Norwich City’s terrible start to the Championship season continued in midweek with a defeat to Southampton at Carrow Road, and Philippe Clement’s post-match reaction did not go down well with the Norfolk crowd.

Kuryu Matuski scored after Daniel Grimshaw could only parry Caspar Jander’s deflected shot nine minutes after half-time, adding to the Canaries’ recent misery.

Norwich have now lost five consecutive matches in all competitions, four of which came in the second division.

The veteran Belgian has continued to suffer several injuries, but few Championship observers expected the Yellows to be in 20th place after the first ten games of the season, only one point above the relegation zone.

Philippe Clement’s post-match assessment as Norwich City are defeated again

Norwich’s tight loss also saw them concede for the 20th time this season, giving them the division’s worst defensive record alongside Watford.

The Canaries are currently winless since September 8th, and they failed to convert any of their 12 opportunities, four of which challenged Daniel Peretz.

Speaking after the game, Clement said of his team’s performance: “We’re very unhappy because it was against narrow margins and I witnessed a squad who gave everything for at least 70 minutes.

“I expected more when we made the changes, and we’ll need more from them in the coming weeks and months, but we played well for 70 minutes and created enough opportunities to score more goals.”

“We didn’t give away much; it was a good structure and good organisation against a good team,” he said.

“So, there are many positives to take away from it, but in the end, it is all about results.

Philippe Clement’s Norwich City Record (15.10.26)

Matches

W

D

L

Win percentage %

47 24

5 18 51% “Everyone who saw the game today would agree that it was a fair contest in which both sides went head-to-head.

“It’s disappointing not to get any points, but it would be much more disappointing if Southampton totally smashed us today – then you can start to panic.”

Norwich City fans are incensed by Philippe Clement’s post-Southampton verdict.

Unsurprisingly, considering Norwich’s current losing skid, not everyone at the club perceived the same ‘positives’ as Clement.

One fan answered, “I’m getting tired of this nonsense. We have eyes, Philippe. Many of those participants appeared to be uninterested in the game. “We’re in a relegation battle.”

Another, apparently disagreeing with Clement’s decision, wrote: “Delusional. #NCFC was never in this match. The Saints didn’t even have to move out of second gear to thoroughly overpower City.”

“A team that gave everything” . “When a manager makes delusional comments like this, it usually only leads to one outcome…” was one of several assertions against Clement’s managerial position.I think that things could get lot worse if we continue to be like who we are up until Christmas and that means in the bottom 3 at Christmas. It also means that clean sheets isn’t important in the Championship,” wrote another concerned Norwich fan.

However, not everyone blamed Clement, with one supporter writing, “The players wouldn’t play for Smith, Wagner, Thorup, Manning, and now Clement. “There is a bad attitude in this club.”

Norwich City’s future matchups could decide Philippe Clement’s fate.

Clement is now without a number of key players, including Kenny McLean, Ali Ahmed, and Mo Toure, but some will argue that this is no excuse because Norwich’s biggest worry is their defensive record.

Conceding two goals per game is hardly a recipe for success, and the former Rangers manager will be hoping that such deficiencies are remedied as soon as possible.

City’s forthcoming matches could also play a role in determining Clement’s future, as the Canaries face Watford and Derby County after hosting Portsmouth and travelling to Charlton Athletic.