Preview | Norwich City (H)
The Game
Argyle v Norwich City. Home Park. Saturday, 5 April. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Norwich are 10th in the Championship table, with 52 points from 39 games.
The Canaries won none of their first three games, but rallied with four wins from their next six, going into the October international break. After that, they failed to win in their next seven, drawing four and losing three.
This run ended with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Argyle near the end of November, and this was followed by a 4-2 victory against Luton Town, but Norwich, in an oft-repeated pattern through the season, then failed to win in the next four.
Ten points from a possible 12 over the Christmas period was followed by two consecutive away defeats, admittedly at Sheffield United and Leeds United. Losing just one of the next six, Norwich entered March looking optimistic, but failed to win in four, until a win at home to West Bromwich Albion last time out.
The Gaffer
Head Coach Johannes Hoff Thorup took over at the Carrow Road helm after the departure of previous boss David Wagner at the end of last season. The 35-year-old was never a professional, but began coaching at AB, in his homeland of Denmark, in 2012.
In 2015, he moved to Nordsjælland, where he steadily worked through up through the ranks, from the youth team, to assistant manager, to becoming the manager in January 2023. In his only full season in charge, Nordsjælland finished fourth in Denmark’s top division, before Thorup was spirited away to Norfolk for a new challenge.
The Squad
Four players have scored 13 or more goals in the Sky Bet Championship season so far; Norwich have two of them.
Borja Sainz is the division’s leading goalscorer, with 17 goals. The 24-year-old Spaniard came through at Alaves, had a loan at Real Zaragoza, and then moved to Giresunspor in Turkey. He moved to Norwich in 2023, and had a good first season, but he has excelled this term.
Josh Sargent (below) has 13 goals to his name in the Championship this season, from only 25 games. The 25-year-old American striker scored 16 in 26 last season for the Canaries. He signed for Norwich in 2021, from Werder Bremen, his first club having left the States. He has 28 caps for the US national team.
Experienced midfielder Kenny McLean is likely to anchor Norwich’s midfield, and to make them tick. The 33-year-old, who played more than 100 times for St Mirren and Aberdeen, signed for Norwich in 2018. He has now played over 250 games for the club.
Earlier This Season
Argyle lost 6-1 at Carrow Road in November, with Borja Sainz scoring a hat-trick, and Shane Duffy, Anis Ben Slimane, and Arne Crnac all scoring one each. Mustapha Bundu scored Argyle’s goal, which made it 2-1 at the time.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with Argyle Breakfast at 10am, which will be hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack, with various guests. Erin will return, alongside Marc Edworthy, for the Pre-Match Show, which starts at 2.30pm. Commentary will be provided from Home Park by Rob McNichol and Katie Middleton.
Match passes to watch this game are available outside of the UK and Ireland. Click here for more information.
