Norwich City v Bristol City: Thorup's match preview

The Canaries have the same squad available as for Tuesday's defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, consisting of young players and some running on fumes. The upcoming international break provides some much-needed respite to get key operators back. 

Navigating this three-game week has been testing for the City boss, but he has explained why it's been a case of 'together we stand' ahead of the Robins visit this weekend. 

"You cannot do what we're trying to do here overnight. Actually, what we managed to do was to find the right balance just before the previous international break.

"We got into some good performances; there was a good balance in the team with experienced and young players, but in the situation that we're in, I cannot expect any more from the players than what they're doing at the moment.

"That was also my message after the game. I don't think that we played well in Sheffield, but I will not go hard on them because that is not the time. If we had all the players available and were having the results that we're having, that would be a different approach for me. I'd be critical in another way, but it's not the time to do that.

"It's the time to stick even more together and support each other even more. It's going to be another difficult game on Saturday. We don't have any new players available. It will be the same team who have to go again and do it one more time.

"It will be tough, but we try every day to build a little bit of positivity around the group to try and find some solutions to support the team in the best possible way." 

City struggled against a Sheffield Wednesday side who were happy to serve them up the bulk of possession before ruthlessly striking on the counter. 

That toothlessness at the front end of the pitch has placed extra emphasis on Borja Sainz to maintain his goal-scoring exploits as City struggled to unlock strong defensive blocks, and Thorup explains why a change of game would suit this group of players better. 

"I'm a little bit split because, going back to where we were a couple of weeks ago, what we faced against Sheffield could have been very good for us," he said. 

"Now, I think it might not be that bad if it opens up a little bit more because we don't necessarily have the relations on the pitch where the players know each other from having so many games together, so they can open up a defensive side who defend with a five backline.

"If the game gets a little bit more open and the space gets bigger, then it's not as important that three or four guys are seeing the same moment at the same time.

"What I see from them and know from them is that they are a very good technical side. They want to create and dominate the game. They have some good technical players and can play some really, really good football when they are on top. I also see that they can change their system and formation game to game depending on the opposition.

"We prepare in the best way, but a bit more of an open game would be good for us." 

Just as City did a week ago in South Wales, Bristol City's nine-game unbeaten run ended in heartbreaking fashion after Sheffield United scored in the 86th and 98th minutes to produce a comeback at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night. 

Johannes Hoff Thorup is hoping for an open game as Norwich City face Bristol City today. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) The manner of that defeat, coupled with Liam Manning facing some injury problems of his own, will leave this contest even more poised than with both sides at full strength, and City's boss is braced for a response from today's opponents. 

"Sometimes it is good to see that it can happen to others as well. I watched my Danish colleague in the Premier League the other night away at Fulham where they had a one-nil lead into the 90th minute and lost that game, so it can happen to others.

"With all due respect, I don't want to be in their shoes because they have the feelings right now, but it's sometimes good to see it can happen to others," City's boss said.

"They are in form. We were the same before Cardiff, and if that game would have been done after 85 minutes, we still would have been in good form.

"It's small margins that decide things, and it will be very much the same on Saturday. It's two teams where they try to dominate and are technical sides. Hopefully, we can have a good one on Saturday and a good lead into the break." 

Norwich return to home comforts this weekend, hoping the warm embrace of a strong Carrow Road record and support from the stands can provide extra motivation to record a result in a difficult period. 

Norwich City are managing their squad cautiously amid a spate of injuries. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Thorup and his coaching team are preparing for all outcomes - with the Dane working backwards to plot a path to a result after back-to-back away defeats. 

"I hope we don't have to do a comeback one more time. I hope we can score some goals, get off to a good start and have some of these good offensive moments in the game. That's what we try to create.

"Then we prepare for the last part of the game - what do we do and look at the players available. We actually flip it around and see it from minute 90 to 70. What is the team that we're going to have on pitch?

"With the experience that we got from the previous games, things are decided in the final 20 minutes. We have to prepare as much as possible and the staff are doing it right now," Thorup said. 

"We have to do everything down to detail so the players can go out there and express themselves."