Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City

hoops
Norwich City
OPPOSITION
OVERVIEW
Reeling from their
heaviest defeat
at this level since
2018, Norwich City
nevertheless arrive in
W12 this evening still
very much in the mix to
secure a play-off place.
The Canaries – having
led something of a yo-yo
existence between the
top two divisions in recent
years – looked a solid bet
for a top-six finish going
into March, but have won
just one of their last seven
games.
Hit by defensive injuries
and a general dearth of
goals, David Wagner’s
side crashed to a 5-1
humbling at the hands
of Middlesbrough on
Friday and will need a swift
reaction to retain hopes of
a Premier League return
this season.
The Norfolk side began
the campaign slowly,
gleaning just a single point
from their opening three
fixtures, but hit their stride
with six straight victories
and goals aplenty from
frontline duo Josh Sargent
and Teemu Pukki.
However, a downturn
developed during October,
with a six-match winless
sequence leaving the
Canaries flapping adrift
of Burnley and Sheffield
United as they went into
the World Cup break.
A 1-0 victory at Swansea
after the resumption
proved to be Norwich’s
only success in the next
five, prompting Dean
Smith’s departure from
Carrow Road at the turn of
the year.
They appeared to be back
on track after successive
wins at Coventry and
Preston – scoring four
goals on each occasion –
and also ended Millwall’s
long unbeaten home run
with a 3-2 triumph at the
Den before hitting their
current slump.
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