Maddie Mackenzie: How Norwich City build from home form

While the rest of the country commemorates the date with firework displays and bonfires, Norwich City have a very different reason for celebrating; it is a full calendar year since the Canaries last tasted defeat at Carrow Road, in the form of a 3-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers.  

It’s a truly remarkable stat, perhaps more so when considered in the context of the 2023-24 season. Despite finishing in the play-off places the campaign was not a particularly memorable one, with David Wagner’s only full season in charge of Norwich characterised mostly by moments of individual brilliance from standout players.  

Defeat to Leeds in the second leg of the play-off semi-final was greeted with mild relief, the prospect of a trip to Wembley and the further prolonging of the season not filling many fans with excitement. Wagner was duly sacked the next morning. 

It would not have come as a surprise if a change of regime, especially one as dramatic as Norwich has undergone, led to a defeat or two at home. Things are rarely smooth sailing for a manager in their first season: Thorup in particular had to contend with a cultural and hierarchical transformation behind the scenes, along with a large overhaul to the playing squad he had inherited – including the loss of a player who had been making fans’ trips to Carrow Road worthwhile for the past two years.  

When you consider some of the teams to travel to Norfolk so far this season, a few losses were only to be expected. 

They haven’t come. The unbeaten run has just kept going.  

This record feels like a contradiction. One on hand it stands as a testament to the support from the fans, the commitment of players and coaching staff alike.  

City's 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough preserved the Canaries' long unbeaten record at home (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

When you consider the challenges faced throughout a season – injuries, suspensions, fierce competition, the mental toll of a packed fixture list full of high pressure matches – the achievement becomes even more remarkable.  

So many times last season it felt as if Norwich were an undefinable entity, a group of individuals with no true sense of unity connecting them, but the benefit of hindsight suggests there must have been a connection within the group; surely you can’t fluke a year unbeaten? 

Yet there is still that feeling of disbelief. The reality is that while the team has not lost at home, many of the matches have been characterized by lacklustre displays.  

The football has often lacked the flair and creativity that we have so often seen at Carrow Road. Too many matches were missing the urgency and ingenuity required to break down stubborn defences, with the team often settling for frustrating draws rather than pushing for a decisive victory. Long stretches of uninspired play, missed opportunities, and tactical rigidity led to Wagner’s dismissal, an acknowledgement that – despite the unbeaten streak – fans were right to expect more from their team.  

It comes down to the age-old debate of style versus results. The game against Middlesbrough was on a knife edge until the final whistle, could so nearly have ended in defeat, yet was the most enjoyable 90 minutes I’ve had at Carrow Road for months. Would I rather a season of performances like that, some of which must inevitably end in defeat, or a season like the one which heavily contributed to our record-breaking run?  

Regardless of your preference, this record cannot be understated. It serves as a crucial psychological advantage for the team. The confidence gained from knowing they are difficult to beat at home can be a powerful tool.  

If Thorup can harness this strength and combine it with his more adventurous style of play, Norwich could transform their fortunes both at Carrow Road and beyond. The potential is there, but it requires a continued commitment to embracing risk and fostering creativity.