Philippe Clement arrived at Carrow Road last November to salvage a season that had gone badly wrong. He did it, too: only four clubs accumulated more Championship points than Norwich's 56 across the remainder of that campaign, and the Canaries climbed from the bottom of the table to finish ninth. Supporters had every reason to expect more of the same this time around.

Instead, the 2026-27 season has opened in a manner uncomfortably similar to the one Clement was brought in to fix. Five consecutive league defeats have left Norwich 21st in the table, with nine points from 11 games. That is a single point and a single place better than the position the club occupied at the same stage last season under Liam Manning, who was dismissed shortly afterwards following four straight losses.

Familiar ground, familiar fear

The parallel is not lost on those watching from outside. Former Hull City striker Aaron McLean, who had tipped Norwich for automatic promotion before a ball was kicked, did not mince his words. "I've got egg on my face because they were my wild promotion pick, so I'm as surprised as anyone that they're doing so badly," he said. "I thought the job Clement did when he came in last year was incredible and I really fancied them to kick on this season and not only challenge for the play-offs, but challenge for automatic promotion and be right up there. They've just been so disappointing and they look void of any confidence at the moment. I don't know where they go from here."

Norwich's defensive record compounds the concern. Only Preston have conceded more goals in the Championship so far this season, with the Canaries having shipped 21. Conceding at that rate while failing to win makes for a toxic combination in a division where momentum matters as much as quality.

The Toure blow

Clement can point to at least one significant mitigating factor. Striker Mohamed Toure had been the brightest light in a difficult start, scoring five goals in seven league appearances before a shoulder injury removed him from the picture for several months. Losing your leading scorer to a long-term absence at any point is damaging; losing him when the team is already stuttering is a serious setback.

The head coach, for his part, is urging calm. "It's my task to stay calm in the frustration because if everybody starts to panic, we are not going to have the season we want," Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk. "There are still 35 games to play." That is true enough, and a manager who turned things around so dramatically in the second half of last season deserves some credit in the bank. Whether that credit extends as far as the board is a question only Carrow Road can answer.

Saturday's test at Charlton

Norwich's next opportunity to arrest the slide comes on Saturday when they travel to face Charlton Athletic, who have their own problems. The Addicks have gone eight matches without a win since an opening-day burst of three victories, picking up five draws and three defeats in that stretch. They remain unbeaten at The Valley this season, however, and have conceded just twice on home soil, which means the visit is unlikely to be a straightforward confidence-rebuilder for Clement's side.

A result of any description would be welcome for a club that was supposed to be challenging at the other end of the table by now. The gap between expectation and reality at Carrow Road has rarely felt wider, and how Norwich respond over the next few weeks will determine whether this becomes a season of recovery or something considerably worse.

Clement has done it before. The question, as the pressure visibly mounts, is whether he will be given the time and the squad depth to do it again.

Frequently asked

Why are Norwich City struggling in the Championship this season?
Norwich have lost five league games in a row and sit 21st after 11 matches. A key factor has been the long-term shoulder injury to top scorer Mohamed Toure, who had scored five goals in seven games before being ruled out for several months.
Is Philippe Clement under threat of the sack at Norwich?
Clement is facing scrutiny after Norwich's poor start, but he has pointed out there are still 35 games remaining. He previously rescued Norwich from a similarly dire position last season, which gives him some credit with supporters, though the pressure is clearly building.
When do Norwich City play next and who are they facing?
Norwich travel to Charlton Athletic on Saturday (12:30 BST). Charlton have gone eight matches without a win but are unbeaten at The Valley and have conceded only twice at home this season.