"The worst thing" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit raises double Norwich City concern | OneFootball

Don Goodman has highlighted two key issues behind Norwich City's underwhelming league position

Don Goodman has highlighted Norwich City’s defensive issues as the key reason why they’re not in the mix for promotion this year.

The Canaries have scored more than any side in the Championship this season except for Leeds United, with a total of 63 from 42 games.

An average of 2.5 goals per game is a great record, and should have the team in the battle for a top six finish.

However, a 2-1 loss to Burnley on Friday night has left them nine points adrift of Coventry City with only four fixtures to go.

Don Goodman highlights Norwich City issues

Goodman has criticised Norwich’s defensive issues so far this season as a big reason why Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side aren’t in the play-off fight.

He’s also highlighted the team’s poor record against the top five, losing seven of their 10 games this season, as a sign that they’re just not at that level at the moment, despite their goal-scoring form.

“I saw Norwich lose 2-1 at Bristol City four games before they lost 2-1 at Burnley, and what I see is a really good team when they’ve got the ball in the middle third and the attacking third,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“But what I see is a team that just shoot themselves in the foot time after time by trying to play out from the back, getting it wrong, conceding lots of silly goals.

“Their defensive record is never going to allow them to be challenging at the top.

“And when you look at their record against the top five, the five best teams in the league at the minute after 42 games, they’ve played 10, lost seven and drawn three.

“And I think that just tells you that they’re not at that level, and until they find a more efficient way of getting the ball into the forward areas then they’re always going to struggle.

“The worst thing is now that they find themselves in 13th, they’re not going up and they’re open, once again when they were last season when they lost Gabriel Sara and Jonny Rowe, they’re open to losing [Josh] Sargent, [Borja] Sainz, [Marcelino] Nunez, players of that quality.

“Which is obviously going to weaken them.”

Norwich are currently 13th in the Championship table with four games still to play.

Thorup has learned a lot this season

Thorup’s first season in charge has been one with a lot of lessons he will have to take into next year.

Improving the defence will surely be a key aspect of their summer business, provided the Dane remains in charge beyond this campaign.

While losing the likes of Sargent and Sainz is a concern, their strong attacking output is a positive sign from the manager that he can handle this situation.

But he has to demonstrate an ability to improve the backline and iron out these silly mistakes that cost them games, otherwise he won’t be able to sustain a promotion challenge at Carrow Road.