Norwich City are hoping to build on their comprehensive Watford win when they face Derby County this weekend.
The Canaries travel to Pride Park hoping to end an unbeaten home run for the Rams that stretches back to February, but they'll be buoyed by a victory that took their Championship tally to eight points for the season.
City correspondents Adam Harvey and Samuel Seaman sat down to look ahead to the game in the latest edition of the Pink Un Preview Show, discussing a range of topics including Kellen Fisher's new contract, the hosts' strengths and the search for a new goalkeeper coach.
Watch the full Preview Show above, or read an excerpt below.
AH: Only one place to start: Kellen Fisher signing a new long-term deal at the football club until 2028, with the club option of a further year as well. That feels like a really big piece of news, doesn't it?
SS: Yeah, I think maybe the least surprising contract news that we've had for a while when you look at how things have gone for Fisher. He was originally signed for the under-21s, very much a development signing brought in from the fifth division.
But David Wagner, to give him credit, saw something in pre-season that made him want to promote Fisher to the first team. That probably negated the need for another right-back signing as well after Max Aarons' departure, and since then it's just gone fantastically for Fisher.
He's now got a head coach whose football suits him really well, he's performing really well, and we know that Ben Knapper's strategy is focused on developing young players. When you look at those factors, it certainly made sense to give Fisher a new contract.
AH: Indeed. Moving onto Derby, what have you made of their start to the season, and what do you expect from them on Saturday?
SS: I think Paul Warne's done a good job. It's easy to assume that, because they were a huge club in League One and quite a big club by Championship standards, they'd come up and be quite comfortable in the league.
But you look at their squad actually, and it's not an amazing squad to be honest. For me Warne is getting the best out of them so far this season. Their football is fairly direct, it's fairly physical, it's a lot of deep defending.
If Norwich are at their best then they'll have a good chance of getting all three points, but if not then Derby will be in a good position to exploit any mistakes they make.
AH: It's come to that time where I ask for your prediction, Sam. We've had a few positive predictions from viewers, do you share that positivity?
SS: I have some positivity. In terms of Norwich's own performance levels, I think they're in a really good place and they probably have had the opportunity to iron out some of the weaknesses we've seen on the road. That win over Watford will have given them a lot of confidence going into this one.
But we've spoken a lot about the Derby unbeaten record at home, and if you think about the amount of confidence that Norwich fans have going to Carrow Road at the moment and you apply that to Pride Park, it's hard to see a team going and beating them.
So I think Norwich will actually play well, but I think Derby will be fairly solid defensively. I could see it being 1-1. What about you Adam, are you feeling more optimistic than that?
AH: Yeah, I think it's going to be an interesting game. The first 30 minutes could decide how this game goes: if Norwich get on the front foot, like they did against Watford, then that's probably going to be how they can get three points from this game. If you go player for player, Norwich probably have the better quality.
Derby are always backed by a good crowd, and we've mentioned their home form, but if Norwich can get them on the ropes, get that early goal, then maybe that can play into the result.
I'm going to go for a narrow Norwich win, a 2-1 victory. That would be a good result, because Pride Park's historically a place they've struggled a little bit. They did win on their last visit, but that feels quite a while ago now.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel