After Norwich City’s latest defeat to Sunderland, Connor Southwell delivers six things you might have missed from the Stadium of Light.
1 – Desperate
Seven defeats in 10, the most goals conceded in the Championship, three points ahead of Huddersfield in 21st – wherever you turn, the numbers make for increasingly grim reading.
Performances and results continue to spiral, and a rut has well and truly set in around Norwich City. With change afoot off the pitch, there is an increased feeling that reset is needed on it.
After 14 games, this is the fewest amount of points they have taken in a Championship season since that infamous 2008/09 campaign that ended in relegation to League One. The current crash collision course feels increasingly despairing.
1,100 Norwich fans made the trip north to the Stadium of Light and many had left the away end after Jack Clarke’s strike hit the back of the net to compound the misery of another defeat for David Wagner’s men.
City’s head coach is set to be in charge for next Sunday’s clash against Blackburn at Carrow Road, but increasingly, it feels like a tall order to turn around a ship that is sinking at an alarming rate.
Norwich have to start winning, and now, to change the narrative and feeling around a season that is spiralling out of control.
2 – Roll of the dice
David Wagner is known for a high-octane, aggressive and front footed coaching style that is designed to make opponents uncomfortable and suffocated.
That wasn’t on display against Sunderland, with Norwich settling into an out-of-possession shape of 4-5-1, bringing Adam Forshaw into the midfield and looking for solidity whilst inviting pressure from the hosts.
Whilst there were early signs of joy in transition, namely through Hwang Ui-jo’s opening goal, Norwich were penned into their own half without release for extensive period within this contest.
They squandered over 63pc of possession, had just two shots on target and were unable to shut Sunderland out for extensive periods.
It was a game plan designed to contain in the hope of installing some confidence into a team that is desperately lacking it – it backfired.
When a head coach abandons the playing philosophy that made them successful in the first place, it begs the question as to what the future direction of travel is for them and the team.
Chasing short-term results is not a sustainable way of finding success – nobody can blame Wagner for a cautious approach, but it went too far – especially against a side that had lost three on the bounce ahead of this encounter.
3 – Broken records
Norwich enjoyed a positive run at the Stadium of Light prior to this defeat – having not suffered defeat on Wearside since a 3-0 defeat in February 2012.
That game was played in the Premier League. Martin O’Neil was Sunderland’s manager. Paul Lambert was in charge of Norwich. Fraiser Campbell scored a sumptuous volley.
In the five meetings since, Norwich were unbeaten, including two victories and three draws.
Even against ex-Ipswich man Tony Mowbray, Norwich have enjoyed success. He hadn’t beaten the Canaries in a home game since he was in charge of West Brom in 2007, losing three of the four meetings beforehand.
Sunderland has typically been a relatively happy hunting ground for the Canaries – but this was a deserved defeat against a side who were everything that Norwich currently are not.
Mowbray’s men were youthful, progressive and expressive – they played with a freedom and were exciting to watch. There was an identity supported by a crowd willing to buy into it. After years in the doldrums, this feels like a club moving in the right direction.
How Norwich fans wish those characteristics were true of their club – who are sliding precariously closer to the wrong end of the division.
4 – Bright sparks
They may have been few and far between, but there were some bright sparks for Norwich City amid a dark day at the Stadium of Light.
Kellen Fisher’s contribution is undeniably one – but Hwang Ui-jo showed the positive aspects of his game in a tireless first-half performance in difficult conditions.
The South Korean has been criticised for his performances in a Norwich shirt since his arrival from Nottingham Forest on Deadline Day. His positive actions have been limited and there have been real question marks about whether he could prove himself at the club.
There were eyebrows raised when the team news was announced and Hwang was leading the line by himself and ahead of Adam Idah.
Despite a change in approach, Hwang offered an energy and pace that did get Norwich up the pitch on occasion in transition.
There was one moment where he chased down a lost cause and stole back possession, albeit if it ended without a shot on goal.
Hwang tired in the second half, and that was reflected in his decision-making, but it was a much-needed positive step forward, even if he finished the afternoon on the wrong side of the result.
5 – Defensive troubles
It may have been a change in approach from David Wagner – but the outcome was very similar: Norwich were unable to protect their own goal.
That has been a recurring theme throughout their struggles in the last 10 matches - both through tactical and individual errors. Shane Duffy was the latest culprit after giving the ball away needlessly for the third goal.
Norwich have now conceded 99 shots on their goal in their last five matches. It is the first time in 17 years that they’ve given 15 shots or more to their opponents in five consecutive games. Only Blackburn have allowed more shots on their goal this season.
Norwich also sit bottom of the Championship table on expected goals against before Rotherham’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday. That statistic backs up the eye test that they are conceding quality opportunities to opponents on a regular basis.
If Wagner and his coaching team want to get Norwich’s results on an upward trajectory – then addressing their soft underbelly is of paramount importance.
It also falls on Norwich’s squad to halt the individual errors that are costing them at present.
6 – Carrow Road showdown
There is a cruel symmetry with what could await David Wagner at Carrow Road should the game with Blackburn go pear shaped.
For his predecessor, Dean Smith, this was the fixture that saw the home faithful turn, even if he was able to limp on for another few days until Boxing Day – where a defeat to Luton clinched his fate.
Or perhaps Nigel Worthington, where a Sunday game live on Sky Sports against Burnley turned sour and his departure was confirmed shortly thereafter. Wagner will be hoping to ensure the full-time picture is one of relief rather than further anguish.
One wrong step is going to be enough for Carrow Road to take aim – Wagner is wounded and his team need to deliver a performance, even if the reserves of confidence are running on empty. The supporters are already fed up. They don’t want their patience to be tested further.
There will be an expectation that they attack that contest and look to leave a mark on it. There will be a necessity to record a victory and halt some of the negativity that is building.
One thing is for certain – there will be nowhere to hide either for Wagner, City’s current squad or the hierarchy. It feels like a do-or-die moment.
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