Norwich City

Jonathan Rowe: Goal-getter and standard-setter

Steve Sanders, @ncfcnumbers, external

Please note: The following content is unsuitable for Premier League scouts, who should probably stop reading from this point forward.

Angus Gunn’s stops and Shane Duffy’s blocks were key factors in Norwich City’s vital win at Hull but the game’s decisive moment was delivered, once again, by Jonathan David Henry Rowe.

Rowe's 12th goal this season already makes him the first Canaries player this century to reach that tally in a single campaign before the age of 21, and he only needs four more to become the top scoring midfielder in a season over the same time period (Bradley Johnson, James Maddison and Emi Buendia all made it to 15).

One of the most impressive aspects of Rowe’s goals is that they come in all shapes and sizes. Want important goals? His 11 league strikes have accounted for seven points, without which Norwich would be well and truly out of the play-off picture (and that’s without considering the unquantifiable value of those two at Portman Road).

Looking for versatility? Rowe has scored five with his right foot, four with his left and three with his head – and is the first Canary since Cameron Jerome seven years ago to have at least three in each category.

Long range pings your thing? Bradley Johnson (v Blackburn in 2014/15) was the last player to score goals from outside the box against the same opposition home and away, before Rowe became the two-time scourge of Hull on Friday night.

David Wagner may not be idolised on the Carrow Road terraces right now, but Rowe’s bumper season owes much to his manager’s tactics pushing his wide men into goal scoring positions. Christian Fassnacht’s thigh accounted for the 20th goal scored by a Canaries wide player this season, and the club’s wingers are currently outscoring their strikers 20-17.

Wagner’s side have only failed to score in three of their last 22 games. Rowe didn't play more than 45 minutes in any of those three, and one wonders if Wagner looks back with regret at his decision to drop him for the recent 1-0 defeat at Millwall. Without the youngster’s ingenuity it could have been a similarly blunt tale on Friday.

Gabriel Sara has long felt like Norwich City’s key man, but Rowe might just be the club’s MVP at the moment. Now to just get to February…

Image source, Getty Images

Former Norwich City defender Harry Toffolo has been speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson about his mental health and the fallout from his breach of betting regulations earlier in his career.

Toffolo was part of the Canaries under-18 squad who won the FA Youth Cup in 2013.

Listen to the podcast now on BBC Sounds.

It doesn't take a tactical genius to see that Norwich City have improved defensively in the last couple of months.

After 16 Championship games the Canaries had conceded 32 goals, since then they have conceded 11 in 11 games.

Following Friday's 2-1 win at Hull City defender Shane Duffy told BBC Radio Norfolk that the team have been working on being tougher to beat.

He said: "We sat down, we had to because there was obviously something clearly wrong with the players we had in.

"We got together as a group - a defensive unit - and the manager and we tweaked a few little things. Obviously, at the start of the season we were playing very attacking with high full-backs and maybe when it wasn't coming off, we were on our own back there."

He continued, "There was one stage where we needed three or four goals to win a game which is impossible. So it's a few little tweaks."

You can listen to the full interview with Shane Duffy on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day - 14 January 2009

Following defeat in the FA Cup against Charlton Athletic, Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder was sacked.

Club chairman Roger Munby said: "We'd like to place on record our sincere gratitude and admiration for what Glenn and his staff achieved last season when they saved the club from relegation against the odds."

Norwich legend Bryan Gunn took over as manager in time for the next game against Barnsley which the Canaries won 4-0.

The season ended with Norwich being relegated to League One meaning they had slipped to third tier of English football for the first time since 1960.

Have your say on the Canaries' win at Hull

Norwich City had an excellent away win at Hull City on Friday night.

How are you feeling after that result as a City supporter?

Have you changed your mind about under-pressure head coach David Wagner?

We'd also love your thoughts on the club's lack of activity in the transfer market too. Are you glad that Norwich are taking their time getting potential targets signed?

Get in touch here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has spoken about improving his side's defensive capabilities following an impressive 2-1 win at Hull City in the Championship.

Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"It was a top performance in terms of the work ethic, the togetherness, the fighting spirit."

He continued, "We created not a lot, but four or five top opportunities, on a difficult pitch and that we have got the double against Hull is just great.

"If we want to compete for the play-offs, we had to dramatically improve our goals conceded because there were far too many and we had to give them a clear picture and a clear idea of what they had to change and do better."

Wagner also had special praise for striker Ashley Barnes:

"Ashley Barnes up front fought like a warrior, for every inch, but this is exactly what you have to do on a pitch like this and in a game like this."

The Canaries are still in the hunt for the play-offs despite a very incosistent campaign so far. Their next league game is against West Bromwich Albion at home on Saturday 20 January.

Stephen Elliott's verdict on Hull City 1-2 Norwich City

Norwich City got their first win of 2024 - a 2-1 victory at Hull City in the Championship.

Former City forward Stephen Elliott was the guest summariser on BBC Radio Norfolk, here's what he had to say at full-time:

"Job done in the end. It was probably a little bit more uncomfortable than it should have been at two nil. From a neutral point of view, it's good, but if you're a Norwich City fan or player you're thinking - 'why do we do this to ourselves?'.

"In general, if you're looking at it as an away performance by Norwich - it's a great win isn't it? To come away from home and pick up three points against a team that's just outside the play-offs," he continued.

"Tactically, Norwich weren't brilliant on the ball but you'd have to say it was a really good away performance. They dug in deep, every player who played tonight including the substitutes left everything on the pitch and probably just deserved it."

You can listen to more from Stephen Elliott on Canary Call with Rob Butler on BBC Sounds here.

Norwich City are still looking for their first win of 2024, tonight they travel to Hull City in the Championship (20.00 GMT)

You can listen to full live commentary of the game with BBC Radio Norfolk. Former City forward Stephen Elliott and Chris Goreham will be calling the shots.

Plus, you can tune into Canary Call with Rob Butler straight after the final whistle here.

Time for the answer to this week's quiz.

A reminder of the question:

Norwich's last win at Hull was in 2007. Which three former England internationals featured in that game?

There was one ex-England international for Norwich that day:

Dion Dublin (4 caps)

The two for Hull were:

Nick Barmby (23 caps) and Ray Parlour (10 caps)

Well done if you got it right!

Norwich City will play Leeds United in the Championship on Wednesday 24 January (19.45 GMT).

The match was originally due to be played on 27 January but has been rearranged because of Leeds’ involvement in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Canaries could also be in FA Cup fourth round action away to Liverpool, if City beat Bristol Rovers in a third round replay on 17 January.

Here's some stats (provided by Opta) ahead of Friday's game at MKM Stadium:

• Hull have lost their last two league games against Norwich City, as many as in their previous 11 against the Canaries beforehand (Won 5 Drawn 4)

• Norwich are looking to complete a league double over Hull for the first time since the 1971-72 season

• Hull City have won five of their last seven home league games (Lost 2) and have lost their first home league game in just two of the last nine calendar years (W5 D2), drawing 1-1 with Huddersfield last year

• Norwich have lost seven of their last 11 away league matches (W2 D2), failing to score in their last two, 1-0 defeats to West Brom and Millwall

• They haven’t failed to score in three away Championship games in a row since November 2014

• Norwich’s Gabriel Sara has created the most chances in the Championship this season (74) and also has the highest expected assists total (8). He has, however, failed to score or assist in any of his last eight appearances

Ahead of Friday's Championship encounter at Hull City (20.00 GMT), David Wagner has been speaking about the Tigers' offensive threat.

Hull are currently seventh in the table and one point off the play-off places.

The two sides last met on the opening day of the 2023/24 season, with an Adam Idah strike securing three points for the Canaries.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day - 12 January 2019

Substitute Jordan Rhodes scored a late equaliser for Norwich City as they drew 1-1 at West Bromwich Albion.

The point wasn't enough to keep the Canaries in the top two of the Championship table with Sheffield United going above them, Leeds were top.

But City got the last laugh that season, winning the Championhsip with 94 points and heading back to the Premier League.

The Blades finished second and were also promoted, Leeds were third and lost in the play-off semi-finals to Derby County.

We are going to Hull and back for our usual pre-match quiz, devised by BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham:

Norwich's last win at Hull was in 2007. Which three former England internationals featured in that game?

It's just for fun! Send us your guesses here.

The Canaries head to Humberside for their next Championship game on Friday (20.00 GMT). You can listen to live commentary with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview.

Norwich City now know the date they will potentially play their FA Cup fourth round tie, if they can get past Bristol Rovers in the third round replay on Wednesday 17 January.

Premier League Liverpool await the Canaries or Rovers in the last 32 of the competition. That tie will take place on Sunday 28 January (14.30 GMT) at Anfield.

Norwich City's 2014 player of the season Robert Snodgrass was the special guest on The Scrimmage podcast this week.

He spoke to Rob Butler and Chris Reeve about the strengths of his Canaries side that stayed in the Premier League for three seasons.

He also discussed his departure from Carrow Road - Snodgrass signed for Hull City in June 2014.

You can listen to the full programme here.

Image source, Getty Images

On this day - 11 January 2005

Norwich City signed striker Dean Ashton from Crewe Alexandra for a then record fee of £3m.

The Canaries were trying to avoid relegation from the Premier League and Ashton did all he could to save them, scoring seven goals in 16 games.

But it wasn't enough as City were relegated on the final day of the campaign.

After a spell at West Ham, Ashton had to retire from football at the age of 26 because of a serious ankle injury.

Ahead of Norwich City's trip to Hull in The Championship, head coach David Wagner says he thinks his side can still make the play-offs.

The Tigers have strengthened their squad ahead of game with the signing of Liverpool winger Fabio Carvalho on loan.

Do you think the Canaries can still make the play-offs? Let us know.

Opinion: A dose of optimism for Norwich City fans

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

There’s a lot of negative sentiment around Norwich City football club right now.

We have seen huge fan unrest at how the club has been run of late; Stuart Webber’s handover and exit as sporting director came across as messy and laboured. The club’s success - or rather lack of - on the pitch of late has led to many wanting a change of head coach.

As a fan and someone who spends a fair amount of disposable income following the club around the country, I too share those feelings. It’s been a tough twelve months under David Wagner and it was a tough thirteen months under Dean Smith. But whilst there are many things I’d like to see change behind the scenes and even in the dugout, I do have some cause for optimism about the second half of this Championship season, irrespective of who is in charge.

My main area of optimism comes from players returning from injury. In recent weeks we’ve welcomed back Grant Hanley and Josh Sargent, both of whom undoubtedly make us a better outfit and whose quality we’ve been lacking in their respective positions.

In the last month or so we also welcomed back Angus Gunn and Jonathan Rowe; all four of these players are, or at least should be, guaranteed starters. Combine this with the experience we have in the likes of Ashley Barnes and Kenny McLean, the spark and nuance of Borja Sainz and Gabriel Sara and we should kick on in the second half of the season.

Two other areas also worth mentioning, when trying to be as positive as possible, are the poor standard of the Championship and the old cliche that there’s a lot of football still to play. Last season might’ve been the worst Championship season in a long time in terms of quality and I don’t think this season is far off.

You only have to look at the start we made to the season to see what’s possible - after beating Stoke City at home in September we were fourth, only three points off the top of the table.

Yes, things have been up and down since then (OK, largely down), but this squad has more than enough quality to pull themselves up the table and bridge the five point gap to the play-offs with twenty games to play and sixty points up for grabs.

Would I like to see a change in the dugout and some January signings to bolster our squad? Of course.

Am I disappointed - even angry - about our recent form? Absolutely.

And yet, the football romantic in me still thinks that this group of players can salvage this season, irrespective of who’s in charge.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner says he is happy to continue to front-up as the main voice coming out of Carrow Road.

Some supporters have called for sporting director Ben Knapper to speak to the fans via the local media during the transfer window.

Wagner is speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Phil Daley.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the Canaries' Championship game against Hull City on Friday (20.00 GMT).

Here are some of the key points:

• Midfielder Adam Forshaw is ill and will miss training today (Wednesday)

• Defender Grant Hanley has a 'minor' back problem and will be monitored in the next 10-14 days

• On Hwang Ui-jo's departure: "I really like him and I wish him the very best. I think he did great for us"

• Striker Josh Sargent is ready to start a game for Norwich according to Wagner. Sargent is back following a long injury lay-off

• On fan criticism: "It's only about us to change it." Wagner said he won't spend time worrying about what supporters think about him and will concentrate on winning games

• "There is togetherness in the dressing room, we have always shown this." Wagner said he is focussed on keeping a good attitude amongst his players

• On incoming or outgoing transfers: "What will happen at the end of the window, I don't know". Wagner said it's still early in the window with plenty of time left to do deals - "We have identified areas and targets, but nothing I'd like to speak about publicly right now."