EFL preview: ‘Sleepless nights’ for under pressure bosses at Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers – BBC
The EFL weekend preview highlights pressure building on managers at Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers after poor recent results. Norwich head coach Philippe Clement is under scrutiny as his side’s five consecutive league defeats leave them 21st in the Championship, while supporters have questioned Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen after the team slipped from first to seventh in League One.
Norwich have nine points from 11 matches, just one point and place better off than at the same stage last season. Wednesday are four points behind League One leaders Stockport with a game in hand, despite taking only one win from their past five matches. Bristol Rovers have fallen to 16th in League Two after one win in seven, including four straight defeats; they host Swindon in a derby, while Norwich visit Charlton and Wednesday travel to Doncaster.
In short
- Norwich have lost five league matches in a row.
- Sheffield Wednesday have dropped from first to seventh.
- Bristol Rovers have four consecutive defeats.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A club under sustained poor form may reasonably consider changing its manager to arrest decline, restore confidence and show supporters that results matter. Norwich’s five straight league defeats and Bristol Rovers’ run of four consecutive losses give those advocating urgent action grounds to worry that waiting could make recovery harder.
The case against
A manager’s performance should be judged over a meaningful period, not only a short run of results, and upheaval can deepen instability or disrupt efforts to improve. Wednesday remain within reach of the League One leaders with a game in hand, while Norwich and Bristol Rovers may also have reasons to give their managers time to address the problems.