Norwich City

Opinion: No room for nerves ahead of St Andrew's showdown

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

I’m not going to mention too many previous failures - final day or play-off related - other than to say that I remember that 6-0 pummelling at Fulham as being one of the flattest I’ve ever felt after a football match. I’m confident something like that won’t happen this weekend and it’s with heads held high and a swagger of confidence that Norwich City’s players, coaching staff and fans alike should head to Birmingham this weekend for the final game of the Championship season.

Okay, so it very likely won’t be our final game of the season, given the very strong likelihood that we’ll make 5th or 6th place, but before we even think about who we might be playing when our season extends, we have the small hurdle of a side battling relegation to overcome - or at least not mess up.

The Canaries haven’t lost to Birmingham City since 2016, with a total of 11 matches played in this time. With an inferior points tally and goal difference to Plymouth, who’re one place above them in the table, the Blues will be bang up for Saturday’s game, however now isn’t the time to worry about the opposition. David Wagner’s men must focus on themselves, play their own game and quickly quieten the home crowd. This isn’t exactly a side in form that we’re up against; Birmingham have only managed to produce back-to-back draws against Huddersfield and already relegated Rotherham in their last two games and without wanting to be disrespectful to Gary Rowett’s side, it’s a game we should be winning.

So let’s go to St Andrew's loud, proud and fully expectant. Let’s break our own back-to-back draw streak and go into the play-offs with some momentum and put fear into whoever it is we end up playing before a ball is even kicked.

On the ball, City!

Image source, Getty Images

Barnes out injured. How much of a blow is it to Norwich City?

Norwich City head coach David Wagner revealed on Thursday that striker Ashley Barnes will miss Saturday's trip to Birmingham with a calf injury. He is likely to be out until the end of May.

This would potentially rule him out of a Championship play-off final, should the Canaries make it that far.

What do you make of this news?

How much of a blow is losing Barnes?

Should Sydney van Hooijdonk step up to replace him?

Or should Wagner shuffle his pack and maybe move Gabriel Sara to the number 10 role?

Get in touch with your thoughts here.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the Canaries' final Championship match of the regular season.

Here are some of the key points:

• Ashley Barnes has a calf injury and won't be available until a potential play-off final. He will definitely miss Saturday's game at Birmingham

• Defenders Dimitris Giannoulis and Grant Hanley are back and can take part at St Andrew's

• Wagner says Saturday is a good test ahead of the play-offs to get his players ready for competitive games. The Canaries need a point to secure their top six finish

• The boss is happy that his players have to be switched on until the last kick of the regular season with plenty to play for

• On City's season as a whole: "Ask me about it after Saturday, my answer will be fairer"

• "Bring on Saturday, let's play the next one. The guys are super sharp" - Wagner issues a rallying cry ahead of a big game for his team

• On Abu Kamara returning to the club after his loan at Portsmouth: "He gets some days off in Vegas, but he's too young to enjoy it!"

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach David Wagner will speak to the media at 12:30 GMT on Thursday ahead of the Canaries' final game of the Championship regular season.

City need at least a point at Birmingham on Saturday to seal a place in the play-offs.

Wagner will provide an update on the status of striker Ashley Barnes. The 34-year-old came on as a substitute in the draw against Swansea on Saturday, but then limped off after just 14 minutes.

After the game, Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk that Barnes has been struggling with an calf injury.

Stay tuned to this page for updates from the presser later.

On this week's Scrimmage podcast, Rob Butler and Chris Reeve issued a rallying cry ahead of a season-defining Championship game at Birmingham.

The Canaries need to avoid defeat to guarantee a play-off place.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

The Canaries face Birmingham City in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT) knowing a point will secure a play-off place.

The Blues are desperate for the win to escape relegation to League One.

It's all set up to be an exciting last game of the regular season at St Andrew's in the second city.

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve were joined by broadcaster and Birmingham fan Will Brazier on The Scrimmage podcast.

You can listen to the full show here.

Opinion: 'It’s the not knowing, isn’t it?'

Gary Gowers, My Football Writer - Norwich City, external

First, there was that odd feeling of departing Carrow Road after the final home game of the regular season not knowing if you were bidding those around you farewell for the summer or just a couple of weeks.

Then Hull and Ipswich went and did the honourable thing, which was to conjure up a draw, and it felt (at the time) as if City were in one of those healthy, 'barring-a-miracle' type positions.

Alas, that feeling was short-lived. We support Norwich City, who have an unhealthy and uncanny knack for doing Norwich City things.

Those who were at Craven Cottage on 15 May 2005 will know what I mean. So too those who watched the disaster unfold live on Sky Sports (and listened on BBC Radio Norfolk, of course). If you dare transport yourself back to that day, the pain still gnaws away.

For those young enough and lucky enough to have been spared the excruciating pain of that west London afternoon, City played Fulham away on the final day of that Premier League season knowing a win, any win, would be enough for survival.

But not only did they lose. They lost 6-0.

So forgive me for coming over all clammy upon learning that Sky Sports have selected Birmingham City v Norwich City as one of their live games this Saturday.

*Gulp*

Back in the real world, the worst shouldn’t happen. City need to lose at Birmingham while Hull need to win at Plymouth and there needs to be a collective eight-goal swing in the Tigers' favour.

Impossible, right?

Except there are a few reasons why it isn’t.

First of all, let’s not forget that it was only 31 short weeks ago that this same group of City players went to Plymouth – current occupants of 21st place – and got thumped 6-2.

Nor must we forget that on the final day of the 2019-20 season, Nottingham Forest, who were in a similar position to City, blew a three point and five-goal cushion when beaten 4-1 at home by Stoke. As a result, Swansea, who won at Reading by the same scoreline, pipped them to the final play-off spot.

And then there was poor Northampton Town who went into the final day of the 2021-22 League Two season level on points with Bristol Rovers but with a five-goal superior goal difference as they battled for the final automatic promotion spot.

Despite winning 3-1 at Barrow, the Cobblers still missed out as The Gas crushed Scunthorpe 7-0 in the most bizarre circumstances. Unsurprisingly, Northampton proceeded to lose both of their play-off semis.

So let’s not get too complacent and think this is virtually a done deal. Hopefully, we emerge unscathed, but don’t be surprised if the two hours between 12:30 and 14:30 on Saturday are the most chaotic and nerve-shredding of the season.

Strap in. It could yet get bumpy.

Lots of Norwich City fans spotted a very familiar face in the Carrow Road Lower Barclay on Saturday.

Onel Hernandez took his place amongst the supporters to watch the Canaries draw 2-2 with Swansea.

Scrimmage co-host Chris Reeve was with him and tells the inside story of how it all came about.

You can listen to the full Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds here.

'Norwich are in the play-offs, no doubt about it' Your views on the final push

Here are some of your thoughts on the Canaries' push for the Championship play-offs, with the team on the brink of securing their place. They just need to avoid defeat at Birmingham on Saturday (12:30 GMT) to confirm it:

Simon - We are 95% there with the goal swing that’s needed to miss out if we lose. Stranger things have happened in football so wouldn’t want to see a weaker team played. Let’s go into the play-offs on the back of a solid away win.

Lee - Norwich are in the play-offs, no doubt about it. It’s irritating that we haven’t made mathematically certain of it in our last two home games but we are all but there. I don’t see us winning them but if we do I fear for another humiliating season in the Premier League. We have made progress this season and the fans are more positive about the club.

Andy - Regardless of the score at St Andrew's, I cannot see there being an eight goal shift. On this basis I'd not play Sargent, Sara or Rowe who are most likely to be pivotal to the play off push.

Danny - So, City in the play-offs? Have we made it? Pretty much home and dry I reckon!! However, realistically should we go up? Don't get me wrong, a Prem season would be amazing again but we would definitely need a major financial input and need to have a shake up with the squad. Especially if we are selling Sara and Sainz!! Let's see what happens, buh!!

Andrew - What a weird season. We have been so very poor for large chunks of it, and so very good in others, it feels odd to be in this position. I think Hull will win their last game so we need that point, but more importantly, we need to win to see us against a now struggling Southampton, rather than the loser of the automatic shootout. I think we do it.

Rob - Rest players? Please, no. That would be an insult to Birmingham and other teams. We need to play our best game, win and carry the confidence into the play-offs.

Buster - My main concern if City do go up to the Premier League is that they would sell their best players before a ball is kicked. That would seriously weaken the team. They should keep the squad together until January, and then assess the team’s results.

Gilles - Of course Norwich will be in the play-offs. Their goal difference is to high for Hull to overcome them. It's almost impossible for Hull to catch up Norwich, and go in the play-off. 100% sure!

Image source, Getty Images

Opinion: Sara de Janeiro

Steve Sanders, @ncfcnumbers, external

Cards on the table. This week’s column was going to be a homage to the winner of the Barry Butler trophy, Kenny McLean. But if the pre-match trophy handout was the Lord Mayor’s show then Saturday’s game itself was very much, well, after it for Norwich City’s captain.

Instead, let’s reserve the words for the guy who came second in awards season and who took centre stage on Saturday: Gabriel Sara. (If there’s a way of assuaging my guilt of not voting him as Player of the Season, maybe a 500-word tribute will do it…)

The Brazilian put on an exhibition against Swansea. The Canaries had 27 shots across the game and Sara was involved in some capacity – whether by shooting or playing the two passes leading up to a shot – in 16 of them. His nine key passes (passes setting up a shot) were a joint record for a Norwich City player in a single game in the last ten years.

One of those nine helped Josh Sargent to his 16th of the season, and that was after Sara had notched – understatement incoming – a pretty decent goal of his own. He’s making strikes from distance look routine but, in case you need reminding, they’re really not. That’s four goals from outside the area for Sara in his last 12 games. Only two Championship players have scored more than four from further out than 18 yards all season.

That left foot now has six from outside the box for Norwich City, as many as Wes Hoolahan’s and Robert Snodgrass’ left pegs achieved. Sara is now behind only Bradley Johnson and Mario Vrancic (who both got seven) for long-distance left-footers this century.

But pick any body part you like – it’s been a stupendous season all round for Sara. He has, of course, started every single league game alongside McLean, and this weekend joined a true ‘hitters only’ club of Darren Huckerby, Grant Holt and Emi Buendia as Norwich City players to have both scored and assisted 12 goals in a league campaign since 2000.

All told that’s a total of 37 goals and assists in 93 games, a rate of one every 2.5 matches. Of Norwich City midfielders to have played more than 50 games in the last 25 years, only Buendia and James Maddison contributed goals with more regularity.

His overture against Swansea was the display of a man who looked like he desperately didn’t want this to be his last game at Carrow Road, and his two goal contributions have now virtually ensured a packed house there on Sunday 12th May.

If that is the date for the final time we see Sara at the Carra (in yellow at least), then let’s savour it. The ‘best we’ve ever seen’ line was fanciful when his chant first surfaced a year ago. With every passing week it seems less ridiculous.

Don't miss The Scrimmage podcast this week.

Rob Butler has been along to the On The Stall City collector's fair in Norwich.

Chris Reeve gives BBC Sport his first reaction to the Canaries' draw against Swansea on Saturday.

He will join Rob Butler for The Scrimmage on BBC Radio Norfolk from 18:00 GMT on Monday.

You can download the podcast version on BBC Sounds here from around 19:30 GMT on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich should make the play-offs, shouldn't they? We want your thoughts

Norwich City need to avoid defeat at Birmingham City on Saturday (12:30 GMT) to seal their place in the Championship play-offs.

Even if the Canaries lose, Hull will need to win and score a hatful of goals at Plymouth to force their way into the picture.

Are City home and hosed in your opinion?

Do you think there's any chance of Norwich not making it?

Would you rest key players at St Andrew's?

How are you feeling ahead of the play-offs (if City get there)?

Get in touch here with your thoughts.

Take a trip up the Carrow Road gantry with BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham, Rob Butler, big Josh Sargent and Bear the dog.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's the answer to our latest Canary quiz question.

First, a reminder of the teaser posed by BBC Norfolk's Chris Goreham:

The son of which former Norwich City player could line-up against the Canaries for Swansea at Carrow Road on Saturday?

The answer is Oli Cooper. He started the game in the 2-2 draw on Saturday.

His father is former City loanee Kevin Cooper.

Well done if you got the correct answer.

Dean Ashton's view on Norwich City 2-2 Swansea City

Norwich City are on the brink of confirming a Championship play-off place.

Hull's draw with Ipswich on Saturday night means the Canaries will finish in the top six barring an improbable goal difference swing.

Earlier on Saturday, City drew 2-2 with Swansea at Carrow Road. Dean Ashton was BBC Radio Norfolk's summariser, here are some of his thoughts at the final whistle:

"I think they are disappointed - the supporters - because they've seen enough moments in the game where if that final pass or bit of quality was there, I think they would have won the game pretty comfortably.

"It got very nervy in that second half and it's something those players have to deal with. But ultimately it's about getting points on the board, it's about getting into a position where you say to Hull City: 'Go on then, go and win your last two, are you good enough to go and do that?'. I'm not sure they are going to be."

He continued: "We might look at the end of play today and say that this is a good point."

Well, Dean was spot on as the Canaries' destiny is still in their own hands. They need to avoid defeat at Birmingham City on the final day of the season to guarantee a play-off place.

You can hear more from Dean Ashton on Canary Call with Phil Daley here.

Jacob Bowles and his family run a shop in Norwich called On The Stall City.

They sell Canary merchandise in order to raise money for charity.

Rob Butler asked Jacob to show us some of his favourite items.

• Norwich City have lost just two of their last 16 home league games against Swansea City (W11 D3), though the Canaries did lose this exact fixture last season 3-0

• Swansea City have won each of their last two league games against Norwich City and will be looking to record three victories in succession against this opposition for the first time since December 1936

• Since the turn of the year, only Leeds United (45) have won more Championship points than Norwich City (38). They are also one of two teams unbeaten at home in 2024 (W8 D2), along with East Anglian neighbours Ipswich Town

• Swansea City have won their last three Championship matches, keeping a clean sheet in each victory. The Swans last registered four wins in a row without conceding in February and March 2008 in League One under Roberto Martinez

• In their 4-0 victory at Huddersfield Town, three Swansea substitutes scored (Jerry Yates, Jamal Lowe and Liam Walsh). It was only the sixth time in Championship history that three subs had scored for a team in a match and second time this season, which was also against Huddersfield (Southampton in February)

A win for Norwich City against Swansea on Saturday will all but guarantee a place in the Championship play-offs.

Head coach David Wagner says he's happy to have clarity about what his team need to do.

You can listen to full live coverage with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview from 14:00 GMT.

BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler chats to Andy and Jacob Bowles who run On The Stall City, a shop which sells Canary merchandise to raise money for charity.

They are hosting an NCFC collector's fair at The Forum in Norwich on Sunday 28 April from 10:00 GMT.