Norwich City (A) | Edwards' Preview

On Wednesday, Argyle TV sat down with Joe Edwards to preview Good Friday’s game against Norwich City, with an eye also on the following Monday’s game against Edwards’ former side, Bristol City. 

The determined Argyle captain, though, drew attention to the fact that the eight games that remain in the 2023/24 season are all important, and that he is doing everything he can to galvanise the Pilgrims’ squad, as they look to confirm participation in next season’s Sky Bet Championship, a goal that has existed from the moment promotion was achieved last term. 

This time last year, Argyle were in the throes of trying to seal their title challenge from League One, which they achieved. Now, following the final international break of the season, the battle is at the other end of a different league, but Joe said that the experience attained will help the fight. 

“It feels almost like a little mini-season. We've got eight games,” said Joe. “The goal still remains the same: staying in this league. 

“The break was nice; it gave us a chance to refresh ourselves. Now we've got eight massive games where we need to produce performances to get results. 

“It's the business end, as everyone calls it; some years you're fighting to win titles and win the league, some years you're battling to stay in the division. Each comes with its own pressures, but each shows the person inside of you, to fight and make sure you come out on top.

“That's what we'll be doing for these next eight games. We've had a good few days’ training now, with a really positive mindset, hoping we can do what we can to get the results that we need. 

“At this time of season, results are the most important thing, and we need to find a way to do enough to get the results. It's about sticking together, working hard and making sure we do the right things to come out on top. 

“We've got lads who have been involved in relegation battles before. We've got lads who've had promotions. We've got experience in this squad. 

“I know that the boys are good enough. I'll be instilling that belief into them and making sure we do that. There are eight big games, but no reason why we can't get the results we need.”

To begin the final octet of fixtures, Argyle travel to Norwich, the most westerly team in English football heading to the most easterly. Norwich are sixth in the league, with home form as good as any in the division at this moment, but on the previous occasion when the sides met this season, Argyle won 6-2 on a wonderful Home Park afternoon. 

“We’d take a 6-2 again, that would be nice!” said Joe. 

“They're a good side. They're on a brilliant run of form but, who knows, the break might affect their momentum, which would be great for us.

“We'll be going into that, doing everything we can to get a result. We take confidence from the fact that we played them at home and played fantastically. We've got some brilliant players, who can produce and score goals, and we need to get that into them, make sure they can do that, and we'll put ourselves in good stead.”