Norwich City

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Norwich City striker Adam Idah scored his first goals for loan-club Celtic last night.

He netted twice from the penalty-spot, the second was an injury-time winner.

Celtic won 2-1 at Hibernian to restore their three-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Boss Brendan Rogers told the BBC, "I thought big Adam showed great composure. He’s scored penalties at the very highest level and that’s why, even though he’s only just come in, we put him on them."

Opinion: How will Norwich manage expectations in February?

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Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

The Championship is a funny old league; a few wins and you’re play-off contenders, a few defeats and your season has been a shambles - or at least that’s how fan sentiment can sometimes feel.

And fan sentiment where Norwich City is concerned has shifted of late, thanks to 10 points from 15 against Southampton, Hull City, West Bromwich Albion, Leeds United and Coventry City. I mention those opponents by name because they’ve all been above Norwich in the league at the time of playing them and I dare say most fans wouldn’t have expected such an impressive points return at the turn of the year from such a tricky run of games.

When we look back a little further, Norwich’s form over the last 10 games puts them 5th in the Championship form table. It seems that this isn’t just a bright spell, but a consistent one. With consistency comes expectation - expectation that the Canaries must now manage and hopefully fulfill.

The real optimists amongst us fans might look at the remaining games in February and say there’s a chance we don’t drop any points whatsoever, or at least remain unbeaten. Those fixtures are an away game to third-bottom QPR on Saturday, followed by back-to-back home games against mid-table Watford and Cardiff City, finishing with a trip to Lancashire to face a vastly underperforming Blackburn Rovers. Such a run of fixtures does make you wonder what might be possible this month.

On the other hand, we might only end up with seven points from the four games and another total of 10 points from 15, which wouldn’t be terrible but might feel disappointing given the upcoming opponents. Unfortunately none of us can see into the future and so we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out, but one thing is for sure; all of Norwich’s forthcoming February fixtures are against teams in much poorer form comparatively - the highest over the last six games being Saturday’s West London opponents, who sit 10th in the form table over the last half a dozen games.

As Norwich’s fortune seems to be heading upwards, just as Ipswich find themselves juddering and dropping from 2nd to 4th in the table, could the writers of the footballing scripts have another East Anglian meeting in store for us come May? Who knows, but in the meantime I’m optimistic that come the end of this month, Norwich will be breathing even more heavily on the necks of those currently occupying the the play-off places!

Sporting director Ben Knapper says the Canaries academy will play a big part of their strategy going forward.

The club has been criticised of late for not bringing more youth through to the first team.

Jonathan Rowe is the exception - he's the club's top-scorer this season with 13 goals so far in all competitions.

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On this day - 7 February 2015

Norwich City striker Gary Hooper scored a hat-trick as the Canaries beat Blackpool 4-0 at Carrow Road.

Nathan Redmond scored City's fourth goal.

Hooper had been in and out of the side and manager Alex Neil was happy with his contribution, after the game he said:

"I should imagine Gary Hooper was disappointed he wasn't playing last week and all credit to him for his response.

"He worked really hard today."

The Canaries moved up to seventh in the Championship table that day. The season ended in glory as Alex Neil led the team to victory in the play-off final at Wembley.

Norwich City's sporting director Ben Knapper has paid tribute to the good work done by head coach David Wagner to change the Canaries' fortunes.

City have lost just one of five Championship games in 2024.

Norwich City's sporting director Ben Knapper spoke to local media for the first time since joining the Canaries in November last year.

Among the topics covered, he explains why he stood by David Wagner when many fans were calling for his head.

Knapper told BBC Radio Norfolk, "the role of sporting director is about staying calm, thinking logically and trying not to be influenced by noise. Make logical decisions with the club's best interests at heart.

"I was aware of the noise – you can’t not be. It was audible in the stands and you see things in the media which are hard to get away from at times.

"I was clear in my mind – the best way for me to make decisions is to take time. That was always what I was going to do.

"There were lots of things in our control that we could have been doing better and we are now," he said.

He also said the Canaries are 'Premier League ready', should they go up this season.

You can listen with the full interview with BBC Radio Norfolk here.

Your views on David Wagner

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We asked for your views on Norwich City's head coach David Wagner after an upturn in form for the Canaries.

Frosty - Unless the manager and football hierarchy focus on improving the quality of the defence, especially centrally, with new defenders and coaching on the training pitch - then the recent run of good results will not last. There has been an element of luck in recent results. Sort out the defence!

Isaac - The team overall have been playing a lot better recently. Especially in the match against Liverpool, I felt like the team gave them a proper game, against a high-level premier league team Norwich did well. I’m not sure if this has anything to do with the manger but the team has been a lot better

Chris H - Wagner is one of only 3 current managers in the Championship to have won promotion from it, the others Tony Mowbray and Daniel Farke. Any team who were without their captain and best centre-back for most of the season (Hanley), their best striker Sargent and Barnes missed 7 weeks - would struggle. Look at Ipswich. They lost George Hirst and now struggling. In David we trust.

Chris - There's a real feeling amongst fans that we're performing well in spite of, rather than because of Wagner. Our best results have been characterised by moments of individual brilliance rather than a convincing game plan. Things have looked more consistent and promising lately, but errors and misjudgments are always threatening to resurface.

Jeremy - David Wagner has been great manager for Norwich City and I think he should stay.

Sophie - I've been unsure about Wagner since he started but now I have full belief in him! If he can guide us to another win on Saturday, I would be very, very happy (& here's to finishing in the play offs!) OTBC

Andy - Wagner always seems to be teetering on losing the fans. I'm not convinced he has the ability to take us further. This season we have not put anyone to the sword. We have never dominated an entire game. He needs a good run of games now, to convince me and many others that he is the man. A thumping win is not beyond us, or is it?

Rupert - Wagner has managed to quieten the majority of the fan base who were not happy with the way things were going on and off the pitch just a few months back. However, with a fully fit squad he has managed to turn the form back around and each time another one positive result stacks up, the less likely this current run is only temporary.

Cedi - I’ve always been a fan of David Wagner, and was very pleased with his appointment. He has had to work with a new group of players and deal with certain situations - the main one being the fans turning on him - which he has dealt with extremely well.

Rob - The team certainly seem to be developing an identity and I admire that he is cool when under pressure. I’m glad we stuck with him, but a football manager is only as good as his last game.

Thomas - I think we need to be patient and persist with Wagner. I feel he really does have a plan. I’ve been impressed with recent performances, it just takes a few more and we could reach the play-offs!

Tom - I think David Wagner has improved a lot recently, however a manger that can't perform often is not a good manager. Overall I think my opinion has improved.

Opinion: The 'celebration police' were out in force at the weekend. They have been all season.

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Gary Gowers, My Football Writer - Norwich City, external

In mid-December, off the back of an underwhelming run of form, City headed down the A140 to re-engage with our nearest and dearest who, at that time, were ripping up the Championship and appeared destined for an automatic promotion spot.

Our unbeaten derby run of 14 years seemed certain to end. They knew it. We feared it. The bookies predicted it. But somehow, from somewhere, thanks mainly to a Jonny Rowe brace, we conjured up a 2-2 draw.

Yet, for all the reasons above, it felt like a win and was celebrated as such.

In that moment, it felt good. We had avoided the stuffing we feared most of all, had maintained the daft-but-still-fun 14-year run, and felt proud – not an emotion that’s been this season’s most prevalent.

We were roundly ridiculed for it but it was a collective involuntary act. Because football is about moments.

Unless you are Man City, Man Utd or Liverpool, trophies don’t come along often, so why wouldn’t you enjoy said moments? If you’re only allowed to celebrate the lifting of a trophy then it becomes a grim old existence for most.

And that’s why Messrs Carragher and Neville got it wrong when they ridiculed Arsenal for “over-celebrating” their fine win over Liverpool. The Gunners may not end up winning the title – they probably won’t – but if that win and that moment felt worth celebrating, which it clearly did, then why not?

And, for balance, that was also why it was perfectly fine for Ipswich players and fans to celebrate some of those early-season wins, which confirmed to them that their return to the Championship, following their League One sabbatical, was going to be a competitive one. No problem with that.

That’s also why it was also perfectly fine for a spiky young Spaniard to give it the big‘un at the weekend for winning – wait for it – a throw-in.

The spiky Spaniard in question was Borja Sainz - most recently seen curling a stunning right-foot winner into the corner of the Coventry net - but it was midway through the first half of Saturday’s game when he tangled with Cov’s Milan van Ewijk.

A proper battle ensued between two of the smallest players on the pitch and ended with Sainz’s sheer tenacity winning him a throw. And (cover your ears Jamie and Gary) he spontaneously celebrated with a fist pump – one that could just as easily have been saved for his winning goal.

(You can see the tussle here, external).

In its own way, it was perfect. And Carrow Road lapped it up.

So let’s ignore the Carraghers, the Nevilles, and their fellow killjoys. For most football supporters it is all about the moments, and if we are not allowed to celebrate them, what’s the point?

Have you changed your mind about David Wagner?

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Norwich City are just one point outside the Championship's play-off places and have lost only one of their last five league games.

That includes wins against promotion hopefuls Coventry City, West Brom and Hull City.

In December, you had your say as the Canaries finished 2023 with a defeat at Milwall. You weren't impressed!

So have you changed your mind about David Wagner?

Has a great start to 2024 had an impact on your view?

What do you think about City's head coach? Get in touch here.

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Dutch football writer Michael Statham says that there is quite a big difference between former Canaries striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel and City new-boy Sydney van Hooijdonk.

"Van Wolfswinkel has had a great career in the Netherlands and in other countries but he lacked size and presence - van Hooijdonk has more about him in a physical sense so that's what makes me think he'll succeed better in England," said Statham.

Van Wolfswinkel played just one season for the Canaries in 2013/14, where he scored only one Premier League goal.

"To compare him (van Hooijdonk) with a player who's played in the Eredivisie and English football, the first one that comes to mind is Sebastian Haller. He's physical, great in the box, scores all kinds of goals, can head the ball too," said Statham,

"I think people will notice his physicality - the first thing you saw (for Norwich) was him clattering into a player so he's going to get stuck in - he wants to get involved," he added.

Van Hooijdonk turns 24 today!

The latest Scrimmage podcast is available now.

Joe Dean and Chris Reeve learn more about new striker Sydney van Hooijdonk from Dutch football expert Michael Statham.

Plus, studio guest Will Grant shares his punditry around Norwich City's youth team.

Head here to download and subscribe.

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Norwich City striker Josh Sargent scored his sixth Championship goal of the season in the win over Coventry on Saturday.

While the Canaries have tasted defeat 12 times in the league this season, Sargent has only been on the losing side twice.

The USA international missed 20 Championship matches after suffering an ankle injury against Huddersfield Town in August.

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On this day - 5 February 2022

Kenny McLean scored a first-half winner as Norwich beat fellow Premier League side Wolves 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round.

Scotland midfielder McLean flicked in a header into the far corner from compatriot Billy Gilmour's cross.

Dean Smith's side went on to face Liverpool in the fifth round, where they lost 2-1 at Anfield.

BBC Radio Norfolk's Norwich City fanzine show The Scrimmage is back at 18.00 GMT on Monday.

Chris Reeve and Joe Dean are joined in the studio by Canary fan Will Grant, he knows his stuff when it comes to the club's Academy players.

Plus, Dutch football expert Michael Statham is on the show - he will run the rule over Sydney van Hooijdonk's arrival at Carrow Road. The Dutchman made his debut on Saturday against Coventry.

Listen live at 18.00 GMT here.

Norwich City midfielder Gabriel Sara hasn't worked with new striker Sydney van Hooijdonk for long, but the Brazlian reckons the Dutchman will be a success at Carrow Road:

Earlier we had a quiz question based around Norwich City players who have never scored for the club despite making over 75 appearances.

Our thanks to Steve Sanders for providing these interesting stats:

It's been quite a few days for Norwich City midfielder Borja Sainz.

The Spaniard scored a cracker in the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool, and followed it up on Saturday with a brilliant winner against Coventry.

His team-mate Gabriel Sara thinks his Championship goal was the pick of the two:

You can hear a full interview with Gabrial Sara here.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner is clearly enjoying proving a few people wrong, as the Canaries mount a serious Championship play-off challenge.

Here he is speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham:

Cedric Anselin's thoughts on Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City

Norwich City came from a goal down to beat Coventry City 2-1 at Carrow Road. The win puts the Canaries within one point of the Championship play-off places.

Former City midfielder Cedric Anselin was the guest summariser on BBC Radio Norfolk, here's some of his full-time thoughts:

"We (Norwich) didn't start very well in the second half and went one nil down, but we managed to find a way to stay in the game and get our noses in front with two beautiful goals.

"Good build-up and the second one from Sainz - incredible strike from outside the box."

He continued: "We stopped Coventry's momentum with their 12 games unbeaten. It's good for David Wagner to step-up and keep that momentum right till the end, and we will see where we finish."

You can hear more from Cedric Anselin on Canary Call, hosted by Rob Butler.

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Here's the answer for our quiz which was set by BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham. A reminder of the question:

Ben Gibson scored his first goal for the Canaries last Sunday in his 106th game.

That means since 1990 there have been just two Norwich outfield players with more than 75 first team appearances who haven’t scored a single goal. Can you name them?

The answers:

Shaun Carey (1995-2000) - 76 appearances

Dimitris Giannoulis (2021-present) - 93 appearances

Thanks to everyone who joined in.

The team news is in and new signing Sydney van Hooijdonk is on the bench for the Canaries for their Championship game against Coventry at Carrow Road.

Here's the Norwich side in full:

Gunn, Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis, Nunez, McLean, Sara, Fassnacht, Sainz, Sargent

Subs: Long, Fisher, McCallum, Hanley, Sorensen, Hernandez, Gibbs, Barnes, van Hooijdonk

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