Norwich City

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Home is where the heart is - except if you are Norwich City.

Hope garnered from a 100% away record crafted with gutsy performances at Watford and Portsmouth has been erased by higgledy-piggledy performances in front of the frustrated Carrow Road faithful.

The latest defeat against Middlesbrough saw the Canaries self-implode with a mix of imprecise passing and silly discipline to lose a game they should be winning if promotion is a realistic aim.

Ironically, Norwich played better on Saturday when they went a man down after Jacob Wright was sent off for a loose-limbed challenge 58 minutes in.

They threw the kitchen sink at their opponents at the end of the game, allowing Josh Sargent to raise hopes with a late goal.

But it's often the hope that kills you when you sit in 'the Snakepit' at Carrow Road. And fans will want to see an end to the Jekyll and Hyde Norwich who play away but struggle at home.

Image source, PA Media

Norwich head coach Liam Manning urged his side to improve their ball retention after suffering a second successive home defeat at the start of the new season.

The Canaries were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough despite Josh Sargent giving them late hope with his fourth goal in as many matches.

"We did a really good job first half of problem solving and I thought we managed to start putting a bit of pressure on higher up," Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We got some control of the ball but have to show more quality when we do break their structure.

"We'd had a couple of warning signs and turned the ball over far too cheaply, and at this level when you give it away so easily you end up defending your goal extremely quickly.

"Things are improving but what you can't do is (go from) performing an action at eight out of 10 to a three very quickly, there were far too many of them."

Jacob Wright was sent off for a poor tackle just before the hour mark, but Manning added: "After that we saw another side to the team and they continued to fight to the end, which is a really important attribute, but ultimately just fell a little bit short."

Norwich are away to Blackburn Rovers next Saturday.

Liam Manning's Norwich City will go after their first home win of the season as they take on Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Rob Edwards' side sit second in the Championship table after victories over Swansea City and Millwall as they look to extend their winning run.

• Norwich City are winless across their last seven league games against Middlesbrough (D3 L4), conceding 15 goals in total across that time.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their last four away league games against Norwich City (W2 D2). They will be looking to remain unbeaten in five successive games for the first time in the EFL.

• After beating Portsmouth 2-1 last time out, Norwich City will be looking to win consecutive Championship matches for the first time since February.

• Middlesbrough will be looking to win their opening three games of a league season for the first time since 1994-95.

• Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic are the only two sides in the Championship to have kept a clean sheet in both of their first two league games.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City defender Harry Darling hopes to make a big contribution at both ends of the pitch this season after being reunited with boss Liam Manning.

Darling scored 10 goals for MK Dons during the 2021-22 season, when Manning was in charge there, and opened his account for the Canaries in Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Portsmouth.

"That was a really good year and I'd like to add goals into my game (this season). I got one early doors, so hopefully I can add a few more," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

Darling could also be an effective weapon with his long throw, which was flicked on for Josh Sargent's second against Pompey.

"I was messing about at training one day and realised I could throw it quite far. Nick, the set-piece guy, identified that there was a bit of a weakness in Portsmouth's side with a long throw-in - it probably surprised them and we scored off it," he said.

Norwich are at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, a match which ended in a 3-3 draw last season.

"Rob Edwards has gone in (at Boro) and they've had a really good start under him. It's going to be a tough game, like every game is in the Champ. We're expecting a tough test."

Listen to the full Radio Norfolk interview with Harry by clicking here.

Marcelino Nunez is set to miss several weeks with an ankle injury sustained in the win at Portsmouth, according to Norwich City boss Liam Manning.

Speaking ahead of the Canaries' home game with Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 BST), Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We're probably fortunate it wasn't more serious.

"It was a bit of a nasty one, but fortunately we are talking a few weeks rather than months.

"It's disappointing because he did extremely well in the Watford game, and I thought he was excellent in the first half against Portsmouth.

"We're disappointed to lose him, but with the games coming up and then the international break, hopefully we'll see him not long after that."

Other topics covered by Manning in his press conference included:

• "Kenny McLean is back in training. Lucien Mahovo and Gabriel Forsyth are progressing – we're moving in the right direction in terms of getting bodies back."

• "Josh Sargent has been excellent. He leads, he's stepped up in the changing room. He's in a really good spot."

• "It's difficult for players with the noise [around transfers] and the pressure, but I can't speak highly enough of Sargent. He's played every pre-season game - not missed a session."

• "We've got loads to work on. We're trying to pick up results while evolving. It was a strong learning week for us."

• "We want to turn Carrow Road into a really tough place to come."

• "Middlesbrough have started well. They didn't have a huge overhaul in the summer. They have some talented players."

• "There's a lot to be excited about here. It's important to enjoy the journey."

• "We've got good physicality now. We have to make sure we maximise it."

Click here to listen to Liam Manning's full pre-match interview via BBC Sounds.

Nottingham Forest have joined Everton in the hunt for Norwich right-back Kellen Fisher, 21. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Sheffield Wednesday are close to signing former Canaries winger Onel Hernandez, with Birmingham and Wrexham having also shown interest in the 32-year-old Cuba international. (SportsBoom, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic admits he has been surprised by the physical aspect of Championship football in his first two games for the club.

The 27-year-old came to Carrow Road from Portuguese club Sporting, having also played in Poland and his native Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"I didn't expect it. I can show you my arms and my back, scars and everything," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"Now I know (what it's like), I will be more aggressive. In Poland, it's a similar league, but not like this. In Portugal, they play football or you have the coach screaming."

The Canaries bounced back from an opening-day defeat by Millwall with a 2-1 win at Portsmouth, a game in which Kovacevic saved Colby Bishop's penalty.

"I will remember this game all my life, this is one of the hardest games I've played in - so welcome to the Championship!" he said.

"When a team has a penalty against me, I love it. With my coach Tony (Roberts), we analyse before the game every time so that penalty (save) is because of him."

Norwich are next in action at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Listen to the full interview with Kovacevic on BBC Sounds by clicking here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City boss Liam Manning said that his side "stood up to a tough test" on Saturday when they beat Portsmouth away at Fratton Park.

Goals in the first half from Harry Darling and Josh Sargent were enough for the Canaries to come away with the three points.

Portsmouth threatened late on as they had a penalty saved by Vladan Kovačević and Adrian Segecic scored to give the home side some hope, but Manning's side ended up holding on for the win.

"I'm exhausted to be totally honest, I feel the same emotion as everyone else watching it," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"Coming to Fratton Park is so difficult, you only have to look at their form here last season and also the fact that they're such a consistent side.

"I think we really stood up to a tough test today and showed a real resilience and fighting spirit that will allow us to be in games this season, there's some real positives to take from today.

"We know how important our set pieces are so credit to the lads for taking it on board, we started the game really well and made it difficult for them."

Norwich City visit Portsmouth on Saturday (12:30 BST) hunting for their first win of the season.

The Canaries lost to Millwall on the opening weekend of their Championship campaign as they began life under new boss Liam Manning.

Portsmouth, however, beat Oxford United for an opening away win - something that proved a rarity last season - and will be hoping to rebuild the Fratton Park fortress that served them so well last season after a midweek home cup loss to Reading.

• Portsmouth beat Norwich City 5-3 in their last league meeting and will be looking to win successive games against the Canaries for the first time since April 1969 (run of four).

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their last three away league games against Portsmouth (W1 D2) and could remain four unbeaten for the first time in the Football League.

• Portsmouth haven't lost their opening home game in any of the last 11 league campaigns (W6 D5) since a 1-4 loss to Oxford in League Two in 2013-14, although they have kicked off each of the last three league seasons on home soil with a draw.

• Norwich have won their opening away game in just one of the last eight league campaigns (D3 L4), failing to do so in any of the last four seasons since a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in the Championship in 2020-21.

• Across their Championship away games last season, Norwich netted just 19 goals in total – their fewest at this level since 2007-08 (also 19).

English defender Brad Hills, 21, is set to depart Norwich City for Stockport County on a deal potentially worth £2m. (Pinkun), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Norwich City goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw said that the Canaries' new goalkeeping unit will look "to get the best out of each other" this season.

The 27-year-old is one of three new keepers, along with Louie Moulden and new number one Vladan Kovacevic, with the latter making his debut in the Championship defeat by Millwall at the weekend.

However, Grimshaw made a winning debut for the Canaries in their 2-1 victory over Watford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, and he sees the competition between all three as a positive.

"We are all new here and we are all just going to work together and get the best out of each other," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"All three of us are getting on well and it's good to push each other."

Listen to the full post-match interview with Grimshaw and more on BBC Sounds.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Wilshere has decided to focus on taking his first steps into senior management rather than return to Arsenal.

BBC Sport revealed earlier this month that the former Gunners midfielder was a contender for the vacant under-21s head coach job following the departure of Mehmet Ali, who left to join Brentford.

It is understood Arsenal initially approached Wilshere to discover whether he would be willing to return in a job that would both give him charge of the Under-21s and offer a wider remit within the club's player development strategy.

After considering the role, it is understood Wilshere has informed the club of his decision to exit the process and therefore he is no longer a candidate for the position .

Wilshere is keen to move towards senior management and has informed Arsenal that his current focus is on trying to land a first-team coaching position.

All parties are said to be understanding of the situation with the decision reached entirely amicably.

The former Gunners midfielder left Emirates Stadium last season, where he had been under-18s manager, to work as first-team coach under then-Norwich manager Johannes Thorup.

Wilshere was later promoted to interim head coach after Thorup left the club in April, but departed Carrow Road earlier this summer after Norwich appointed Liam Manning as their new manager.

Wilshere remains a fans' favourite at Arsenal, having come through the ranks to make more than 150 starts for the club.

Wrexham have registered interest in Manchester City defender Callum Doyle but face competition from Coventry City, Leicester City and Norwich City for the 21-year-old Englishman. (Football League World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.