Are Norwich City back from the death? Saturday will reveal the answer. A game, which if met by a home win, will send Norwich City into the play-offs for the first time since late October. Failure could be fatal. The tectonic plates have closed between 6th and 7th, but a cataclysmic Norwich performance can easily throw away the effort that has been spent closing the gap.
Brentford are the visitors. They’re also the team who sit just two places above. And while Norwich managed a convincing 0-3 victory over them back on a September Tuesday night, it’s not going to be an easy game by any stretch. How will they fare this time? Who will come out on top?
Alex Neil’s current 100% record across two games will be put to the test – it could be a match we look back on at the end of the season – remorsefully or reminiscently? It’s tightened up at the top too; on Wednesday Teixeira struck twice, helping Chris Hughton’s Brighton to a dramatic 3-2 victory against Ipswich, who threw away the chance to rise to the Championship summit. The same scoreline graced Carrow Road in front of a nervy twenty-six thousand strong crowd, as Norwich almost bottled it. As it’s regularly said; the game is across two halves, and luckily, goals from all three City strikers paid dividend. With Bournemouth, Middlesbrough and the mentioned Ipswich all having played an extra game, Saturday’s fixture is of paramount importance. Three points for Norwich will put just another five in-between them and top spot; is any extra incentive needed?
LAST GAME
Goals from Hooper, Lafferty, and Jerome shattered Cardiff hopes by half-time, worsened by an unlikely John Ruddy penalty save. Peter Whittingham stepped up from 12 yards, and with O’Neil’s knowledge of Whittingham’s positioning, Ruddy dived the right way to stop what was in fact a weak effort. After the break, Norwich tried their best to throw away the game in classic Norwich style. Martin Olsson at fault for the first, which is a little contentious considering his recent links to Swansea. Alex Revell snook in front of the left back who failed to show any dominance, as the ball approached on his limited – or more realistically – useless right side. Ruddy also came under scrutiny for yet another mis-judgement; he left his line to try and meet substitute Harris as he penetrated the box, but didn’t allow enough time to get there, and consequently left the goal wide open for Harris to push to ball beyond him and in. However, Norwich survived the rest of the game despite the nerves which swam overwhelmingly around Carrow Road, right up to the final whistle.
TEAM PREVIEW
To the delight of most fans last week, a certain Steven Whittaker had his name rubbed out on the team sheet. His replacement came in the way of centre-back compatriot Russell Martin, a change which many have been suggesting for the last three months. Injury to Alexander Tettey and suspension to Jonny Howson meant that the midfield had to be rejigged. Lafferty on the left, Redmond on the right. Johnson and O’Neil occupying the void between. It looked mostly like a 4-4-1-1, with Hooper often dropping a little deeper to see more of the ball.
But, with respect to Cardiff, they’re notably worse than the incoming Brentford, and so some changes may need to be made. Obviously, it’s pretty dependent on whether Tettey returns, as he has been an ever-present figure this season and is likely to be involved whenever available. I was a little sceptical about Lafferty – mainly because I felt he had talent but was regularly failing to perform on it. He made one step in proving himself last week; not only by bagging a goal, but also helping out the defence. Acting like a midfielder – not just a stranded, discarded striker.
The defence is an ongoing conundrum. Is Olsson set for Swansea? That, in itself, is key. If so, Garrido, or even Whittaker, could play on the left side. I reckon that Neil will refrain from changing the partnership of Cuellar and Turner, despite its obvious ineptitudes and mistake-prone nature.
PREDICTED TEAM: Unchanged
BRENTFORD
Brentford have proven to be this year’s surprise package, having finished second in League One just last season. When Norwich last played them they had 11 points, and were positioned in 10th after just seven games, which, would no doubt have been regarded as a solid start. Since that day they have rocketed up the table, passed Norwich on the way, and now have their eyes firmly set on the play-offs, and an unlikely, yet equally possible promotion to the Premier League. Against all the odds they have achieved this; a relatively small squad, filled with no renowned names or stars, just a well disciplined cohesive team set about by manager Mark Warburton.
Form – W L L W W
The away side enter this game having managed an impressive 21 points from the previous 10 games, and a loss against Ipswich is just one of the reasons they’re not even higher up the table. The main overwhelming factor though is their defence, which is not poor so to say – it’s what you would expect for a team who’s just been promoted – but it’s the worst out of the top 9, having conceded 35 goals. It has had a subsequent effect on their goal difference, which is the worst in the top 6 by 12 goals, and as a result, a loss will mean the Canaries rise above them.
Andre Gray has led the line with the goals (8), Alan Judge often the provider (8 assists). However, come May, I don’t expect the Bees to be in the running for the top spots – perhaps hanging on to the sixth play-off position. They simply haven’t had a bad run yet, or an unlucky injury spell which can especially hinder a team with a smaller squad. It’s a tough month for Brentford; they have a run of games including Bournemouth, Middlesbrough, Watford and of course us, and so they’ll be wanting some sort of positive result to take into those games which all happen to be at home. A loss could send them spiralling on the poor run that they are yet to have.
PREVIOUS MEETING
Following a dramatic comeback away to Cardiff just a week before, mirroring the fixture order this year, Norwich beat Brentford courtesy of goals from Alex Tettey and Cameron Jerome (2). The first from the Norwegian came against the run of play, with Brentford keeping it tight all the way up to the 68th minute. A lapse of concentration allowed Hoolahan space an time to pick out the onrushing central-midfielder who calmly slotted between Button’s legs. City made it two when Whittaker picked up on a well parried Grabban shot, lightly caressing the ball into the path of Cameron Jerome, who met it with an emphatic thump of his forehead as he flung himself to the floor. That man made it two for him and three for Norwich just 7 minutes from time, once again finding space on the edge of the box, this time pulling the trigger and dispatching the ball right into the top corner, asking whether Brentford’s nets could deal with his sheer power. Three-nil and three points, making the mid-week away trip more than worthwhile. City top of the league.
VERDICT
Although it’s going to be difficult I reckon we’ll win it. One-nil; something scruffy. A reminder that we can win games without the gloss and glam of scoring three at home or playing the league leaders off the park. The real test will come if we do find ourselves in front – can we hold on in such a situation? We tried to throw it away last week; hopefully that was a one-off, and not a warning for more mess-ups to come. To conclude, automatic promotion is in OUR hands. It’s the big games at home like this weekend that will determine whether we hit back first time; Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Derby, Wolves, and Brentford are all yet to make the trip East. Hopefully we can make the trip that takes us flying up the table, and it be a one-way ticket at that.
