They may be limping over the line, but securing a play-off place is completely in Norwich City’s hands today.

However, there is no room for complacency given that a heavy defeat and a big win for Hull at Plymouth could erode what looks currently like a comfortable goal difference, and with the memory of that disastrous final day at Craven Cottage in 2005 still fresh in the memories of many fans.

In many ways, last Saturday’s draw was almost a carbon copy of the Bristol City game. Another visiting team under no pressure looking to be positive under a young, adventurous manager caused City problems and exposed some defensive frailties, although their goal actually came from the hosts giving the ball away needlessly while building an attack, something I’ll come back to later.

Thereafter City upped their tempo and for a period either side of half-time looked likely to win comfortably, but conceding a penalty to let Swansea back in the game against the run of play.

Once again there seemed to be an early acceptance of a point by David Wagner, whose substitutions were once again puzzling to many, particularly taking off the impressive Borja Sainz and then replacing the injured Ashley Barnes with a defensive midfielder, neither of which screamed positivity at a time when the visitors, unlike Bristol City the previous week, seemed happy to play out time.

However, while the result was disappointing and left City fans waiting anxiously to see what happened in Hull’s evening game, West Brom’s meek capitulation at Hillsborough followed by the failure of the Tigers to beat Ipswich in a pulsating game meant that the day ended with City in a strong position and with their fate firmly in their own hands.

Although guilty of several missed chances once again, there is no doubt that City’s performance against Swansea was better than it had been against Bristol City. However, there is a sense that what is being achieved is down to moments of individual brilliance from the likes of Gabriel Sara and Josh Sargent, rather than any tactical masterplan.

Clearly the pressure of the finishing line being in sight has had a big impact on all the teams at the top of the table in recent weeks, and in fairness City’s results have actually been better than most, but their occasional sloppiness when they have the ball is a real concern, given that their whole approach is based on control of possession.

I would be interested to know how many times last week City won the ball, only to immediately lose it again, but I would guess it would be well into double figures. That can’t be repeated in the play-offs, because better sides will be even more ruthless than Swansea in exploiting it.

That problem was perfectly illustrated by Swansea’s first goal. Sara’s speculative pass was well wide of Sainz, two first-time passes took out both Sara and Marcelino Nunez and with Jack Stacey committed forward, Shane Duffy was left exposed against a speedy winger.

City’s failure to take either of their two recent chances to put themselves beyond Hull’s reach, along with West Brom’s slump, has realistically removed the opportunity for Wagner to rest key players today, as, while there is a significant goal difference cushion between City and Hull, the prospect of finishing fifth is attractive, and requires City to at least match West Brom’s result today.

That certainly won’t be easy against a Birmingham side fighting for their Championship lives, and in a stadium that can be extremely intimidating when full.

Birmingham will be highly motivated, but that will bring its own pressure to bear on them and hopefully we will see a more clinical performance with City showing the sort of intensity that they produced for 20 minutes or so last week for the full 90 today and clinching their play-off spot with style.