Carrow Road was buzzing with anticipation on Saturday, February 7, 2026, as Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers faced off in a crucial EFL Championship clash. Both teams entered the match with plenty at stake—just a single point separated them before kickoff, with survival and momentum on the line. Norwich, under the revitalizing leadership of Belgian manager Philippe Clement, sought to extend their impressive run and pull further clear of the relegation zone. Blackburn, meanwhile, hoped caretaker boss Damien Johnson could build on their midweek win and steer them away from danger.
The build-up to this encounter was marked by significant team news and a flurry of late changes. Norwich fans welcomed new signings Mohamed Toure, a £2.6 million arrival from Randers, and Sam Field, on loan from QPR, into the matchday squad. However, the Canaries were forced to adjust their starting lineup just before kickoff when Papa Amadou Diallo left the warm-up early, leading to Tony Springett stepping in. Injuries continued to plague the home side, with key midfielder Pelle Mattsson (ankle), Manchester United loanee Harry Amass (hamstring), and winger Matej Jurasek (foot) all sidelined alongside long-term absentees Jeffery Schlupp, Shane Duffy, Mirko Topic, and Ante Crnac.
Blackburn, for their part, entered the contest on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, a result that snapped an eight-game winless streak and lifted them out of the bottom three. The Rovers lined up with a starting XI of Toth; Miller, Carter, McLoughlin, Cashin; Baradji, Tronstad; Alebiosu, Cantwell (captain), Morishita; and Ohashi. Notably, Todd Cantwell was set for his first return to Carrow Road since leaving Norwich, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the occasion. Midfielder Adam Forshaw was again missing due to injury, while Hayden Carter’s fitness was under scrutiny after a busy week.
The opening exchanges were tense and cagey, with both sides struggling to carve out clear-cut chances. Norwich, lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Vladan Kovacevic in goal and a back four of Fisher, McConville, Cordoba, and Chrisene, tried to assert themselves early. Kenny McLean and Jacob Wright anchored the midfield, supporting an attacking trio of Springett, Slimane, and Ahmed behind striker Jovon Makama. The first half was a gritty affair, with neither team managing a shot on target. Ruairi McConville headed over for Norwich, while Blackburn’s Hayden Carter was alert to clear a Jacob Wright effort off the line. The intensity was palpable, but the breakthrough proved elusive as the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
After the interval, the match’s complexion began to change. Norwich suffered a significant setback when top scorer Jovon Makama, already on 13 goals for the season, was forced off with what appeared to be an ankle injury. The disappointment was clear on Makama’s face as he limped off, replaced by Mohamed Toure, who was making his debut after his recent transfer. The change would prove pivotal.
For much of the second half, Blackburn’s defense held firm, with Balazs Toth barely troubled in goal. The visitors maintained their shape and discipline, looking to capitalize on any Norwich mistakes. As the clock ticked past the hour mark, both managers turned to their benches in search of a spark. Substitutions came thick and fast—Oscar Schwartau entered for Norwich, while C. O’Riordan and O. Afolayan came on for Blackburn to inject fresh legs.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute. After a sustained spell of Norwich pressure, Schwartau unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive that crashed off the post. The rebound fell kindly to Anis Ben Slimane, and the midfielder made no mistake, firing home from 12 yards for his fourth goal in five games. The Carrow Road faithful erupted as Norwich seized a crucial 1-0 lead, a testament to their increasing confidence under Clement.
Blackburn, now trailing, were forced to chase the game. Johnson’s men tried to push forward, but Norwich smelled blood. Just six minutes after the opener, the hosts doubled their advantage. Substitute Schwartau once again played a key role, capitalizing on a Blackburn slip to force a save from Toth. The ball ricocheted into the path of debutant Mohamed Toure, who volleyed into the empty net to mark his first Norwich appearance with a goal. The stadium exploded in celebration, and Toure’s teammates mobbed him in recognition of his instant impact.
As the match entered its final stages, tempers flared and the yellow cards began to flow. Sam Field, another Norwich newcomer, was booked for a foul in the 83rd minute, while Slimane picked up a caution for his exuberant goal celebration. Blackburn made further changes, with Mathias Jorgensen coming on for Yuki Ohashi in the 85th minute, but the visitors struggled to create meaningful chances against a resolute Norwich defense.
Five minutes of added time were announced, but Norwich managed the closing moments with composure, keeping Blackburn at bay and securing their fourth win in five league games. The 2-0 victory lifted the Canaries four points clear of the relegation zone and continued their remarkable turnaround under Philippe Clement, who has now overseen eight wins and three draws from his 16 league games in charge. The Belgian manager has ended Norwich’s home woes—after failing to win at Carrow Road under previous boss Ryan Manning in the season’s opening months, Clement has now guided the team to five home victories out of eight.
After the match, Clement praised his side’s resilience and dominance: “All credit for the hard work and organisation of Blackburn today, they did everything to stop us. But in the end, we were the team who were dominant today. Although the start of the game was, for me, not good enough, but we dominated the game and we deserve to win. We had the most chances. We almost didn’t concede any chances in this game, so that’s a real positive.”
Blackburn caretaker boss Damien Johnson, meanwhile, expressed his frustration: “Obviously I’m very disappointed with the result. Overall for 70 minutes there wasn’t a lot in it. I thought we were in the game and we had some opportunities in terms of our crosses, territory and momentum. We obviously knew Norwich would have some moments as well. I think we were punished for just two moments, a poor header and then just a slip, which can happen, so overall disappointed.”
With this result, Blackburn Rovers slip back into the relegation zone on goal difference, underscoring the fine margins at the bottom of the Championship. For Norwich, the win not only boosts their survival hopes but also signals a new era of belief and ambition under Clement. The Canaries will hope that Toure’s debut heroics and the team’s newfound resilience can carry them safely through a pivotal month of fixtures.