Norwich head coach David Wagner says he's excited about the upcoming fixtures
Norwich City head coach David Wagner says he's excited about the next two away games for his side.
City head to Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday (19.45 GMT) before a trip to Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round to play Liverpool (Sunday, 14.30 GMT).
Norwich City kept a clean sheet as they beat West Brom 2-0 at Carrow Road in the Championship on Saturday.
The Canaries have improved defensively in recent weeks, they’ve conceded eight goals in the last 10 games.
Here’s what full-back Jack Stacey had to say about how his side have balanced offense with being tighter at the back:
Jack Stacey on how Norwich City are keeping more balanced on the pitch
David Wagner says opinions about his team have been 'strange'
David Wagner spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk following his side's 2-0 win over Championship play-off rivals West Brom.
The City head coach said some of the questions asked by journalists in pre-match press conferences have been "strange".
You can hear the full interview on BBC Sounds here.
Former Norwich City striker Adrian Coote was BBC Radio Norfolk's guest summariser as the Canaries beat West Brom 2-0 at Carrow Road.
The win puts City up to eighth in the Championship table and two points off the play-off places.
Here's what Coote had to say at full-time:
"We're talking about a Norwich team that are making progress, making strides in the league, in results and in performances.
"I just think it's been a really, really great performance. It's what the fans have needed, it's what the players have needed and it will give them confidence to build on."
He continued, "I know people say it's too early to be talking about the play-offs, but lets give some of these young lads some play-off experience, let's strive for that and see how far we go."
You can hear more from Adrian Coote with BBC Sounds on Canary Call here, with Rob Butler.
We know plenty of you love some pre-match stats - well, fill your boots here:
Norwich are winless in their last five league games against West Bromwich Albion (Drawn 2 Lost 3) since a 1-0 away win in March 2016
West Brom are looking for their first league double over Norwich since doing so in the 2007-08 campaign under Tony Mowbray
Norwich are unbeaten in their last five league games at Carrow Road (W3 D2); they last went six league matches unbeaten on home soil in their opening six games of 2022-23
West Brom have won three of their last four league games (L1), though on the road they’ve lost and failed to score in their previous two matches
Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe has scored 11 league goals this season; the only player who has scored more while aged 20 or under in the top four tiers this season is Michael Mellon (13)
Image source, Getty ImagesPaul Peschisolido played five times for Norwich City during a loan spell in 2001
Here's the answer to our regular pre-match quiz.
A reminder of the question:
Who was the last player to score a hat-trick in a match between Norwich Cty and West Brom at Carrow Road?
The answer: Paul Peschisolido
He scored a a hat-trick for the Baggies in a 4-2 win at Carrow Road on 15 February 1997. He then went on to have a short loan spell with the Canaries in 2001.
Well done if you got it right!
Norwich City will look to improve their chances of making the Championship play-offs when they host West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road on Saturday (15.00 GMT).
You can listen to full live commentary of the game with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview from 14.00 GMT.
Former City striker Adrian Coote is the guest summariser and will be on hand for Canary Call after the game.
Norwich City host West Bromwich Albion in the Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).
The two sides last met on Boxing Day (26 December) 2023 in a game the Baggies won 1-0.
City were reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes when Borja Sainz was sent off.
Head coach David Wagner said that incident did have a big factor on how his side fared, but the bulk of the preparation for the game is already done as the first meeting was three weeks ago:
David Wagner talks about the quick turnaround between West Brom fixtures
We asked for your views on Norwich City's transfer dealings so far in January.
On Friday it was announced that midfielder Adam Forshaw had signed for Plymouth.
Here's what you had to say:
Sam - Absolute rubbish. It's an opportunity to strengthen the midfield and get a proper Tettey-type CDM in. This would allow players like Nunez and Sara to push forward and play in a more attacking role.
Jeremy - After the win against Hull City, I think Norwich City have done well. I think they should sign more experienced players that can score goals.
David - Slow so far. Springett to the Cobblers on loan and Forshaw to Plymouth. Most things seem to revolve around Jonny Rowe - the lad has said he will stay till the summer and then talk with the club. Premier League clubs have been sniffing about, but I think he will stay.
Adam - Seems the club aren’t keen to spend much, if any, money this transfer window as they have little faith in Wagner and are waiting til the summer to start a refresh. They’re banking on fans sticking around after three abject seasons with very little communication and absolutely no clear vision as to what the project is. Apathy has set in a big way.
David - The new head of football Mr Knapper (Norwich's sporting director) is like the invisible man. There does not seem to be a plan and we are playing poorly. The club needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
Ben - Regarding the departure of Forshaw - isn’t this starting to get embarrassing for the recruitment team? A massive list of write-off signings over the last few years. The recruitment needs to be held account for it a lot more than they are.
BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham has come up with a quiz question ahead of the Canaries game against West Brom on Saturday (15.00 GMT).
See how you get on:
Who was the last player to score a hat-trick in a match between Norwich Cty and West Brom at Carrow Road?
Clue: The player in question played for both clubs in his career.
Norwich City have a tough run of fixtures in the following nine days.
They host West Brom in the Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT), on Wednesday 24 January they head to Elland Road to face Leeds United (19.45 GMT) in a league fixture, then on Sunday 28 January it's a game at Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round (14.30 GMT).
Head coach David Wagner said he's excited by the run of big games and is happy to have Jacob Lungi Sorensen back after long-term injury.
The Dane is one of City's most versatile players:
David Wagner says he's happy to have Jacob Sorensen back from long-term injury lay-off
Image source, Getty ImagesAdam Forshaw made nine appearances for Norwich City
Midfielder Adam Forshaw has left Norwich City to join fellow Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
The 32-year-old made nine appearances for the Canaries since joining from Leeds United in summer 2023. His last appearance in the league for City was in October 2023.
Forshaw struggled with injuries and form while at Carrow Road and wasn't able to secure a regular first-team spot.
Norwich City players had a late night on Wednesday following the FA Cup win at Bristol Rovers.
The Canaries team coach didn't arrive back to Norfolk until 03.00 GMT on Thursday morning.
Head coach David Wagner had special praise for the Canaries' kitman Pete Dye, he didn't get to bed until after 06.00 GMT on Thursday morning:
'Our kitman is a machine' - Norwich City head coach David Wagner
Image source, Getty ImagesNorwich City midfielder Adam Forshaw is in talks over a move to fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle.
The 32-year-old has made nine appearances for the Canaries after joining in summer 2023.
Forshaw hasn’t played in a league game for Norwich since October 2023.
Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s Championship fixture against West Bromwich Albion (15.00 GMT).
Here are some of the key points:
Wagner says confidence is improving following two wins in a row
Danny Batth and Dimitris Giannoulis are both set for scans on injuries. Batth is definitely out of Saturday’s game
Grant Hanley is still out with back problems but will return to team training next week. Adam Forshaw is fit to return
Wagner said he’s happy with Jacob Sorensen’s return, he played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup win at Bristol Rovers
With big games coming up, Wagner said he’s excited about what’s to come but will not look beyond West Brom
The Baggies are tough to break down according to Wagner. The two sides met on Boxing Day 2023 with WBA winning the game 1-0.
Norwich City midfielder Jacob Sorensen is fit again following a long spell out out with injury.
The Dane played 90 minutes in the FA Cup third round replay win at Bristol Rovers. It was his first full game for City this season.
Sorensen started the game in his preferred central midfield position but reverted to a central defensive berth in the first-half following the withdrawal of Danny Batth through injury.
Sorensen's contract is up in the summer of 2024 (with an option to extend it for a year) and he says he's keen to impress head coach David Wagner so he can stay at Carrow Road:
"I would be lying if (the contract situation) wasn't in my head. It's up in the summer so I am running out of time.
"Hopefully I can stay fit now for the next half a year and then we will see what goes on from there," he said.
You can listen to a full interview with Jacob Sorensen here.
Che Wilson is a former Norwich City and Bristol Rovers defender and he was the guest summariser on BBC Radio Norfolk's coverage of a 3-1 FA Cup win for the Canaries.
Here's his full-time summary:
"David Wagner will be really happy to negotiate through this fixture, but it was far from vintage."
He continued, "They gave themselves a lot to do. The first half was certainly less than desirable. They didn't really change too much in the second half, they just upped the energy levels and started running in behind Bristol Rovers.
"It's just simple willingness to run off the ball. So, I think there will be questions asked and they will be analysing the match and assessing it.
"There's still work to do but they will be really pleased that they are going to Anfield in the next round," he said.
You can listen to more of Che Wilson's thoughts on Canary Call with Rob Butler here.
You can watch video highlights of the game here.
Matthew Soakell, North East Canary
Rather remarkably, Norwich City have made an unbeaten start to 2024. Granted we’ve only played four games, and really it should’ve been three had we taken care of Bristol Rovers at home. Okay, we were lucky to get a point against Southampton and fortunate to beat Hull City but - stay with me now - we’re unbeaten in four, into the fourth round of the FA Cup and are starting to, dare I say, win ugly.
I appreciate that’s quite possibly the most optimistic spin you could put on Norwich’s first four games of this calendar year, but last week I wrote that I "have some cause for optimism about the second half of this Championship season, irrespective of who is in charge". Winning in a third round FA cup replay at a League One club isn’t exactly a cause for huge celebrations, but winning is a habit and it’s hopefully a habit this group of players can quickly get used to.
Victory last Friday night in Hull probably came as a surprise to some Norwich fans given the Tigers’ home record and league position this season. Whilst David Wagner certainly had Angus Gunn to thank for securing all three points, the optimist in me wonders if avoiding defeat to Southampton on New Year’s Day, and therefore four points from two tricky league games, is more justification for positivity and optimism.
Have Norwich played brilliantly in either of those games? Frankly, no. Despite Ben Knapper saying he wants to see attacking football, fans certainly haven’t been overly entertained of late, but given that a change of head coach doesn’t seem likely anytime soon, it can be argued that the best thing for us fans to do is separate our frustrations over the club’s decision making from our contributions in term of support from the stands.
Let’s hope that like Wednesday’s game of two halves (a 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers), this season can have an exciting, positive turnaround. Regardless of who’s in the dugout or who’s in the boardroom, the lads on the pitch will undoubtedly benefit from support of the Norwich faithful.
One shirt. One football team. One City strong.
Norwich City will play Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday 28 January (14.30 GMT).
The Canaries overcame Bristol Rovers in a third round replay, it finished 3-1 to City at the Memorial Stadium.
