Get the average up

Although those behind the scenes at Colney are still daring to dream about future Premier League establishment, big spending and ambition, the reality facing most fans is fear of a return to League One.

They’ll be especially alarmed by a glance at the points required to stay in the Championship, with Luton hitting 49 last year and still being relegated to the third tier. Norwich are currently on nine, meaning they need 40 more in their next 30 games to reach that number.

That’s an average of 1.33 points per game – just under a win in every other fixture. There’s still time for Philippe Clement to turn things around, of course, but this currently looks like a team that’s miles away from doing so.

Hoof!

One of the advantages Clement has over predecessor Liam Manning is a discernible style of play. Manning was unable to produce or communicate any sort of philosophy aside from player power tactically, while his successor is known for preferring attacking football and instituting complex tactics.

But his usual preference for playing out from the back was absent at St. Andrew’s, at least according to Vladan Kovacevic’s pass completion. Only 55pc of his passes found their intended target – nobody on the pitch scored lower – suggesting a hit and hope approach to distribution.

Perhaps on a rainy day in the west Midlands it was smart to go with a mixed strategy, but going forward Clement will want to see that statistic improve.

Vladan Kovacevic’s passing was far from accurate (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

On The Ball, Duffy

Another explanation of City’s failed attempts at progressing the ball may come from who spent the most time on it.

Famed for his leadership, physicality and aerial ability, Shane Duffy isn’t quite as well known for his ball playing abilities. It seems that Birmingham knew that, because they let him spend more time in possession than any other player on the pitch: 8.3pc of it, in fact.

Only one of the game’s 25 key passes was made by Duffy, so perhaps that was a smart ploy from Chris Davies and his Blues.

A star in the making?

It hasn’t been the ideal time for Errol Mundle-Smith to make his first team breakthrough. With the focus on dreadful results, managerial sackings and the yellow and green blame game, his two Championship appearances have gone relatively unnoticed.

But Mundle-Smith was singled out for praise by Manning shortly before his demise, and the new man in charge was pleased to have got him involved in his dugout bow.

Perhaps the 19-year-old’s quiet rise is a good example of the youth development that Ben Knapper hoped to encourage by thinning his bloated squad – the silver lining to a heavy cloud hanging over his recruitment in a threadbare winger department back in the summer.

Errol Mundle-Smith made his second appearance for City (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

‘We want Knapper out’

Knapper came out for a contrite media round last week, his “that’s on me” refrain so common that it was spliced into Shaggy’s 2000 hit by one fan of both the Canaries and satire.

The first 89 minutes of support from a strong away end suggested it had worked, their usual anger turning to quiet disappointment as the goals rained in as strongly as the constant precipitation.

But just before stoppage time came the return of their own refrain – “we want Knapper out”. Although it’s clear that supporters are willing to give Clement the chance to turn things around, their underlying discontent with his boss has not gone away.

Norwich fans haven’t forgiven sporting director Ben Knapper (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Among the goals

It’s now three goals in three for Mathias Kvistgaarden, who appears to have taken the mantle on from striking colleague Josh Sargent.

As the American continues to search for the end of a goal drought that’s now lasted 12 games, Kvistgaarden has been one of few positives to cling onto, both in terms of City’s season and Knapper’s efforts in the transfer market.

Even though he had only 1.3pc of possession during the game, the summer signing had as many shots as anyone on his team bar Sargent, won all of his aerial duels and found the net to provide a brief lifeline. He must be wondering how much more he has to do.