Norwich City 2-3 Wrexham: Paddy Davitt Championship pointers

1. L, L, L, L

Process, project and any other buzzword beginning with P will not mask what a diabolical start to the new season at Carrow Road for Liam Manning’s Norwich. Take that Southampton League Cup defeat out of the equation if you wish.

But this was a new low, after the previous league setbacks to Millwall and Middlesbrough. Ahead in the closing stages of the opening period, when Jack Stacey and Matej Jurasek combined with clinical intent, City imploded in spectacular fashion before the hour mark had been reached and the latest round of home boos and catcalls had subsided.

Wrexham goals one and two were both sourced from a dereliction of duty to press in midfield, and a collective head’s gone in defence, as Jose Cordoba’s flank was twice left exposed by Issa Kabore.

Add Josh Windass’ curling effort, after he backed Stacey into his own area, and the only question left unanswered was how toxic the reaction would be at the final whistle. Thankfully, perhaps for Manning, Jovon Makama’s stoppage time strike took the edge off that negativity and fury.

The City head coach spoke afterwards of his 'anger, hurt and frustration' at the limp efforts of a team he wants cast in his image.

But for Vladan Kovacevic’s shot-stopping instincts it would have been even worse. If that is possible when you open up a season badged as a top six promotion tilt with no points from the opening nine available in front of your own.

Norwich were second best in general play against a slick Coventry the previous week but grimly held on to a point. Here they were just second best in the key phases. Disjointed, disorganised, at times in disarray.

2. Get a grip

City’s in-possession game remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma. By this stage of the Championship tour under new management it is not unreasonable to expect – for those frustrated City fans - a discernible pattern of play, a structure, and a cohesive template to progress the ball from back to front.

Manning spoke again in the build up to this embarrassing home defeat about extending those genuinely fertile periods in games to ’60 or 70 minutes’ of control. But since Watford in the League Cup, or the first halves at Portsmouth and Blackburn, they have regressed. That is on Manning and his coaching staff to unpick.

Mathias Kvistgaarden’s knee injury was a cruel blow with what felt like the beginnings of a spark with Josh Sargent – who could be forgiven for wondering what he has hung about for after this first month or so of fitful Championship service from his team mates.

Manning is also attempting to strike that fine balance of introducing new blood, like Pelle Mattsson, and short circuit the need to forge key relationships and build that understanding in the unforgiving terrain of Championship combat.

But park the defensive woes that turned a first half lead into an unassailable second half climb, and Norwich’s possession was again lacking in any precision or structure.

Without it Manning’s Canaries have had to lean far too heavily into guts and obduracy out of possession. It is not a sustainable formula. Certainly not for a club seeking upward mobility.

3. Oh dear, Pelle

Not a debut to look back on with any fondness for the young Dane. Which was no reflection on his own personal contribution but to have the misfortune to be swept along by the carnage that unfolded around him.

There were some tentative, nervy early moments but you could see the energy and the physicality he offers. One tigerish challenge halted a Wrexham counter and earned a cheap shot from Callum Doyle. Welcome to the Championship. He was still going strong in stoppage time trying to salvage the comeback.

Norwich’s pursuit of the former Silkeborg midfielder turned into a summer-long saga that was only unlocked with the departure of Marcelino Nunez to Ipswich. Mattsson is not a direct replacement but both sporting director Ben Knapper and Manning believe he has the attributes they are looking for in this City rebuild.

Mirko Topic’s timeline serves as something of a pertinent reminder. The Serbian looked to have hit the ground running after he was immediately fast-tracked into Norwich’s central midfield.

But Topic’s own form has dipped in more recent outings and it was perhaps a tough ask him for to assume the role of senior partner in the injury absence of Kenny McLean to try and coax Mattsson through his first introduction to English football.

With Jacob Wright now back available after his three-match ban it is no exaggeration to over-state the importance of Manning settling on a central midfield mix that can both unlock City’s issues in possession, and provide more ballast to their backline. Certainly at Carrow Road.

4. Matej’s moment

A first Championship start for Jurasek since February. Not the result or the ‘Hollywood’ script that was meant to accompany the 22-year-old Czechia international who swapped Slavia Prague’s dominance in his homeland for a tit at England in green and yellow.

The narrative in the intervening period has focused on Jurasek struggles to adapt, both physically and in terms of the footballing demands. But with each fresh omission the questions only grew louder. Uncomfortable lines of enquiry in truth for Knapper and his team after committing many millions to bring Jurasek to these shores.

Manning has been consistent in his messaging. Both externally to a puzzled fan base and one would expect the young man himself. Jurasek scored the opening goal of the Manning era in a pre-season tune up against Northampton.

But an understandably cautious fitness approach from those inside Carrow Road was designed to get him up-to-speed with the minimum of risk. Jurasek was in a matchday squad, then out of it, then back, then a League Cup start, then back out of the squad, then back in, but after a brace of unused substitute appearances this was the time and the day Manning had teased, when reaffirming recently in Jurasek he feels he has a player of some promise and who fits his footballing vision.

That moment duly arrived in the 39th minute, when he conjured a perfectly-weighted pass over the top of the Wrexham backline for Stacey to slot. Earlier in the half he dragged his shot at Arthur Okonkwo when the roles were reversed.

But this must be a start, not respite, if the narrative is to definitively change around a player with the type of pedigree that should be able to light up this division.

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