Norwich City 0 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Date: Wednesday 1st October 2025 
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Norwich:
5.3
(4-2-3-1) Kovacevic, Stacey, Darling, Córdoba, Fisher (Mahovo, 75), Mattsson, McLean (Topic, 61), Crnac, Marcondes (Jurásek, 61), Schwartau (Makama, 75), Sargent
Unused subs: Grimshaw, Medic, Gibbs, Wright, Schlupp
WBA:
6.7
(4-2-3-1) Griffiths 8.5, Campbell 5.9, Phillips 7.1, Mepham 7.2, Taylor 6.1 (Bielik, 75 6.3), Molumby 5.4, Mowatt 6.2 (Collyer, 75 6.5), Iling-Junior 6.6 (Gilchrist, 85 6.2), Price 6.3, Johnston 6.5 (Wallace, 60 5.8), Maja 7.0 (Heggebø, 60 7.2)
Unused subs: Wildsmith, Styles, Diakité, Bostock
Manager: Ryan Mason 6.7
Scorers: Maja (20)
Referee: Sam Allison 6.1
Attendance: 24,640   Home Fans 5.0   Away Fans 7.5
Submit your ratings for this game by clicking here: Ratings submitted so far: 16

Ancient Baggie:

The irony of football, our worst performance of the last four games and we end up with 3 points. Norwich were pretty ordinary and I think we probably should have won more comfortably but we looked a bit casual in possession and lacking composure before the goal and once we had the lead we didn't really kick on.

I think Campbell looked vulnerable at fullback with Iling Jr in front of him and though I appreciate Molumby's work rate he definitely doesn't add anything when in possession.

Really pleased for Griffiths hopefully it's the type of performance that gives him the confidence that he deserves to be number one.

October looks like a tough month with just one home game but hopefully we can get through it still in a good place.

Brendan Clegg:

Well we definitely got away with one there but on the balance of our efforts over the last 2 or 3 games the points tally is about right.

The starting lineup was positive in that it had a first start for Maja but perhaps surprising that Collyer hadn't got a start.

I'd say the first half was pretty forgettable. We couldn't keep the ball well enough and Norwich put pressure on us.

We took the lead through good work through SIJ down the right, showing strength as much as skill to drive past his man and cut it back. In situations like that, where the ball bounces off people, goal scorers like Maja just seem to have a magnet for the ball and he finished it superbly through the bodies with his left foot.

Other than that, it was a pretty scruffy half. Neither of our fullbacks got forward, Maja looked rusty and didn't look after it too well. I thought MJ looked bright with fast feet but it was all patchy. Norwich had some close moments and situations where they probably should have done better but we rode the half out.

After the break we really picked up where we left off and arguably looked even more leggy. The wingers swapped sides again but it didn't change much. After about 5 minutes Maja looked totally gassed so it wasn't a surprise to see Heggebø come on for him very early. Slightly more surprising was Wallace for MJ so soon. They were spoiler subs really and it gave us even more grafters on the pitch. Both did do just that and contributed but it left us even shorter of pace. Norwich were not hurting us but we couldn't really get on the ball either and continued to struggle through the middle.

With around 15 to go Collyer came on for Mowatt and, with Taylor seemingly injured, Bielik came on in what felt very much like a 5-4-1 with SIJ going to left back. We had a break away chance where Heggebø, having done really well, should probably have done much better with a cross that he seemed to confidently and purposefully put 10 yards wide like he absolutely meant to. But other than that we invited pressure and relied on some huge saves from Josh Griffiths to get us over the line... one in injury time where our defence disappeared and he seemed to spread himself really well. As the players came over to us after the game, he got all of the accolades.

Rattle off the cliches about it but we got the points after what was probably the worst I've seen us play this season over 90 minutes - not that the players didn't work hard and throw themselves into everything. I'd expect more changes on Saturday at Millwall although we should absolutely be going there to win.

  • Griffiths - 8 It could be his coming-of-age performance because confidence, authority, belief and stature are the things he's be missing. If it turns out to be the case, then that's probably even bigger than the win tonight.
  • Campbell - 6 Struggled on the ball and they got at him but he's big and athletic. Kept going.
  • Phillips - 7 Defended everything but was most guilty for giving it away.
  • Mepham - 8 Solid again and really calm on the ball.
  • Taylor - 6 Looks a bit leggy and might be injured now. Expected a little bit more to be honest.
  • Molumby - 5 Committed but chased shadows... and kicked them.
  • Mowatt - 6 As above, better on the ball but found it tough going.
  • SIJ - 6 Strong and mobile, did okay.
  • Price - 6 loads of running but we couldn't get him into it. Played quite high, we probably should have dropped him deeper.
  • MJ - 6 Sparky without getting much service.
  • Maja - 6 The goal will help, expect he'll drop to the bench after that but the minutes will do him good.
  • Heggebø - 7 Apart from the finishing he was really good, fought like a lion and won things he had no right to.
  • Wallace - 6 Steady
  • Collyer - 6 You'd think he has to start the next game.
  • Bielik - 6 Another big character who'd head a bowling ball away.
  • Gilchrist - 6 Good for him to get on.

My first trip to Carrow Road in a long time. The last time... I think... was when we were either suckered or hammered by the Canaries, and on the drive home the late, great Smethwick Batman got pulled over for speeding, only for the local copper to see our Albion colours and show us mercy with a 'just take it easy' warning having seen we'd suffered enough already.