MATCH PREVIEW: Norwich City vs Charlton Athletic - Boxing Day - 3pm Kick-Off
Norwich City vs Charlton Athletic
Boxing Day - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Introduction
If our recent run of matches was tough, facing teams chasing the Play-Offs, chasing promotion, what would you say about our run of fixtures over the remaining days and weeks of 2025? - After all the festive fixtures are finally here, Christmas, perhaps the toughest stage of any part of the Football Calendar has arrived here in England, but its part of what makes the English game so special... We face a trip to Norfolk this coming Boxing Day, filled with turkey and all the trimmings, its certainly a fixture that feels slightly better after we recorded all three points against Oxford United on Saturday... Another result would be a very welcome, ending 2025 on a high, would be very belated Christmas present.
The Opposition
Name: Norwich City (23rd) - Manager: Philippe Clement
Ground: Carrow Road
Previous League Result: Preston 1-1 Norwich
If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle in the Championship, well... Norwich City wouldn't be one of them.
At least that would have been the opinion before a ball was kicked in anger ahead of the 2024/25 season. Norwich after all went into this season with a clean slate, Liam Manning was brought in at the helm, having guided Bristol City to the Play-Offs, and surprisingly became the very first Norwich Manager to be born in the City - The relationship that followed between Manning and the board though, wasn't great... No wins at Carrow Road under his stewardship... Well that wont do... and Manning was sacked at the start of November, with the club in 23rd and on 9-pts, he was replaced by Philippe Clement, whose last job in the hot seat was North of the Border back in February with Glasgow Rangers.
The downside is that Norwich have "improved" since swapping Manager, a bit like Southampton, just not on such a grand scale... Not yet at least... They've lost just the one game under Clement, a 3-2 loss at Watford, and whilst they've just two wins under Clement, they've equally doubled their points total under their new man, all whilst remaining in 23rd. In terms of players, well the loss of Nunez to Ipswich will have hurt the locals, whilst Sainz being sold to FC Porto wont have helped matters either, Sargent though, along with Albon and Lati- Sorry wrong Sport, will be the one to watch. The American Striker, signed from Werder Bremen in 2021, has been the Canaries top scorer in each of the past three seasons, 13-goals his lowest return, and despite the clubs lowly position, is already on seven goals for this term... That's what €9.5m gets you at this level.
Norwich also have a torrid record on Boxing Day, losing four of their last five matches... Compared to Charlton who go into this game having lost just one of their last five matches on this particular date - Both teams will certainly be looking a positive result, and avoid the prospect of starting 2026, being trussed and prepped for relegation!!
Charlton Team News
We received the happy news ahead of Saturdays clash with Charlie Kelman announced amongst the substitutes having been absent through a misdiagnosed injury these last seven weeks, our own American Striker wasted no time continuing where he left off, with the sole, and potentially important goal against Oxford. The question now, is Nathan Jones tempted as a result to throw him back into the starting eleven, with him potentially partnering Miles Leaburn, who put in a MOTM performance last time out, and putting his miss at Birmingham behind him.
Elsewhere and Rob Apter became the latest name to appear at Left Wing-Back, and despite many misgivings, didn't disgrace himself by any means... Nathan Jones will have to decide whether to continue with that experiment, or given we're away from home, may choose to start either Ibby Fullah, or Tyreece Campbell in that role, the latter finding his own form of late with his first goal at this level, and yet another assist on Saturday. The biggest concern is Kayne Ramsay, the stalwart Defender was replaced late against Oxford having picked up a knock, and may be absent for the trip to Norfolk this Friday, either that or he wants Boxing Day off, will we see a swap to a back four, or will Keenan Gough, our latest Academy Graduate, be given another opportunity to prove his worth.
Kaminski
Gough - Jones - Gillesphey
Bree - Coventry - Docherty - Campbell
Carey
Leaburn - Kelman
Substitutes Bench: Mannion - Laqeretabua - Apter - Costello - Berry - Knibbs - Olaofe - Anderson - Roussillon
Comments
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There's no way Docherty comes in for Anderson22
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Given we’ve heard Bree and Bell will be back I expect at least one of them on the bench2
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I was hoping we would see Bell in the squad for Friday2
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If Docherty starts ahead of Anderson, I am going home.
Can't see anything other than a 3 nil Charlton win10 -
Excellent preview as always FA.
Hopefully with players returning from injury we can kick on from our win over Oxford.
Not sure why but I'm feeling confident we will win this game so on that note
2 1 the mighty Addick's2 -
Take a draw here. Norwich are a bit hit and miss although they have had a bit of new manager bounce. Hope Bell is back. Praying Ramsay is fit. Anderson should start. Tanto and Miles to start up front with Charlie to come on in second half. One game I would love to win as I live in Norwich.7
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Looking forward to January 1st with interest when Coventry visit The Valley…👍0
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No reason to drop Apter after his performance at the weekend and Campbell has come off the bench to change the game twice in two games so I wouldn't change that either. If Ramsay is fit I wouldn't be surprised to see us unchanged, Leaburn and Tanto will huff and puff probably to little effect but then being able to bring on Kelman for his movement and pressing and TC for his pace against a tired defence is a good tactic to have.14
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fenaddick said:Given we’ve heard Bree and Bell will be back I expect at least one of them on the bench
Have solely opted for a mixture of caution and rotation given its Xmas with this particular squad... Thought we'd see two returnees vs. Oxford, and it was just Kelman, whilst would put more focus and emphasis on the Pompey game as wellross1 said:I was hoping we would see Bell in the squad for Friday4 -
3-1 to Norwich.0
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We can't focus on anything other than Norwich in my opinion. If Ramsey is fit, i don't see any reason why we can't go there and get a result. Throw the kitchen sink at it and then worry about Portsmouth.ForeverAddickted said:fenaddick said:Given we’ve heard Bree and Bell will be back I expect at least one of them on the bench
Have solely opted for a mixture of caution and rotation given its Xmas with this particular squad... Thought we'd see two returnees vs. Oxford, and it was just Kelman, whilst would put more focus and emphasis on the Pompey game as wellross1 said:I was hoping we would see Bell in the squad for Friday11 -
If we have a defence of Ramsay, Jones, Bell…then all 3 points are coming home with us.
Would take a point all day long tho.7 -
I guess you mean Burke and Bell?fenaddick said:Given we’ve heard Bree and Bell will be back I expect at least one of them on the bench7 -
Correct, my brain has switched off for Christmas!crookester said:
I guess you mean Burke and Bell?fenaddick said:Given we’ve heard Bree and Bell will be back I expect at least one of them on the bench4 -
Seriously can see us getting three points, and 0-2 with Charlie boy again being on the score sheet...COYR4
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There is alot of optimism on the predictions so far. Personally I think a draw would be a great result for us. Norwich are another team who are better than their league position imo and we always seem to be the team that other teams kickstart their season on lol5
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1-1 would do nicely.AndyG said:There is alot of optimism on the predictions so far. Personally I think a draw would be a great result for us. Norwich are another team who are better than their league position imo and we always seem to be the team that other teams kickstart their season on lol
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Give Delias stuffing a go on Christmas Day then give her a stuffing on Boxing Day. COYR!!2
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I'm at the in-laws over Xmas, and my father-in-law is a Naridge fan. Hopefully he won't have anything to crow about come 5pm...
COYA!0 -
There form is not that bad and they score goals, so given they are established championship squad I reckon Norwich 2-Charlton 1.0
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Yay! A "home" game! It'll be a novelty, attending a 3pm kick off where I hint had to leave until about 1pm and could be back home by 6:15pm.
Norwich's home form may have picked up in recent weeks but they're still vulnerable defensively especially in the dying stages of matches, a period of the match when we've been incredibly strong under Rev Jones.
A draw would be a good result as a point away from home is never to be turned down but we've got a goals sequence to maintain. As with the Ipswich match the Ginger Genius will be the driving force, this time back on his home turf instead of at East Anglian rivals.
City 0 Charlton 2 (Kelman, Carey - who'll give it incredibly large to the natives)9 -
Kinsella87 said:Give Delias stuffing a go on Christmas Day then give her a stuffing on Boxing Day. COYR!!
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Think Ramsay would have to be minus a leg to not play in this. We can’t go into this game with the defence listed in the preview. No chance.
Surely now Bell back, Burke on the bench and Ramsay starts.
If that’s the case 3 points.
With the line up above 0 points5 -
ForeverAddickted said:
…If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle…
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I'm surprised some of our own East Anglian supporters havent pulled me up on that onelordromford said:ForeverAddickted said:…If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle…
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You said "...If an East Anglican was to count on one hand ..." so I assumed you were just having a dig at the clergy instead of natives of the Kingdom of East Anglia (although feel free to put the boot into the South Folk of that Kingdom, the North Folk are far superiorForeverAddickted said:
I'm surprised some of our own East Anglian supporters havent pulled me up on that onelordromford said:ForeverAddickted said:…If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle…
)
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Briston_Addick said:
You said "...If an East Anglican was to count on one hand ..." so I assumed you were just having a dig at the clergy instead of natives of the Kingdom of East Anglia (although feel free to put the boot into the South Folk of that Kingdom, the North Folk are far superiorForeverAddickted said:
I'm surprised some of our own East Anglian supporters havent pulled me up on that onelordromford said:ForeverAddickted said:…If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle…
)
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Briston_Addick said:
You said "...If an East Anglican was to count on one hand ..." so I assumed you were just having a dig at the clergy instead of natives of the Kingdom of East Anglia (although feel free to put the boot into the South Folk of that Kingdom, the North Folk are far superiorForeverAddickted said:
I'm surprised some of our own East Anglian supporters havent pulled me up on that onelordromford said:ForeverAddickted said:…If an East Anglican was to count on one hand, the six teams that would be contesting a relegation battle…
)
Oi!!....😉,I lived in Suffolk for 10 years, and worked in Norfolk, before moving to the Sth coast...and loved it, South and North was good...2 -
Comfortable BD win, Norwich down the pan. 0-4.0
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3 -1 charlton0
