Robin Sainty on Norwich, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday

City were on the front foot from the start and played on the frayed nerves of the opposition, who clearly carry a psychological burden into these games, whether they are prepared to admit it or not.

That even seemed to extend into the away section, which was one of the quietest at Carrow Road this season, much to the delight of a raucous Barclay.

Of course, the derby is like no other game, and form and league position are much less relevant, but just as it was clear that the Ipswich players were nervous, it was also obvious that City’s players had found another level.

There’s been all sorts of debate about whether the players need to inspire the crowd, or vice versa, but the reality is that when both are on the same page, Carrow Road is a wonderful place to be, and that was certainly the case last Saturday.

In the tense final minutes, people were leaping to their feet to applaud tackles, hacks upfield and even the ball being put out for a throw in, and all four stands were singing. It was magical.

It was, without doubt, the high point of Wagner’s City career, and I don’t think anyone would begrudge him his moment, because he is a genuinely likeable man who has shown a lot of class in the way he has handled himself through some difficult periods this season.

However, amidst the euphoria of continuing the 15-year unbeaten streak, it’s important to see the bigger picture, which is that away form is the biggest threat to City’s play-off chances.

The Canaries are third in the table on home results, with an average of 2.24 points per game, even despite a wretched autumn. That’s automatic promotion form, but with the club sitting 19th in the away results table, averaging just one point per game, it’s a case of two steps forward and one back all the time.

Tuesday night was always going to be awkward, but having totally dominated a poor Sheffield Wednesday team and missed chance after chance, a combination of carelessness on the pitch with sloppy mistakes littering the second half, and Wagner’s bizarre to decision to change a shape that was clearly working as he justifiably sought to protect Josh Sargent, completely changed the game.
Frustration for Ashley Barnes at Hillsborough (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Playing Ashley Barnes as a lone striker hasn’t worked at all this season, but it was tried once again at Hillsborough, despite the presence of two strikers on the bench, with the inevitable result that City were unable to keep the ball and dropped deeper and deeper, with Wednesday suddenly able to get men forward and put pressure on a City defence that was starting to look increasingly creaky.

In fairness, the injury to Liam Gibbs was unfortunate, but even then Wagner’s response was to throw on another midfielder rather than someone to put some pressure on Wednesday’s defenders.

Wagner moans about squad size, yet refuses to use several of the players actually available to him, which hardly sends a positive message to some promising young talent.

Tuesday’s game was the third time City have squandered a 2-0 lead this season, and, according to the NCFC Numbers social media account, 27 points have now been lost in games where they had been in a winning position.

Most of these have been away from home, often in games where City have done well while on the front foot, but then capitulated once they tried to sit on a lead, something that they clearly struggle with, yet continue to attempt.

With so much riding on today’s game I hope that we see a positive approach for the full 90 minutes. 

Never mind the danger.