Middlesbrough v Norwich City: David Wagner's match preview

The Canaries are desperate to maintain a run of form that has seen them lose one Championship game in 2024 as they continue their pursuit of the top six on Teesside - a destination that holds unwelcome recent memories. 

This clash against Michael Carrick's side falls at a similar stage of the season as last year's trip to the Riverside Stadium, which they lost 5-1, and came amid a run of one win in 11 that kiboshed their prospects of a promotion shootout. 

Both sides are currently in different positions, with Norwich hitting form and Boro winning just one of their last seven matches. 

Wagner described last April's fixture between the sides as one of his lowest as Norwich's head coach and is hoping his side can put their best foot forward to continue their remarkable run of recent form. 

“Correct (it was a low point). We altogether know it is a different period, a different team which we have and they have, it is a different mood and level of confidence. Every game has to be played and we know exactly how important the right mindset is.

"I know that my team are desperate and greedy to keep going. This is what we want to keep showing on Wednesday," Wagner said. 

"The players have done very well in the past to make us independent from our opponents. I respect Boro a lot but we have to make sure, and we’ve done this well in the past, that we are independent from the opponent, from whether we’re home or away, a weekend game or a midweek game. It’s about us.

Norwich City suffered a 5-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last season. (Image: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd)

"Do everything what we speak about day in, day out on the highest possible level in training or the video meetings. Make sure everyone has the right position at the right moment so we can play with this fluidity and bravery.

"Then, we know that we can be a decent side. This is what the players have shown in the past and we want to confirm this again on Wednesday.”

Boro have one just one of their last seven Championship matches - against tabletoppers Leicester - and have scored only six goals in that run. 

A 2-0 defeat to Stoke at the weekend has left them six points above the relegation zone with injuries to key players like Hayden Hackney, Dael Fry and ex-City midfielder Jonny Howson playing a significant role in their struggles. 

Likewise, the loss of loan players such as Ryan Giles, Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Archer and Zack Steffan, plus the sale of top-scorer Chuba Akpom, has proved costly this term. 

Despite their difficult run of form, Wagner is refusing to underestimate their ability as Norwich attempt to improve their own record on the road. 

“Everything that I say now might not be right because I am not in this club and know the details well enough. What I see is that they had a good cup run, which automatically means they had a lot of midweek games," City's boss said.

"Now, they are not in the best mood results-wise, but the team is still committed, and this is what I have seen. It is up to us to make sure that we perform at our biggest level. We know how a mood in a crowd can be affected by results when they are not in your favour.

"We have to make sure we do everything at our best level, especially defensively and in ball possession, because they have threats and speed in their team. We need to make sure we perform at the level we have in recent weeks.”

Wagner believes Boro's goal-shy performances of late have not arrived due to a lack of quality on their part but cutting edge, something backed up by the statistics. 

It's been a difficult second season at Middlesbrough for Michael Carrick. (Image: PA Images)

Only Ipswich, Southampton, Leeds and Leicester have recorded a higher expected goals rate than Carrick's side - and that is something Wagner highlighted as he warned against underestimating Boro. 

“If you look at their expected goals, you see that one of the reasons is that they are not clinical. Not because they don’t create enough opportunities," he said. 

"Offensively, they have top quality. This is the truth. Maybe you don’t see it in terms of the goals, but if you see their games in more detail, which is what we’ve done because it’s our job, then you see they are a real threat.”

Despite the noise around last year's fixture against Boro, Norwich have won three of their last four games on Teesside. 

With the margin for error so slight, if they want to reach the top six, they will need to keep their foot against the accelerator this time out. 

City will hope the confidence and rhythm achieved by recent results can propel them to a crucial three points on Teesside, but Wagner knows they will have to fight hard to achieve that objective. 

"I know their recent results don’t look great, but after I’ve seen all the games, they were super competitive; they missed a lot of clear-cut chances that could have turned the result, but yes, they gave a few clear-cut chances away with very unforced, easy errors away which sometimes happens if you aren’t in the best mood.

Norwich City are searching for another win to keep their positive run of form going. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

"Especially in ball possession and offensively, they are a threat. It is a top team. Even if recent results were not in their favour, we will not make the mistake to underestimate them based on the results. We have seen how tight they are.

"Like always with us, even if we all everything about them it is all about us. We like to play with bravery and enthusiasm, which the players have," Wagner said. 

"With the confidence, aggression and sharpness they have to keep our run going. This is our aim, even if we know Boro away is a difficult task for everyone.”