After Norwich City’s convincing 4-2 victory over Stoke on Saturday, Connor Southwell delivers six things you might have missed from Carrow Road.
1 – Goal fest
This is the seventh time at Carrow Road this season that Norwich City have scored four or more times in all competitions.
Six in the Championship and another in their Carabao Cup victory over Stevenage back in August. It is the side of Johannes Hoff Thorup’s team that has been the most enjoyable to consume this season.
The truth is that Norwich should have been gloating about a healthier scoreline on this occasion – they constructed chances at will and even missed an open goal, worth 0.96xg, courtesy of Oscar Schwartau late on.
As per the excellent @NCFCnumbers on X (formerly Twitter), Carrow Road has now seen 64 goals in 17 matches this season – more than any other stadium in the top four divisions in the country.
The next closest is Walsall’s Bescot Stadium with 61, followed closely by Home Park (Plymouth Argyle) with 58 and the Toughsheet Community Stadium (Bolton) on 57. No City fan can complain about the level of entertainment they’ve witnessed this season.
City (41) are four behind Leeds (44) for home goals scored and 11 ahead of the next nearest side Plymouth (30).
The problem is the goals conceded column – only Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth have conceded more on their home turf than Norwich’s 23. One clean sheet shows the need for a tightening at the other end.
2 – Sargent’s on Fire
Josh Sargent is on fire – and Championship defences should be terrified.
Where to start? How about the fact that he now has 11 Championship goals. Only four players – Wilson Isidor, Josh Maja, Joel Piroe and team-mate Borja Sainz have more. Considering Sargent has played only 20 times and has missed 14 league games, it’s an impressive return.
There are so many incredible stats surrounding the American international. His brace against Stoke means he has now scored seven times in the six matches since his comeback from injury.
Since January 1, 2024, Sargent is the league’s top-scorer with 24 goals. He leads Emmanuel Latte Lath (21), Sainz and Piroe (19) and Dan James (17). That has come in 41 matches that he’s featured in that period.
Sargent is also enjoying playing in front of the City faithful – the number nine has scored 20 times in his last 23 home league matches. In 86 Championship matches, he has netted 40 times and recorded nine assists.
If his talents close to goal weren’t enough, Sargent’s second with his weaker foot was his first strike outside of the box since City’s 3-1 victory over Hull in February 2023.
With Sargent leading the line, Norwich always have a chance. There is little debate – he is the best in his position in the Championship. It doesn’t feel that close of a race at present.
3 – Slow start, sprint finish
Much has been made of Norwich City’s response to concessions, but the numbers prove they finish games stronger than they start them.
In the first half of matches this season, Norwich have conceded 23 times compared to the 20 they’ve scored. That is a minus-three difference.
At Carrow Road, the period between the 15th and 45th minute is where 11 of their 13 first-half concessions have come.
Compare that record to the second period in matches, where Norwich have scored 32 times and conceded 20.
Their attacking output is significantly improved in the closing stages of matches, with 15 of their goals arriving between the 76th and 90th minute – more than any other Championship side.
If the table was constructed based purely on results from the second half, City would sit fifth in the Championship table on 53 points behind Burnley, Sunderland, Sheffield United, and Leeds.
Compare that to the first-half table, which has Norwich 15th on 42 points with a minus-three goal difference. That struggle to get going in the opening period is hampering their prospects significantly.
That disparity between halves is huge and something that Johannes Hoff Thorup will need to investigate. If Norwich want to be successful in their hunt for the top six, they will need to shake the tag of slow starters.
4 – KingFisher
The key point of difference between Kellen Fisher and Jack Stacey this season has been their attacking capabilities.
Fisher has been used to invert and for in-possession structures rather than holding an aggressive position on the defensive line, which has often been left to Stacey to provide.
One of the key changes from two Carrow Road disappointments against Derby and Preston was the right back’s position. It felt like a well-structured and well-coached response to their struggles against a low defensive block.
Johannes Hoff Thorup pushed him notably higher up the pitch along with a shift in build-up structure from a three-two to a two-three shape.
City reaped the benefits. No player had more touches in the final third than Fisher’s 23. That total is his second-highest in that area of the pitch all season, behind Norwich’s Boxing Day victory over Millwall.
It is also up dramatically compared to those Derby and Preston games – where Fisher recorded 11 and four touches in the final third in those matches.
Fisher’s four successful crosses were also his highest total of the campaign, again behind that festive win over Millwall. It was a display that proved his versatility in his game and will serve as a further blow to Stacey’s chance at redemption.
5 – Barren run
Mark Robins has achieved plenty in his near 800-game-strong managerial career, but beating Norwich City alludes him.
As a player, Robins netted 21 times in 78 games for the Canaries between 1992-95 but has found Norwich and Carrow Road a tough nut to crack as a manager.
Stoke is the third club that Robins has managed against City, with this his 11th meeting against his old employers. His record reads: played 11, won zero, drawn two and lost nine. In that period, Norwich have scored 24 goals compared to the eight for his sides.
It is a run that dates back to his time in charge of Barnsley in 2011 when Andrew Crofts’ double ensured Paul Lambert’s promotion chasers left Oakwell with three points.
This was only the second time that Robins’ side have managed to score more than once against Norwich after a 4-2 defeat to David Wagner’s men as Coventry boss in January 2023.
Of teams faced more than 10 times in his managerial career, Robins enjoys the lowest points per game record against Norwich, taking 0.18. The next closest is Scunthorpe United, but the 55-year-old has beaten them once in 11 meetings.
Robins’ barren run against Norwich aligns with that of Stoke, who have now gone nine games without victory. A 1-0 win at Carrow Road in October 2018 is the last time they tasted success over City.
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