Norwich City

Former Norwich City striker Iwan Roberts believes failure to resolve defensive frailties is a big reason for Johannes Hoff Thorup's downfall as head coach.

"I watched the first half of the Norwich-Portsmouth game (on Friday) and made a tongue-in-cheek comment to my son after the game, I said 'that's a sackable offence', conceding five goals against a team that had scored seven in their previous 12 games," he told BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary Call.

"I wasn't serious in what I said but I was worried about him after that horrendous defeat.

"Then going down to Millwall yesterday and losing that one in the manner that they did, set-pieces have been an Achilles heel all season, and they conceded another two yesterday.

"What is it now? One point from their last five, four points from their last eight games, two wins in the last 14. I am surprised the decision has been made with two games to go but any manager with those kind of numbers going against him will be looking over his shoulder."

Wales international Roberts, who played almost 280 league games for Norwich between 1997 and 2004, said he understood why the club had made a change of head coach when they parted company with David Wagner following last season's play-off defeat by Leeds.

"They wanted to go in a certain direction and I can understand that, they wanted to give younger players an opportunity," he added.

"The job of a head coach and his staff is to improve these youngsters and there's not many that have improved that much over the last six or seven months."

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich have begun the search for a new manager after Johannes Hoff Thorup was relieved of his duties on Tuesday morning.

The Dane was appointed last May to replace David Wagner, who was sacked following the Canaries' Championship play-off semi-final defeat by Leeds.

Monday's 3-1 defeat at Millwall was a third straight loss for City, who have taken one point from their past five games and won only one of their past 10 matches, a run in which they claimed just six points to slip to 14th.

Only leaders Leeds have scored more than Norwich's 67 goals in 44 games this season, but their 66 goals conceded is worse than all but Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and bottom two Cardiff and Plymouth.

Jack Wilshere has been placed in interim charge for City's final two Championship games, at Middlesbrough on Saturday before they finish the season at home to Cardiff on 3 May, pitting the former Arsenal midfielder against ex-team-mate Aaron Ramsey on the touchline.

It's time to have your say on the news...

• Do you agree with the decision to part ways with the Dane?

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Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup believes his side have to "avoid" making "critical" fouls in order to end their poor run of form.

The Canaries suffered their third straight defeat on Monday with a 3-1 loss at Millwall following their 5-3 home humbling by Portsmouth on Friday.

"I think I got a good six or seven minutes," Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk after the match.

"That's probably me being a little bit tough on the guys but I also think it was a great response to start the game.

"I think we started well and then the first time we lost the ball they run down and score which is something that we've seen before but I think the response after that was also okay.

"We have to avoid making fouls in critical areas but it seems like we keep on doing it."

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk after his side's 5-3 defeat at home to Portsmouth:

"Based on the game, it is fair we didn't win it. There were many things defensively we didn't get right.

"It comes down to preparation and being ready for what your opponent brings to a game and we didn't match that at all.

"I had the feeling that every time they brought the ball forward it could be a chance or a goal against.

"We have to look at that; it is definitely a weakness. It is simple situations we struggle to deal with.

"I hate when you have to talk about desire in a football player but I think there was a difference in that today. Portsmouth had more at stake and was willing to throw their bodies in front of the ball.

"I don't think we matched them and that was one of the messages at half time. It seemed like the simple things were difficult today."

With Norwich already looking ahead to next season, according to midfielder Anis Ben Slimane, Portsmouth might fancy their chances of taking advantage of side with little to play for over the next four games as Pompey try to seal their place in the Championship for next term.

Four points clear of trouble, maybe one more win will do it - that's certainly the view of BBC Radio Solent's Andrew Moon on the latest edition of the Who Needs Mourinho? podcast.

Here are the stats ahead of their Good Friday game (15:00 BST).

• Norwich City have won only three of their past 12 Football League games against Portsmouth (D5 L4), though are unbeaten in their last two meetings (W1 D1).

• After beating Norwich 2-0 in December 2010, Portsmouth could win successive away league games against the Canaries for the first time since September 1968.

• Norwich are unbeaten in their past four league games on Good Friday (W2 D2), winning each of their last two against Blackburn in 2023 (2-0) and Plymouth in 2024 (2-1).

• Portsmouth are unbeaten in their past nine league games on Good Friday (W5 D4), though did lose their last such game in the second tier 3-0 at Ipswich in 2003.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent (10 goals) and Portsmouth's Josh Murphy (10 – three goals, seven assists), are two of the four players to have 10+ goal involvements in the Championship in 2025.

Rob Butler
BBC Radio Norfolk Canary Call presenter

Norwich host Portsmouth on Friday (15:00 BST) and while it is still mathematically possible that the Canaries could make the play-offs or be relegated, this will feel like a true end-of-season game for supporters.

Pompey have plenty to play for though, they will be looking for the points to secure their place in the Championship next season.

Ahead of the game, City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup has been speaking to the media and here are some of the key points:

• On-loan Manchester City defender Callum Doyle is fit and should be on the bench. Doyle has been out since late March with a calf injury.

• Forward Ante Crnac will miss Friday's game and could be out for Monday's trip to Millwall too. He was absent for the defeat at Burnley.

• Czech winger Matej Jurasek could make his return at Millwall.

• Onel Hernadez is back in the squad after missing the past two games after being suspended by the club for a misuse of social media.

• On Portsmouth, the Canaries boss said: "They will try to slow the game down in moments but they have another side where they are quite aggressive. We have to be clean in our passing game."

You can listen to full live coverage of Norwich City versus Portsmouth with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB.

Chris Goreham and Rob Butler will be live from Carrow Road at 14:00 BST on Friday.

Image source, Matt Usher, NCFC

Norwich City's young midfielder Elliot Myles has signed a new deal with the club until the summer of 2028, with the option of a further year.

The 18-year-old has made four appearances in all competitions for the Canaries this season, including his debut as a substitute in a Carabao Cup win over Stevenage in mid-August.

He also came on from the bench in Championship games at Sheffield United, Leeds and Burnley this year.

"I'm buzzing about this, being able to stay here for longer because the opportunities I've been given this season is something I can't complain about and something I can't take for granted," Myles told the club website, external.

Myles has featured for Norwich's under-21s and under-18s this season, as well as the Wales Under-19 side.

"Elliot has been progressing really well over recent months and he's a player we're delighted to secure long-term," said Norwich's sporting director Ben Knapper.

"He has big potential, with so much natural ability to produce high-end actions. If he can continue to develop the other aspects of his game, which he is everyday, then he can play at a very high level.

"We're all looking forward to continuing to help him on his journey and are excited to develop and push him further."

Midfielder Jacob Wright says he is "hopeful" of remaining at Norwich City to help the club return to the Premier League next season.

The 19-year-old joined on loan from Manchester City in February with an option for the Canaries to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said last week that Norwich were in a "strong position" to sign Wright, who has also previously indicated his desire to move to Carrow Road permanently.

When asked if joining Norwich could be a "benefit" to help him play regularly, Wright told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage: "That's kind of the reason behind the move in the first place.

"It's just the fact that I felt I was ready to play first team football and I wanted to come and test myself in the Championship.

"It's a great league, a very tough league and I just want to be playing at the end of the day, so... hopefully I'll be here."

Wright said he was "happy" about Thorup's comments around his potential transfer and would "100%" want to be involved in a push for promotion.

"Obviously I don't know the club's scenario, what the club are thinking but from my point of view, I'm happy that they want to continue this journey," he added.

"I think the goal even before I came here was we want to get Norwich back to the Premier League where they should be and hopefully I can play a part in that."

Listen to Jacob Wright's full interview on the latest episode of The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City midfielder Anis Ben Slimane says work towards finishing in a top-six spot in the Championship next season "starts now".

A run of just two wins in the past 12 games has seen the Canaries' hopes of reaching the play-offs in this campaign drift away.

A 2-1 defeat by Burnley on Friday left Johannes Hoff Thorup's side nine points off sixth with only 12 points to play for, meaning it is now almost mathematically impossible.

"We met a team that was better than us and, hopefully, we can learn from them for the next four games and take that with us to finish off the season really well to be ready for next season because our ambition is definitely to be in the top six," Slimane told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"Every player has pride. It's not about 'oh, we didn't make it to the top six, now we have nothing to play for really'.

"No, we've got fans travelling and they come to support us and we have to show them that even though we can't give them top six, we will still work really hard to get three points and make them happy.

"As a football player, you always have to be ready for the next task and right now it's maybe hard and looks a bit dark.

"But we need to take the positive things from this season and finish off the season really well with the last four games.

"We have an ambition to be a top team in this league and that starts from now."

Norwich host relegation-threatened Portsmouth on Good Friday, 18 April, before a trip to face play-off chasing Millwall on Easter Monday, 21 April.

Listen to Anis Ben Slimane's full interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup says his side's poor first-half performance meant they could not execute their desired game plan against Burnley.

The Canaries conceded two early goals, and despite being one of few sides to score against Scott Parker's side in the second half, could not manage a late equaliser.

"We simply have to avoid the first goal," Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk. "It's not good enough defensively, our back line is all over the place.

"The second goal, we gave away a free-kick in our own half, pass it straight to them and they score from a deflected shot, that's more difficult to avoid.

"That left us in a bad position, so I am not satisfied with that, it wasn't part of the plan.

"The second half was really, really strong. When we got the goal we gave them a final push without creating final chances."

Defeat for Norwich almost certainly ends their chances of a play-off place. They remain nine points off the top six with four matches left.

Burnley can steal a march on their promotion rivals with a point at home to Norwich enough to send them top of the Championship table ahead of the weekend games.

Norwich know only a win would keep alive their slim chances of gatecrashing the top six.

• Burnley have won their past three league games against Norwich City, last winning four in succession against the Canaries between 2006 and 2007.

• Norwich City have won just one of their 20 away league games against Burnley (D4 L15), failing to score in 14 of those matches at Turf Moor.

• Burnley have kept 29 clean sheets in their 41 Championship games this season. They are now just one clean sheet away from matching the all-time seasonal Football League record of 30, set by Port Vale in the 1953-54 third division north.

• Since defeating Derby 3-2 in September, Norwich have won just two of their past 16 away league games (D6 L8) – 1-0 victories against Luton and Watford.

• Burnley have been involved in 12 goalless draws in the Championship this season; only Blackpool in 1974-75 (13) have ever had more 0-0s in a single Football League season.

Norwich City right-back Kellan Fisher says the side were concentrating on not conceding during their goalless draw with Sunderland on Tuesday.

The Canaries had lost three of their previous four matches, including a 2-1 defeat by bottom side Plymouth Argyle at the weekend.

"I think it was important just coming in and not losing," Fisher told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We got it right - the attacking balance and we had enough numbers behind when we did lose the ball."

The stalemate was enough to see Sunderland secure themselves a play-off place. But the Canaries' play-off chances look slim.

Seven points separate Norwich and the top six, with just five games left to play.

"I think we all know we are good enough to be in or around the play-offs, and personally I think we should," Fisher added.

"I think we've showed this season we are a great team, we are free flowing and playing good football."

Listen to the full post-match reaction and more on The Scrimmage podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup felt his team had done enough to earn a victory over Sunderland after they were held to a goalless draw.

"We hoped for a win and did more than enough, especially in the first half, to get it. I'm pleased with our first-half dominance. We didn't allow one shot and we created enough to score," the Canaries head coach told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"I'm not satisfied that we didn't convert some of those moments into goals, and the second half was a little bit more open and they were probably a little bit on top in the last 10 minutes.

"We have been talking a lot about [clean sheets] this season and what it takes to do that away from home and against the better teams in the league, and what it takes to convert those chances into more goals, so there's a lot of work to do in the future.

"But I'm pleased with the overall attitude of the players."

"You've got to look at it from where we've come from, which is a team that really tried to establish themselves in the Premier League and failed miserably on several occasions.

"But we are the most yo-yo club out of all the teams in England, so two or three years [to win promotion] is a long wait for Norwich fans.

"You need to be looking at next year being competitive in those play-offs."

BBC Radio Norwich's Rob Butler says the Canaries have to push for a top six finish next season.

He's joined by Chris Reeve as they reflect on the Plymouth defeat, discuss what the future holds for Norwich and look ahead to the Sunderland game on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Listen to the latest episode of the The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.

Norwich City host Sunderland on Tuesday (19:45 BST) in a bid to gain some ground in the play-off race.

A run of lacklustre results has left the Canaries eight points adrift of the top six, winning just one of their past six league matches (D2 L3).

While, the Black Cats are as many points behind a place in the automatic promotion spots but recent form may have them feeling there's an outside chance of stealing one away after two successive league wins.

• Norwich have lost three of their last four league games against Sunderland (W1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W5 D3 L3).

• After their 2-1 win in December, Sunderland could record a first league double over Norwich City since 1984-85 in the top-flight under Len Ashurst.

• Norwich's home games in the Championship this season have seen 72 goals (45 for, 27 against) at an average of 3.6 per game. Only in 1962-63 (4.1) and 2018-19 (3.7) have their home matches produced a higher average over a league campaign.

• Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W5 D6) since a 0-1 defeat to Leicester City in March 2024.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has scored in both of his two league starts against Sunderland, netting in August 2022 and March 2024.