Norwich City picked up three important Championship points with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City, but manager Philippe Clement was in no mood to wax lyrical about the performance. "We needed to be tough and we were," was his verdict — a line that tells you plenty about how the afternoon unfolded.

A win earned, not gifted

The result continues a positive recent run for the Canaries, who had already claimed their first away victory of the campaign at Sheffield United before this home success. Back-to-back Championship wins carry real weight, but Clement will know better than most that a run of four or five good results in this division can dissolve in a fortnight. Two wins in a row is a start, not a statement.

Norwich had to withstand Birmingham pressure to see the match out. The fact that Clement chose the word "tough" — rather than "controlled" or "comfortable" — suggests this was not a dominant display. A one-goal cushion is rarely a safe place to be in the Championship, and Birmingham, to their credit, made the home side work for every minute.

Birmingham left to rue another near miss

For Birmingham, this defeat will sting. Their manager had spoken publicly before the match about wanting his side to claim the club's first Championship win of this campaign, and an equaliser keeping them in the contest late on meant it nearly happened. It did not, and Birmingham remain without that elusive first victory in the second tier this season.

Manager Scott Davies had already demanded a response from his squad following a difficult run, and a spirited showing at Carrow Road — one that made it 2-1 before the final whistle — at least suggests character in the dressing room. Character without points, though, is cold comfort in a division where the bottom of the table can become a trap quickly.

The concern for Birmingham is that a side good enough to pull one back against Norwich still could not find a second. Matches in the Championship rarely wait for you to be ready: if the chances do not go in when they arrive, the opportunity is gone. Birmingham are learning that lesson in real time.

What it means in the table

Three points for Norwich brings the Canaries meaningful momentum. After the chastening 1-0 defeat at Stoke, consecutive wins represent a genuine recovery. The Carrow Road faithful will take encouragement from the resilience Clement's side showed, even if the performance level was clearly below its ceiling.

Clement is an experienced enough operator to keep his squad grounded. He will point to the matches that remain, the points still available, and the need to replicate this toughness week after week rather than just against one opponent. That is the difference between a purple patch and a genuine promotion push.

For Birmingham, the immediate priority is straightforward: find a Championship win before the pressure of a blank points column starts to define the season's narrative. Resilience in defeat is admirable. Results are what keep a club away from the wrong end of the table.

Two clubs heading in different directions on the back of this result — but in the Championship, those directions can reverse with alarming speed. Neither side should read too much into a single afternoon's work.

Frequently asked

What was the score in Norwich City vs Birmingham City?
Norwich City beat Birmingham City 2-1 in a Championship match, with manager Philippe Clement saying his side needed to be tough to see out the result.
What did Philippe Clement say after the win over Birmingham?
Clement said "We needed to be tough and we were," reflecting on what he considered a hard-fought rather than comfortable victory for Norwich City.
Have Birmingham City won a Championship game this season?
Based on the available information, Birmingham City had not secured their first Championship win of the current campaign as of this defeat at Norwich City.