Norwich City's dismal form has placed manager Philippe Clement under severe pressure ahead of Saturday's Championship trip to Charlton Athletic. The Canaries have lost their last five league games, most recently a 1-0 home defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday 17 October, and sit 21st in the table with just nine points from 11 matches, having recorded three wins and eight losses.
Clement's team has conceded 21 goals this season, the second-worst defensive record in the division, while scoring 17 for a goal difference of minus four. They have also failed to score in their last two outings, a 1-0 loss to Southampton on Wednesday 14 October preceding the Portsmouth defeat. The club's current position is 14 points adrift of leaders Swansea City.
Analyst Matt Bottomley offered a bleak assessment. "Norwich City are blunt at both ends of the pitch," he said.
Saturday's opponents, Charlton Athletic, are 17th and also struggling for wins, having gone eight games without one. Their last outing was a 2-0 home loss to Watford. Nathan Jones's side will view the visit of a faltering Norwich as a prime opportunity to halt their own slide.
Norwich's recent fixtures have been punishing. The 3-4 defeat to Bolton on Sunday 20 September and the 4-3 loss at Middlesbrough on Saturday 12 September highlighted their defensive frailties, while heavy losses to Manchester City on Thursday 17 September and a 2-1 defeat at Swansea on Saturday 10 October have compounded the misery. Top scorer M. Touré, with five goals in seven appearances, will be key to any revival.
With their recent form reading five consecutive losses, the next fixture away to Charlton on Saturday 24 October takes on even greater significance. The match at The Valley kicks off at 12:30 on Saturday. For Clement, it represents a critical chance to stop the rot before the international break. Another defeat could force the club's hierarchy into a decision many supporters are already calling for.
