Norwich City

The Canaries are still in the Championship play-off hunt with 12 games to play, starting at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

City's sporting director Ben Knapper recently sat down with BBC Radio Norfolk's Phil Daley and Rob Butler.

He spoke about the future of the club, the pending change in ownership and also answered questions from supporters.

You can watch the full interview here:

There is also an audio version of the interview which is available on BBC Sounds here.

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

On Saturday, the Canaries travel to Blackburn Rovers in an early Championship kick off (12:30 GMT) having returned to winning ways in style last weekend with victory over Stoke.

Ahead of the match at Ewood Park, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to the media and here are some of the key points from his press conference:

• Midfielder Kenny McLean remains out of the squad with an illness. They are targeting the following game against Oxford for his return.

• Forward Lewis Dobbin will be part of the squad despite coming off at half-time on Saturday.

• Reflecting on thee three points against Stoke, Thorup said he remains frustrated by some of the decision-making, despite the win. "We were just too loose at times."

• "What we have to get rid of is our inconsistency and the unforced errors," said Thorup.

• On striker Josh Sargent: "He can be out of the game for periods and we want him to push a bit more to always be involved. When he is involved, he's such a big threat."

• On Blackburn and new manager Valerien Ismael. "I'm sorry to my analysis department as we needed to watch lots of his games. If we play to our best it should be about us."

• "Everything is an opportunity for us at the moment. Saturday is another game in the league and we have to do our best. No games are more important than others - our approach should remain the same."

You can listen to full live commentary of Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 12:00 GMT on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

On the most recent Scrimmage podcast, Rob Butler and Chris Reeve invited Norwich fans to nominate the best headed goal they have seen for the Canaries.

Steve Bruce's effort in the Milk Cup semi-final second leg against Ipswich Town proved to be popular, but there was plenty of debate.

There was also a chance for supporters to show off their Canary tattoos after Tottenham's James Maddison revealed his own, following Spurs' win at Ipswich Town.

You can listen to The Scrimmage podcast by clicking below:

Norwich City forward Josh Sargent claimed a double to help the Canaries to a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on the weekend but while scoring seems second nature to the Norfolk side, the game did highlight some of the on-going concerns in defence.

Stoke were able to slip past the Norwich defence to equalise twice before Sargent and Junior Tchamadeu were able to take the game out of reach of the visitors.

The USA international admits letting standards slip after scoring themselves has become a frustrating habit for the Canaries who are 10th in the Championship.

"There's so many games that we just shoot ourselves in the foot and end up conceding in a really bad way. We just need to be a bit smarter," Sargent told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"After the first goal, I pulled all the guys together in the corner and huddled up and said, 'we always let off now, let's stay focused, keep pushing, go for the second, play good football'.

"It seemed like we just got sloppy with the ball, they end up creating more pressure and that leads to that goal. So I think it's a mentality thing we need to fix within ourselves."

Sargent scored his seventh goal in his last six games to take his tally to 11 for the season, continuing what's been a profitable campaign on a personal level.

"I'm very happy, obviously," he added. "Even happier that the team won the game.

"I want us to keep putting together results and make a good push for play-offs because I do think we are good enough, I do think we have the quality.

"We just need to limit those mistakes, those bad games and stay consistent with what we are good at."

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup was not entirely happy with his team's performance in their 4-2 win against Stoke City.

The Dane told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We have some offensive stuff going on that really gives us good opportunities and puts us in so many good situations. We could have scored more, that's the positive thing.

"I'm not that satisfied with our defensive performance because we should never concede two goals in a game like this."

After it was pointed out the Canaries have just one clean sheet at home this season, he added: "That's a problem for us going forwards. Scoring four goals is more than OK but we conceded two, and was it an even game? No, 100% no.

"Our first 45 minutes was outstanding in many ways, we completely controlled the game, with full dominance and everything, and created chances, and it only takes one mistake to concede a goal. We were about to do it after our second goal as well."

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, the Canaries take on Stoke City at Carrow Road in the Championship (15:00 GMT). They're looking for their first win in four games, following draws with Derby and Hull and defeat by Preston.

Ahead of the match, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to the media and here are some of the key points from his press conference:

• Midfielder Marcelino Nunez is fit to play this weekend after missing the last two games.

• Emi Marcondes and Kenny McLean remain sidelined.

• Matej Jurasek will miss the game with a thigh problem.

• Callum Doyle is suspended after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season at Hull.

• On Stoke, Thorup says: "They will be another team that are difficult to break down, they are high pressing and will make our life difficult.

• "There are no easy games in this league and we have to be at our maximum to get a good result."

You can listen to full live commentary of Norwich City v Stoke with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

Norwich City will look to keep their play-off hopes alive when they welcome Stoke City to Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Canaries are 12th, four points off the top six, and without a win in their past three games (D2 L1).

The Potters have won two of their past three and are seven points above the bottom three in 19th as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past eight league games against Stoke City (W5 D3), scoring 3+ goals in four of those matches.

• Stoke City have lost each of their past three away league games against Norwich City, last enduring a longer losing run against the Canaries between 1960 and 1974 (five games).

• Norwich City lost their previous home Championship match against Preston North End but haven't lost consecutively at Carrow Road since losing to Leeds, Middlesbrough and Blackburn in October and November last season.

• Stoke City have won two of their past three Championship matches (L1), more than they'd managed in their previous 15 games combined (W1 D8 L6).

• Norwich City forward Josh Sargent has had a hand in 14 goals in his past 16 Championship starts (9 goals, 5 assists), scoring five in his past five for the Canaries.

Norwich City midfielder Anis Ben Slimane says he has previously turned down international duty due to prioritising fitness for his club.

The Tunisia international has struggled with injury for both the Canaries and previous club Sheffield United, last featuring for Tunisia in January 2024.

But he is eager to help his country reach the World Cup during their upcoming qualifiers in March, having already featured in the competition in 2022.

"I have been selected for other international camps but unfortunately, with the injuries, I haven't felt like it was the right moment to be with the national team when I've not been 100% for the club. I prefer to be 100% fit for the club.

"I tried it once and I really want to do it again, so yeah hopefully we will be back there."

Slimane made his loan move to Norwich a permanent one in January, with the city feeling "like home" to the Copenhagen-born Canary.

Though just his second club in English football, there was a familiar face to help him transition to life in Norfolk.

Slimane has history with Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, having worked together early in their respective careers for Danish side Akademisk Boldklub's youth team.

"He has always been that serious and really engaged, and also a very clever manager tactically. I could feel that from when I worked with him very young.

"He's the same guy with the same values but grew with the job as well."

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage Podcast.

"It is a concern that the more time you spend out of the top division, the trickier it gets to recruit and retain your top talent."

Rob Butler and Jack Reeve discuss the long-term plan at Norwich City under boss Johannes Hoff Thorup and whether it'll be hindered by the potential loss of top players such as Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent.

The two attacking talents have been standouts for the Canaries this season, with Sainz the Championship's leading goalscorer despite serving a six-match ban, and could attract the eyes of teams with much meatier budgets come the summer.

Hoff Thorup has also been able to bring in promising talent, including Manchester City loanee Jacob Wright who came close to scoring an equaliser before Sargent secured the point at Hull City on Saturday.

"You can see it recently with Jacob Wright coming from Man City. He was very clear that he had seen some games with him and his family and his agents to find the right fit for him," Hoff Thorup told The Scrimmage podcast.

"When you play in a certain way - and especially with us in a technical way, a way where we try to score a lot of goals and create chances - it attracts players."

Can the Danish head coach build a team that could make the Premier League?

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage Podcast.

"For Norwich to get their only goal of the game while everyone was watching the squirrel - there's always something with Norwich, it's never straightforward."

Chris Goreham and Rob Butler reflect on Norwich City's draw with relegation battlers Hull City after a lacklustre start and discuss a perfect starting XI starring the Canaries' new favourite rodents.

This episode includes the full post-match interview with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup - and yes, Cyrille the Squirrel gets a shout-out.

You can listen to the full post-match reaction and more on The Scrimmage podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

There are probably moments when football managers up and down the land would love to slip an extra player on to the pitch and hope the referee doesn't notice.

Well, Norwich benefitted from the decoy run of a furry friend to help them collect a point from Saturday's trip to Hull.

With the Canaries trailing early in the second half, new 'star' signing Cyrille the Squirrel - as dubbed by BBC Radio Norfolk - appeared on the field and showed a neat turn of pace down the right wing, just a few yards from Borja Sainz.

Sainz could have slipped in Cyrille, but instead laid the ball off to Kellen Fisher, whose cross was headed in by Josh Sargent.

"I don't think I've ever seen something like that," Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said after the game.

"I have squirrels in my garden over here. They're everywhere. Hopefully he's not one of mine because otherwise we'll have to find him and take him back home."

The station 'interviewed' Cyrille after the game - but talk of a new contract at Carrow Road is understood to be nuts.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said his side's slow start cost them a win in their 1-1 draw away against struggling Hull City.

"With the bad start to the game, we still created enough situations in the second half that we can expect to score the winning goal," Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"From minute 15 to minute 90 I am pleased with the performance in many ways. We had good control.

"We had a good flow and a good rhythm and created a lot of situations and I am a little bit sad for the boys because we didn't get the second goal we deserved.

"It looked like we didn't get the pressing right in the first part of the game and we changed after they scored and started to create.

"It is young players with three players who are 21 or younger and a young midfield too. They are eager and I am delighted with them and praise to them for the way they reacted."

The latest Scrimmage Daily features Chris Goreham and Rob Butler discussing Canary transfer deals which didn't come off.

Did you know Frank Lampard (senior) almost signed for City?

What about when then manager David Stringer missed a game to go and scout a player in Scotland? Does that ring any bells?

Click below to listen:

If you want to get in touch with Chris and Rob at The Scrimmage, you can email thescrimmage@bbc.co.uk.

There's plenty at stake as Hull City welcome Norwich to the MKM on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After their midweek defeat at Burnley, their second straight, the Tigers remain in the Championship relegation zone below Derby by virtue of their inferior goal difference.

The Canaries have fallen to 11th, four points adrift of the play-off places, after drawing at home to the Rams on Saturday and going down 1-0 to Preston at Carrow Road on Tuesday night.

• Hull City have lost each of their past four league games against Norwich City, conceding 11 goals in that time.

• Norwich are looking to beat Hull on successive Football League trips for the first time since December 1968.

• Hull are yet to win a home league game in 2025 (D1 L3), which is their longest winless start at home in a year since 2020 (7 games).

• Norwich are aiming to win successive away league games for the first time since January 2023 after beating Watford 1-0 at the start of the month at Vicarage Road.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has two goals in his last four league games against Hull, netting the second goal in their 4-0 win in the reverse fixture in October.

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, the Canaries travel to Hull in the Championship (15:00 GMT) after disappointing performances against Derby County and Preston North End.

Ahead of the game, Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to the media and here are some of the key points from his press conference:

• Captain Kenny McLean remains a doubt after pulling out of the starting line-up on Tuesday night with an illness. He still hasn't recovered.

• Emi Marcondes, who missed the defeat to Preston, remains sidelined with hip pain.

• Marcelino Nunez will miss Hull. He had a scan on his ankle after a heavy challenge on Tuesday night. "The scan was ok and it isn't broken, but it doesn't look good," said Thorup.

• "We need to look at what we didn't get right on Tuesday night," added the head coach in referencing the defeat to Preston.

• Thorup says it's hard to form an opinion on Hull due to some great results against the likes of Leeds and Sheffield United, but also some defeats against lesser sides. "They (Hull) are front footed. We need to be calm and have good solid build-up play, our pressing game needs to be good to."

• Thorup says he's frustrated because he thinks the team are progressing quicker than he expected at the start of the season, but injuries are hampering their attempts to break into the top six.

You can listen to full live commentary of Hull V Norwich City with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB. Coverage begins at 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk, Norwich City commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Successive home games against Derby County and Preston North End were supposed to be Norwich City's big opportunity to gatecrash the top six. It ended up being a typical Championship reality check.

With Josh Sargent fit and firing, Borja Sainz returning from a six-game ban, Marcelino Nunez recovered from injury and Czech winger Matej Jurasek finally cleared to make his debut, the stars appeared to be aligning for boss Johannes Hoff Thorup.

However, the resolute defences of Derby and Preston stifled the usually prolific Canaries.

Norwich are the only other team in the Championship aside from leaders Leeds United to have registered 50 league goals this season. You wouldn't have thought so on the evidence of these shot-shy displays.

A late penalty allowed Derby to clinch a point in a 1-1 draw. Preston scored early and that proved enough to take the win.

One point from a possible six marks a massive missed opportunity for City.

Thorup was philosophical in defeat on Tuesday night. It's only recently that he's openly entertained a top-six finish as being within reach in his first season in English football. He's often pointed to the steep learning curve that his squad is on.

One of his tasks was to reduce the average age of the team. The Norwich starting line-up against Preston featured just two players over the age of 24.

At their entertaining best, Norwich look capable of nicking one of the two remaining play-off spots that are realistically up for grabs. These last two matches have shown that cracking some Canary consistency remains Thorup's biggest challenge