Losing can quickly become habitual. Norwich City needed to break that cycle at Charlton and, encouragingly, there were numbers within their performance that suggested this wasn't simply a fortunate escape from it.

Across their five consecutive Championship defeats, Norwich had been outshot 61-53 and lost the cumulative expected-goals battle 8.62 to 5.33. They averaged just 10.6 attempts and 1.07 xG per game while allowing opponents 12.2 shots and 1.72 xG.

The trends in this fixture were more encouraging. Norwich didn't scrape their way out of trouble or rely on fortune finally falling their way. They doubled Charlton's shot count 16-8 and produced six more attempts than their average during that run of defeats.

There was also more control. City's 62pc possession was their second-highest league figure of the season, while 467 passes, 371 completed passes and 194 in the opposition half all represented their second-highest totals. Their 61 entries into the final third were also their third-highest figure.

Those numbers look much closer to the territorial dominance and efficiency City displayed during the high points of last season under Philippe Clement. It wasn't perfect and defensive vulnerabilities remained, but after a run spent absorbing setback after setback, this felt like a meaningful step back in the right direction.

The challenge now is ensuring Charlton becomes the start of a new pattern rather than a brief interruption to the old one.

2 - Balance

Philippe Clement remarked after this important victory that it felt like the first time this season that his Norwich City team had successfully balanced their attacking threat with defensive solidity.

He is right. Across their opening 12 Championship matches, City's expected-goals numbers could hardly illustrate their search for balance better: 1.58 xG created per game and 1.58 conceded. In short, the overall quality of chances Norwich have created and conceded has been virtually identical.

At The Valley, that equation finally tilted emphatically in City's favour. Norwich produced 1.77 xG while restricting Charlton to just 0.68, creating a +1.09 differential that offered a much healthier picture at both ends of the pitch.

That wasn't achieved by simply sitting deep and shutting up shop. Charlton entered the final third 70 times, more than any opponent City have faced in the league this season, but those situations ultimately produced only eight attempts and 0.68 xG.

That disconnect is significant. City didn't necessarily prevent Charlton from advancing, but they were far better at stopping those attacks from developing into opportunities towards their own goal. Their deeper defending wasn't perfect, but crucially it was effective over the piece.

Charlton are the Championship's lowest side for chance creation, so one afternoon isn't enough to declare the balance problem solved. But after repeatedly seeing attacking ambition come at the expense of defensive security, this felt like a better compromise.

A Norwich City win in October - a rarity for those travelling supporters at Charlton. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

3 - Curse broken

Green Day wanted waking up when September ended. Norwich City might rather sleep through October altogether.

Since returning to the Championship in 2022/23, wins during the tenth month of the year have proven particularly hard to come by. Victory at The Valley was just their fourth in 27 October league matches and their first since beating Hull City 4-0 under Johannes Hoff Thorup in 2024.

In fact, this result ended a run of eight consecutive October defeats and an 11-game winless streak in the month. Across those five Octobers, Norwich have won four, drawn seven and lost 16, scoring 33 goals and conceding 42.

Across the last five Octobers, City have won just 14.8pc of their matches, lost 59.3pc, scored 1.22 per game, conceded 1.56 and kept only three clean sheets. In that period, they've taken just 19 points from a possible 81.

What makes that record even more curious is how many different City sides, managers and circumstances it spans. October has become a recurring stumbling block rather than the product of one particularly difficult season. This win will not transform the wider picture, but it at least ensures another autumn isn't allowed to drift in quite the same fashion.

Perhaps the clocks going back have finally helped City move forward. A Halloween win over Watford next week might be the ideal way to banish the curse altogether.

Mathias Kvistgaarden was a standout for Norwich City in their 3-1 victory at Charlton. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

4 - Sharp shooter

Ever since Mathias Kvistgaarden joined City, there has been a feeling of 'right player, wrong time' about his spell in Norfolk.

But there has been a change in the mood music this season. The Dane has returned fitter and is beginning to fire, as documented during a standout display at the Valley on Saturday afternoon.

There are encouraging signs of that across his Championship season. Kvistgaarden has scored three times from just 10 attempts and 1.95 xG, with half of those shots hitting the target. Six have been taken from inside the penalty area, suggesting he is generally getting his opportunities from worthwhile positions.

His finish at Charlton was another example. The header carried an xG value of 0.37 before the attempt but an xGOT figure of 0.84 once the quality and placement of the effort were accounted for. In other words, Kvistgaarden turned a decent opportunity into a considerably more dangerous attempt through the quality of the finish.

Equally as impressive was the way he peeled off Billy Koumetio to engineer the space for Ruairi McConville to find with his impressive cross, using Harry Darling as a decoy.

Given Jovon Makama is working his way back to full fitness and Mo Toure remains absent with his shoulder injury, Norwich need Kvistgaarden to help lighten the load. This was a productive and effective performance from the Danish international.

Kenny McLean shares the celebrations with Norwich City's 3,000 strong travelling support at the Valley. (Image: Ben Peters/Focus Images Ltd)

5 - Captain Fantastic

Kenny McLean has an important role within Norwich City's young squad, but the contrast in results and performances with and without their captain is stark.

That was the curious backdrop to events at The Valley. Norwich had lost their previous six league games without McLean starting, while the previous 30 had yielded just four victories.

Norwich's record when McLean is missing altogether is even more alarming. Since returning to the Championship in 2022, City have won only two of the 27 league games in which he has been absent from the squad, losing 23. Even having him available from the bench appears significant.

During the first half, McLean was coaching City's players through a difficult opening 25 minutes as he completed his own warm-up. As they jogged in at half-time, he grabbed Paris Maghoma for a few words of wisdom. It was a snapshot of his influence on this young squad.

Philippe Clement only needed him for 45 minutes at The Valley. McLean completed 20 passes after entering at half-time, played six into the final third and created a chance, while also recording four defensive actions and winning four duels.

Among Championship defensive and central midfielders to have played at least 540 minutes, McLean sits way out in front for line-breaking passes, averaging around 13.4 per 90. It underlines his importance in progressing City's attacks and helping to establish control, regularly taking opposition players out of the game with passes through or beyond defensive lines.

It was McLean's 320th appearance for the Canaries, leaving him just 17 behind George Martin in 21st on the club's all-time appearance list. It was good to see him back. Boy, did Norwich need him.

Scenes of celebration - now Norwich City need to make sure it is the start of another redemption arc under Philippe Clement. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

6 - Foundations

Relief will undoubtedly be the overriding emotion for everyone of a yellow and green persuasion after a first win following five straight Championship defeats, plus a heavy League Cup loss to Manchester City.

But the focus now needs to be on ensuring this is the start of a bigger redemption rather than merely one moment of respite.

This game marked the quarter stage of the Championship season. Norwich mark it with eight defeats, four wins and no draws. They still sit 20th. The concerns that exist around the club won't be washed away by one 90 minutes.

But, there is a suggestion that Philippe Clement's side have endured the toughest run of fixtures in the division up to this stage, and the next three leading into the November break represent an opportunity to stabilise their season and kick on further in their wider aim for the play-offs.

City's next three opponents are Watford (21st), who have lost five of their six away games so far this season, Derby (23rd), who have won just once in their opening 12 matches amid an injury crisis, and Bristol City (14th), have recorded just one win their last seven matches. This is an opportunity for Norwich to embark on a run of wins and points heading into the November break.

If those play-off ambitions are to remain realistic, Charlton cannot be the destination. It has to be the starting point.