The Canaries had only won once in the ten games before their November 11 trip to Cardiff City. After the game, supporters of the team welcomed new sporting director Ben Knapper, raising hopes for a managerial change.
However, with just minutes remaining, Adam Idah’s late winner changed the course of events, and ever since, Carrow Road’s push towards the play-off spots has accelerated.
Since New Year’s Day, City has defeated West Brom and Hull, two strong top six contenders, progressed to the FA Cup’s fourth round, drawn with Southampton, and gone undefeated in five.
Performances have started to gradually catch up with outcomes, and head coach David Wagner has started to mend his reputation with supporters who were once turned off by his football philosophy.
But Norwich will be put to the test in back-to-back games, both this week. A hectic January comes to a close with Liverpool at Anfield as the reward, but first there’s Leeds United at Elland Road.
Wagner knows exactly how big of a deal this is, because in LS11, all the momentum his charges have been accumulating comes to bear.
It’ll be a wonderful occasion,” he remarked. “The guys who haven’t been there have heard a lot about it, and everyone who has been there and knows what’s ahead is anticipating it and can’t wait to embrace the occasion.
These are the events and games you strive to participate in. For us, it’s wonderful to be back in the dressing room with so much confidence following our recent performances and outcomes.
Regardless of how many minutes they receive, we must ensure that everyone gives it their all. The team’s past behaviour has always been exactly like this.”
With their hallowed home serving as a fortress in their ascent to fourth place in the standings, the Whites own the only unbeaten home record left in the second tier this season. But Wagner is confident that the run will end eventually and hopes to know the recipe for that to happen.
When he was on the hot seat in NR1, counterpart Daniel Farke was well-known for his vivid metaphors, but his countryman had his own ideas about how to evaluate the assignment that Norwich had to complete this evening.
“Obviously we have to have a perfect day, but it’s a little bit like in the casino,” he said. “If something is always red, red, red, then there will come a point when it turns black. Perhaps if we fight and work together, this can happen on Wednesday.
“We hold Leeds in high regard, and I believe they have earned it for the work they have done thus far. When we played Ipswich away, the conditions were similar; they also had one of the best home records.
