Portsmouth maintained their recent momentum by defeating Norwich 1-0 at Carrow Road, securing back-to-back Championship wins following their midweek success against Sheffield United. The decisive moment arrived in the 51st minute when striker Marezi converted a penalty to settle what proved to be a hard-fought encounter in East Anglia.
According to Sky Sports, the result extended Norwich's miserable run to five consecutive league defeats, prompting frustrated supporters to call for the removal of sporting director Ben Knapper as the final whistle sounded.
The match began with a poignant minute's applause honouring Norwich's former joint majority shareholder Michael Wynn-Jones, who passed away earlier in the month. However, the emotional tribute failed to galvanise the home side through a forgettable opening period.
For the first 35 minutes, neither team created a meaningful chance. Portsmouth winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen eventually broke the stalemate by firing a shot well over the crossbar from distance. Shortly after, Adrian Segecic saw an effort blocked following promising work down the right flank by Abu Kamara, while Norwich's weak long-range attempts from Ruairi McConville and Anis Ben Slimane offered little threat.
The deadlock was broken in the 51st minute when Jacob Wright was penalised for clipping Kamara inside the penalty area. Marezi stepped forward to dispatch the spot-kick for his third goal of the season, giving Portsmouth a lead they would not relinquish.
Norwich responded with renewed vigour. Ben Slimane tested Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid with a low drive, while substitute Lucien Mahovo's pass found Jovon Makama, whose volley sailed over the bar. The Canaries continued to press, and on 77 minutes came agonisingly close when Pelle Mattsson's shot from the edge of the box struck the upright with Schmid beaten.
Despite their spirited second-half display, Norwich could not find an equaliser, slipping to an eighth defeat in 11 league matches. According to FotMob, Norwich occupied 20th place after 10 matches with nine points and a goal difference of minus three, leaving them precariously positioned near the relegation zone.
The defeat compounds Norwich's recent struggles. Head coach Philippe Clement had previously identified a lack of efficiency as the team's primary problem following their defeat to Southampton, and this latest setback will only intensify the pressure on the club's hierarchy.
What happens next
Norwich will look to arrest their alarming decline when they travel to Charlton Athletic on 24 October, while Portsmouth face a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 20 October as they seek to build on their recent upturn in form.
