Norwich City claimed a 1-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at The Valley, with Pelle Mattsson scoring the only goal in the fifth minute. The midfielder's right-footed effort from the edge of the area travelled through a crowded box and beyond Will Mannion after Ali Ahmed had created the opening.
That early breakthrough set the tone for a first half in which Norwich moved the ball sharply and created the clearer openings, while Charlton, unbeaten in three league games before the contest, struggled to test Vladan Kovacevic. The home side improved after the break and came close through Kayne Ramsay's header against the crossbar, but Nathan Jones's team could not force an equaliser.
Norwich's bright beginning brings the breakthrough
Norwich needed only five minutes to move in front. Ahmed's pass found Mattsson on the edge of the penalty area, and the Dane kept his composure to send a low strike through a packed box for his first goal since joining from Silkeborg last summer.