 5
A left-back is desperately needed this summer so that Kellen Fisher can play at right-back on a regular basis.
Jack Stacey does not look up to the task, defensively or in possession, to be an effective player week-in-week-out for Clement.
Ruairi McConville: 4
Ruairi McConville looked very much like a player who had not played since before the March international break.
A few loose passes early on in the game and a rash, needless, foul for the penalty. He’s had a phenomenal season, though, so this performance is not a major concern.
Jose Cordoba: 6
Jose Cordoba won ten of his 15 duels and made a whopping 12 ball recoveries, as he used his pace to mop up plenty of long balls from Hull.
Will be disappointed he did not win the header in the build-up to McConville’s foul for the penalty.
Kellen Fisher: 6
A left-back should be the first signing in the building this summer. Fisher needs to be back on his favoured side next season.
The midfield
Pelle Mattsson: 7
It would be easy to give Mattsson a seven out of ten just to continue the bit that we have here at Read Norwich, but it is simply the reality of what happened yet again.
The Dane won seven of his nine ground duels, winning 100% of his tackles, and completed 89% of his attempted passes.
Jacob Wright: 7.5
Before the half-time substitutions, which were enforced, ruined the flow of Norwich’s possession play, Jacob Wright was running the game as Kenny McLean’s replacement.
His passing in the first half was a joy to watch, setting up Fisher for a great chance and passing to Anis Ben Slimane in the build-up to Norwich’s goal.
The attack
Amankwah Forson: 5
The former RB Salzburg winger struggled to get into the game and did not have any moments of note before coming off at the break after a knock towards the end of the half.
Anis Ben Slimane: 6.5
It was a weird performance from Slimane. He produced a world-class assist for Mohamed Toure’s goal with a fantastic ball over the defence, yet also broke up four or five Norwich attacks with poor pieces of play.
The Canaries could have scored a couple more goals if he had been more decisive with the ball at his feet in the box.
Ali Ahmed: 5
I am crossing my fingers for Ali Ahmed that the injury he picked up towards the end of the half does not rule him out for the World Cup.
It was not his best performance, as he struggled to make an impact on the left flank, but I look forward to seeing what he can do for Canada this summer.
Mohamed Toure: 6.5
Toure falls into the same bracket as Slimane. His finish for the goal was exemplary and what we have come to expect from him.
However, his all-round game and hold-up play left a lot to be desired. He only completed 45% of his passes and lost five of his six aerial duels.
The substitutes
Liam Gibbs: 5
I respect Liam Gibbs a lot for the hard work he puts in and all the different positions that he has had to play for Norwich.
That being said, I hope that we do not see him play as a winger in any game next season. He is more effective in midfield or as a full-back on either side.
Paris Maghoma: 6
Paris Maghoma had to come on out of position on the right wing, yet again, but he was still able to create a ‘big chance’ for Slimane and was unfortunate not to register an assist.
Sam Field: N/A
Mathias Kvistgaarden: N/A
Errol Mundle-Smith: N/A
