Chris Sutton Slams Norwich City’s Mentality After Blackburn Draw
Chris Sutton has criticized Norwich City’s mentality following their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
Despite Ante Crnac putting Norwich ahead in the 90th minute, the Canaries surrendered two crucial points after Andreas Weimann netted a 96th-minute equalizer for 10-man Blackburn at Ewood Park. The result leaves Blackburn three points ahead of Norwich in the Championship table.
Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side has now dropped a staggering 24 points from winning positions this season, a costly statistic in their push for a top-six finish.
Sutton Points to Norwich’s Inconsistency
Sutton pinpointed Norwich’s recent dropped points against Blackburn and Derby County as a key factor in their current position, arguing that these lapses are preventing them from securing a play-off spot.
Writing for Pink Un, Sutton said:
“The fact that Norwich have thrown away a league-high 24 points from winning positions is astonishing—it’s a clear sign that their mentality needs to improve.
“When you score a late goal to take the lead, there’s no excuse for not seeing the game out.
“While a draw at Blackburn isn’t necessarily a bad result, conceding so late makes it feel like a defeat. It was a major setback after the hard work they put in to get ahead against a team above them in the table.
“They still have a shot at the play-offs, but the dropped points against Derby and Blackburn could prove costly. Those four points alone would have put them level with sixth-placed West Brom.
“This inconsistency has plagued them all season, and it’s the biggest obstacle to their top-six hopes. Mistakes early in the campaign are understandable with squad changes, but for the same errors to persist in March is frustrating for Thorup.”
Norwich’s Play-Off Hopes in Jeopardy
Norwich currently sit 10th in the Championship, four points behind the play-off spots with 11 games remaining. However, their recent form is concerning, with just one win in their last five matches.
Thorup’s men will now look to bounce back in their upcoming home fixture against Oxford United on 7 March.
Blackburn Draw Highlights Norwich’s Ongoing Struggles
Scoring a last-minute goal should typically secure a victory, but Norwich’s defensive frailties have been their downfall throughout the season.
While occasional slip-ups are expected, dropping 24 points from winning positions is alarming. Even recovering half of those would have them comfortably inside the play-off spots.
If Norwich are to maintain hopes of promotion, they must address their inability to see out games—otherwise, their inconsistency will continue to cost them dearly.
