Norwich City's losing run hits six after Portsmouth defeat

Norwich City's alarming slide continued with a sixth consecutive defeat, leaving them just a point above the Championship relegation zone and prompting a stark assessment from pundit Aaron McLean.

Norwich City's season is in freefall after a sixth straight defeat, this time a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth on Saturday. The result leaves Philippe Clement's side dangling just one point above the Championship relegation zone, a stark contrast to the pre-season optimism that surrounded the club.

Marezi's penalty was enough to settle the contest, condemning Norwich to another damaging result. Pundit Aaron McLean, who had tipped the Canaries for a surprise promotion push, admitted he now has 'egg on my face' over his prediction. "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," McLean told reporters.

Confidence crisis

The former striker pointed to a clear erosion of belief within the squad as the losses mount. "With each game they lose, you can see the confidence streaming out of the squad," McLean said. "As soon as they concede a goal, you think 'here we go again'. It's like groundhog day." Manager Philippe Clement, who took charge last year, faces a monumental task to halt this slide and rebuild morale.

Goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw could do little about the decisive spot-kick in a match that followed a familiar, frustrating pattern for the travelling support. The club's current predicament is a far cry from the ambitions held at the start of the campaign, with performances failing to match expectations.

Elsewhere in the EFL

While Norwich faltered, West Ham United continued their formidable form with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City, a result that moved them to within a point of the Championship summit. Divine Mukasa got the only goal, taking the Hammers' tally to 30 goals in just 11 league games, with Jarrod Bowen contributing eight of those.

Watford ended a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win against Charlton, a result that lifts them three points clear of the bottom three under Alessio Dionisi. In League One, MK Dons, managed by Paul Warne, secured a 2-1 win over Luton Town after drawing six of their opening eight fixtures. The struggles continued for Alex Bruce's Rotherham United in League Two, however, as a 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood left them in the division's bottom two.

Norwich have no time to dwell, with their focus immediately turning to a key away fixture against 17th-placed Charlton on Saturday, 24 October.