Norwich City 1-0 Charlton Athletic: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Norwich City 1-0 Charlton Athletic in the Championship on Friday, 26 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Norwich City won 1-0 against Charlton Athletic. The first half was a tight affair with neither side finding the net, as Norwich came into this one off a mixed run including a draw at Preston and a win over Southampton, while Charlton had just beaten Oxford but suffered recent defeats to Middlesbrough and Coventry. Both teams made changes at the break, with Norwich bringing on Jacob Wright and Tony Springett, but it stayed goalless until the hour mark.

Things sparked into life when Jovon Makama scored for Norwich in the 61st minute, giving them the lead they held onto despite a flurry of yellow cards and substitutions from both sides. Charlton pushed back with subs like Greg Docherty and Tyreece Campbell coming on around the 60th minute, but they couldn’t break through, reflecting their patchy away form lately. Norwich’s defence stood firm to secure the three points, boosting their confidence after that recent loss to Watford.

Norwich City bossed possession with well over half the ball, which helped them control the tempo, though Charlton looked sharper in dribbles, suggesting they were more effective on the counter. Corners were close, with Charlton edging it slightly, pointing to some set-piece threats from the visitors, but Norwich’s discipline slipped a bit with three yellow cards compared to Charlton’s two, and no reds on either side. Both teams used all five substitutions, like Norwich swapping in Lucien Mahovo for Ben Chrisene at 68 minutes and Mathias Kvistgaarden replacing Jovon Makama late on, while Charlton brought on players such as Charlie Kelman for Miles Leaburn at 71 minutes to try and chase the game.

There were no penalties or injury-time goals, and assists weren’t a big factor, underlining a match where one moment of quality made the difference rather than sustained dominance.

The game’s turning point came in the 61st minute when Jovon Makama fired Norwich ahead, a goal that proved decisive amid a scrappy second half. Yellow cards flew soon after, with Ben Chrisene booked early in the half for Norwich, followed by Makama himself at 64 minutes and Harry Darling a minute later, while Charlton’s Thomas Kaminski saw yellow at 64 minutes too. Substitutions played a role, as Norwich freshened up at half-time with Jacob Wright replacing Anis Slimane and Tony Springett coming on for Matej Jurasek, helping shift momentum.

Charlton tried to respond with changes like Greg Docherty for Karoy Anderson and Tyreece Campbell replacing Amari’i Bell at 60 minutes, but another yellow for Campbell at 77 minutes didn’t help their cause. Later swaps, such as Lucien Mahovo for Ben Chrisene at 68 minutes on the Norwich side and Rob Apter for Tanto Olaofe at 71 minutes for Charlton, added energy, though the hosts held firm through the closing stages.

Norwich City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, which gave them a solid base to build from, with partnerships in midfield helping to maintain possession. Jovon Makama stood out up front before Mathias Kvistgaarden replaced him late on, while changes like Jacob Wright coming on for Anis Slimane and Tony Springett for Matej Jurasek at half-time bolstered their options. Players such as Ben Chrisene, who picked up a yellow before Lucien Mahovo took his place, and Oscar Schwartau, subbed off for Jack Stacey, contributed to a resilient display.

Charlton Athletic set up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, aiming for width and forward threat, with pairings upfront like Miles Leaburn and Tanto Olaofe before Charlie Kelman and Rob Apter replaced them in the second half. Substitutes such as Greg Docherty, who came on for Karoy Anderson, and Tyreece Campbell for Amari’i Bell around the hour mark added dynamism, though Campbell’s yellow card hampered things. Luke Berry’s late entry for Conor Coventry aimed to push for an equaliser in a setup that relied on quick transitions.

Jovon Makama earned Coral’s Man of the Match honours for his crucial contribution, netting the only goal of the game in a performance that included a couple of key passes without any assists or big chances created. His strike in the 61st minute turned the match in Norwich’s favour, showing composure under pressure before he made way for Mathias Kvistgaarden late on. It was a standout effort that highlighted his importance to the team’s attack.

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Preston North End (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Southampton (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Sheffield United (A)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Watford (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Norwich City (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Oxford United (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Birmingham City (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Middlesbrough (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Coventry City (A)

Norwich City have just beaten Charlton Athletic 1-0, a result that follows a patchy run with a draw at Preston, a win over Southampton, and a loss to Watford, leaving them 23rd on 21 points and in need of more consistency to climb away from trouble. Their next match is against Watford on 2025-12-29 at 19:45, with the opponents sitting eighth on 35 points, so it’s a tough test where Norwich will hope to build on this win and close the gap on mid-table safety.

Charlton Athletic have just lost 1-0 to Norwich City, adding to a mixed spell that includes a win over Oxford but defeats to Middlesbrough and Coventry, placing them 17th on 27 points as they look to steady the ship. They face Portsmouth next on 2025-12-29 at 19:45, with the opposition 22nd on 22 points, offering a chance to bounce back and put some distance between themselves and the lower reaches of the table.

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