Norwich City

Darren Kenton's views on Norwich 1-0 Sunderland

Norwich City beat Sunderland on Saturday and are now one point off the Championship play-off places.

Darren Kenton was BBC Radio Norfolk's summariser, here are some of his full-time thoughts:

"It's all about the three points.

"No one is really going to say that the performances weren't good if Norwich make it into the play-offs and get promoted - they will always take the three points over the performance."

He continued, "They know they (Norwich) can do a lot better than they did today"

You can listen to more from Darren Kenton on BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary Call post-match phone-in with Rob Butler here.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's the answer to our regular pre-match quiz.

The question was set by BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham:

Gabriel Sara has nine assists in the league for Norwich City this season, then four players are tied on four each. Can you guess which ones?

The answers are:

Jack Stacey

Dimitris Giannoulis

Kenny McLean

Ashley Barnes

Well done if you got it right!

Norwich City host Sunderland in The Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

The Canaries have 12 games left and will be looking to sustain their play-off push with a win.

You can listen to live commentary with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview.

OPTA have provided some statistics ahead of the Canaries hosting the Black Cats on Saturday (15.00 GMT):

• Norwich have lost their last three home league games against Sunderland – they had been unbeaten in their previous 10 at Carrow Road against the Black Cats (Won 7, Drawn 3)

• Sunderland are looking to complete their first league double over Norwich City since the 1984-85 top-flight campaign

• Norwich City have won seven of their last nine home league games, including the last four in a row. The Canaries last won five in a row at Carrow Road in April 2019

• Sunderland have lost seven of their last 12 away league matches (W1, D4), including each of the last two. They haven’t lost more in a row since December 2019 (four)

• Norwich have scored a direct free kick in each of their last two league games against Cardiff (Gabriel Sara) and Blackburn (Marcelino Núñez) – the last side to do so in three successive Championship games was Sheffield United in April 2008

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has rallied the fans ahead of Saturday's crucial Championship clash with Sunderland at Carrow Road (15.00 GMT).

The Canaries are currently seventh in the table and three points off the play-off places with 12 games to go.

Here's part two of former Norwich City manager Alex Neil being interviewed by BBC Canary Call host Rob Butler.

Neil also managed Sunderland and the two teams meet in the Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

He had play-off glory with both clubs:

You can watch part one of the interview with Alex Neil here.

Chris Goreham's pre-match quiz is all about assists this time:

Gabriel Sara has nine assists in the league for Norwich City this season, then four players are tied on four each. Can you guess which ones?

Send us your answers here.

Norwich City play Sunderland on Saturday and BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler has spoken to a man who managed both clubs.

Alex Neil led the Canaries to glory in the Championhsip play-off final in 2015, he also took Sunderland into the Championship with a play-off win at Wembley in 2022.

He began by talking about his fond memories of managing City:

Part two of the interview with Alex Neil will be available on this page on Friday afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Opinion: Conflicting feelings about the play-offs

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

I have conflicting feelings about the Championship play-offs and more specifically Norwich City’s chances of getting there and what might happen should we make it.

Much like 1997 Natalie Imbruglia, I’m torn! I obviously want us to do well from here until the end of the season, but the prospect of going up and being in the Premier League again brings with it some bad memories that I’m still yet to shake off. I can’t be the only one, surely?

“We haven’t even reached the play-offs yet and you’re complaining about two - potentially three - hypothetical games! What’s wrong with you?” some of you may be thinking. That’s fair, but as mentioned last week, Norwich’s run-in is certainly more favourable than those also competing for play-off places. This gives me lots of optimism that in the twelve games remaining, we can claim fifth or sixth spot. Our home form is good, we’re not losing away and an unbeaten run in February, plus the seven points mustered in January, mean we’re looking decent at the moment. There’s every chance we sneak into the play-offs! But this is where I start to get sweaty palms…

The last two Premier League seasons that Norwich have competed in - I use the word 'competed' lightly - haven’t exactly been the most pleasant of experiences, have they? We still have some scars and haven’t quite mastered recruitment at either attempt when previously promoted. And with the three teams promoted from the Championship to the Premier League all currently occupying the bottom three places at the time of writing, there’s a part of me that asks ‘Do we even want to go up at all?’

Would we witness repeats of the 19-20 and 21-22 seasons?

How would we compete financially?

Would David Wagner be the man for the job if we got promoted?

We couldn’t change head coach if we got promoted, could we?

There are so many questions that make me feel conflicted about what might happen if we were to reach Wembley and make it two play-off final wins from two. It’s a really strange feeling to have, and I appreciate I may get pelters for even publishing such thoughts, but I’m very much torn between wanting success and the thrill of the play-offs in the coming months and also wanting a reset at the club over the summer.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner delivered some bad news at a pre-match press conference for the game against Sunderland on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

There was positive updates on the fitness of Grant Hanley, Marcelino Nunez and Shane Duffy, but it wasn't good news for winger Onel Hernandez:

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the game against Sunderland on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

Here are some of the key points:

• Winger Onel Hernandez has broken his foot in training and will be out for the rest of the season

• Midfielder Marcelino Nunez has a hip injury and will miss Saturday but should be back for the Rotherham game

• Defender Shane Duffy has had a scan and will be back following the international break

• Captain Grant Hanley is ok to return to full training

• On Jonathan Rowe returning from a hamstring injury: "It will take time. We are three weeks post-injury and he won't be back in March, it'll be April"

• Wagner admitted Norwich were outplayed at the Stadium of Light and deserved to lose in October 2023

• "We want the atmosphere to be at the highest level possible." Wagner spoke about the importance of City winning their home games with positivity from the fans

On Monday, 20-year-old Norwich City goalkeeper Jayden St Paul announced his retirement from football because of a knee injury that's kept him out for nearly two years.

Jayden got in touch with the BBC as he wanted to share his story and talk about the mental health struggles young footballers can face.

Amelia Reynolds went to meet him, and Jayden started by telling her about the day that changed his life:

Image source, Getty Images

Opinion: An ode to Angus

Gary Gowers, My Football Writer - Norwich City, external

Much has been made of the impact of Jonathan Rowe on City’s season, and so too the pivotal role played in any successes by Josh Sargent, borne out by the start-with-Josh/start-without-Josh stats.

Take those two players out of the equation and City would be nowhere near the playoff places.

Latterly, the high-intensity, high-energy performances of Borja Sainz have grabbed the headlines, along with some South American magic from Messrs Sara and Nunez, but amid all the highs and lows of this tumultuous season there has been a steady, reliable presence who, along the way, has probably earned City as many points as Rowe and Sargent combined.

I speak, of course, of Angus Gunn who has gone about his work quietly and with the minimum of fuss but who is pivotal to this team, not only for his shot-stopping and command of the penalty box but also for his ability to pass the ball with comfort – you could argue with more comfort than some of the centre-backs in front of him.

It’s not been an easy route for Angus, who had to bide his time upon his return to the club from Southampton before eventually nailing down the number one shirt.

Despite having held the jersey in his first full (loan) season here in 2017-18, his second stint saw him initially play second fiddle to Tim Krul, but when the chance came he took it. As Krul’s form faltered, Gunn’s held firm and it was to a young(ish) Scot rather than an experienced Dutchman that David Wagner turned when the time came to make a choice.

It's turned out to be one of the few decisions for which Wagner has almost universal support. Even those in the ‘not convinced' camp now appear content that Angus is the man for the job; a job made that little bit more difficult by having a dad who is already a Norwich City hall of famer.

As a result, Angus has had to work doubly hard to establish himself in his own right but has done it so effectively and efficiently, the City faithful now no longer hope he makes the big saves when they are needed - they expect him to.

He was at it again at Blackburn at the weekend, where three priceless saves helped us earn a point that could quite easily have squirmed away.

It’s an overused cliché, but Angus really is ‘one of our own’, which makes his ascent from promising youngster to established City number one all the sweeter, and in a season of tumult, he has been a rare model of consistently.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day - 28 February 2005

"A message to the best football supporters in the world...

"We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you?

"Let's be having you. Come on!"

It's one of the most famous football rants of all-time. Norwich City majority shareholder Delia Smith grabbed a microphone at half-time of the Canaries' Premier League game against Manchester City and tried to rally the fans.

City had surrendered a two-goal lead and ended up losing the game 3-2. Robbie Fowler scored a late winner.

Norwich City opinion: 'Reevo Reacts'

Every Monday here on the BBC Sport Norwich City page, BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Reeve will give his first post-match reaction on the latest goings-on at Carrow Road.

It's called 'Reevo Reacts'.

No punches pulled, strong opinions guaranteed.

The Scrimmage discussed Norwich City's differing home and away form.

The Canaries' host Sunderland at Carrow Road on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

Black Cats' supporter and podcaster Graham Falk joined the panel to look ahead to the game.

The Scrimmage panel was staying positive about the Canaries' Championship play-off hopes.

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve were joined by golf professional and City fan Joe Lambert.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day - 27 February 2007

Simon Lappin was the hero, as he scored an injury-time winner at Luton in a 3-2 win.

Norwich came from 2-1 down to win the game and ease their Championship relegation fears. Lappin was a recent signing from Scottish club St. Mirren.

After the game Canaries' boss Peter Grant had this to say:

""I think we deserved the win.

"We shot ourselves in the foot by conceding silly goals again, but my players have determination in abundance.

"Simon got his just rewards because he is on the training pitch practising free-kicks for half an hour after everyone else has gone.

"There is still a long way to go. People talked about this one being a six-pointer, but we have only three more points."

City ended up finishing 16th in the table that season.