Norwich City fall 2-1 to Millwall at Carrow Road

Pink Un editor Paddy Davitt rates Norwich City players after a 2-1 Championship defeat against Millwall.

Norwich City fall 2-1 to Millwall at Carrow Road

Norwich City began with energy but were forced back as Millwall pressed after the opening spell. Vladan Kovacevic faced a testing afternoon and produced a standout two handed save before Camiel Neghli struck at his near post to put the visitors ahead. The visitors then forced more pressure with a mix of direct play and disciplined defending, and the home side found themselves chasing the game.

Josh Sargent sparked a late fightback with a persistent spell that earned Norwich an equaliser, but Millwall sealed the win with a late counter finished by Macaulay Langstaff. Norwich subs added urgency in the final 15 minutes, with Kvistgaarden and Nunez giving the team more tempo, while Forson and Topic showed signs of the players Manning is hoping will shape the season.

Two games into the campaign and Norwich’s start exposes both promise and gaps. The backline looked unsettled at times, and Kovacevic’s high volume of work highlighted a goalkeeper who faced a busy afternoon. Yet there were positive signs in forward play, notably Sargent’s willingness to press and create, and the debutants Topic and Forson offered physical presence that Norwich will want to cultivate. The results underline a familiar pattern for teams in transition: energy up front must be matched by better balance at the back and more clinical finishing in the box.

Millwall looked compact and patient, taking advantage of Norwich’s momentary lapses and the visitors’ set piece threat. The clash points to how Manning must blend new arrivals with established players quickly, and how Millwall’s methodical approach can grind down opponents who open up while chasing the game. The early-season pressure means the next fixtures will test whether Norwich can translate individual moments into a consistent 90 minutes.

Highlights

This season will hinge on translating early signs into steady, sharpened performances.