Norwich City are flying high at just the right time

PC captures all the highs and lows in the mad world of the Canaries with his brilliant photos.

I was working on the newsdesk at the weekend, so had the very pleasant task of going through a superb collection of images for Monday's EDP and Evening News front pages after the 3-0 win at Stoke.

There were so many to choose from but one particular picture really caught my eye - and beautifully encapsulated the mood on and off the pitch around the Canary camp at the moment.

Ashley Barnes had just netted the Canaries' third goal right in front of the joyous 1700-strong travelling yellow and green army.

His face of celebration is an absolute picture of euphoria.

The 34-year-old has been round the block in his 17-year career in football. Twelve months ago he was winning the Championship title with Burnley and was a massive fans' favourite.

And yet a goal and a win which sees his new club in a decent place for the play-offs clearly meant so much to him.

Borja Sainz is literally flying very high in Paul's fabulous picture - and that certainly mirrors where he and City are currently at.

Three points clear in sixth with eight games left is a very favourable position to be in.

Yes, other teams have a game in hand - but it's always better to have the points in the bag.

Momentum is definitely on David Wagner's men's side.

City are joint second in the form table over the last 12 games - level with a certain team down the A140.

While Leeds are streaking ahead with 34 points in those games, the Canaries and the Tractor Boys both have mustered 26.

City have won their last six home games with 18 goals scored and just four conceded.

Things have been less rosy on the road, but Saturday's win now means we have two victories, two draws and two defeats in the last six away fixtures.

The reaction of supporters was exactly the same as the players at Stoke.

I can't remember seeing so many positive social media posts about away days for some time.

In some ways the international break comes at a bad time as tails are really up.

But if it means players can have longer to recuperate - especially Josh Sargent and Grant Hanley - then it could be crucial for the eight cup finals to come (and hopefully three more matches during May).

So much has been said and written about the importance of Sargent and his link up with Barnes.

In the 14 games when they have featured together, City have won 10, drawn three and lost just once, with 38 scored and 16 conceded. 

One or other of them netted in 12 of those matches.

Only three players now have more non-penalty Championship goals in 2023/24 than Sarge (and he has only played a third of available match minutes).

Throw into the mix the current form of Kenny McLean, who is surely having his best season for City and is set to make his 200th performance against Plymouth on Good Friday. 

Also Gabby Sara and Sainz are getting better and better just at the right time.

And if Jon Rowe can be back for some of the real key matches at the end of the season, that could be massive.

What a month we have in store.

After Plymouth visit Carrow Road on Good Friday, City head to Leicester for an Easter Monday clash.

The following Saturday sees nothing less than the East Anglian derby Ipswich. Huge. Massive. Monumental... you pick your adjective.

Then there are successive away games at Sheffield Wednesday and Preston before the home campaign ends with the visits of Bristol City and Swansea.

The final match of the regular season is at Birmingham and then who knows...?

Get your seat belts on. It's going to be quite a journey.

Paddy's off to Wembley

So, the magic of the FA Cup has gone has it?

Well, try telling that to my colleague Paddy Davitt.

Our Coventry-mad Norwich City football editor produced some video gold on Saturday.

Paddy was trying to talk about the Canaries' match at Stoke with Connor Southwell in their excellent Pink Un Live preview.

When they started broadcasting at 2pm, the Sky Blues were one up and heading to a Wembley semi-final.

As Paddy and Connor were chewing over the City team news, Wolves levelled.

Pad remained manfully professional as he tried to look at messages on his laptop and was also being shouted at by someone else nearby in the stand who was following the cup match.

It then became clear that the Premier League side had gone ahead. Cup heartache...

Hang on - Cov equalised in the 97th minute and extra time loomed.

And then just when it couldn't get more dramatic, there was talk of a 100th minute Sky Blues winner.

Was it definitely true? Seconds ticked by as Mr Davitt tried to get confirmation - whilst still attempting to talk about Messrs McLean, Sara and Sargent.

YESSSS - it really had happened! 

Well done Cov, well done Pad. Enjoy the day at Wembley!

Rules are mad

Staying on an FA Cup theme, surely Manchester United's crazy 4-3 win over arch enemies Liverpool must go down as one of the best matches of all time in the great competition.

If you happened to have missed it, United went ahead early on before Jurgen Klopp's men turned the game around to lead 2-1.

Antony sent the game into extra time with an 87th minute leveller before Harvey Elliott again looked to have sealed it for Liverpool.

Then the real drama started. Marcus Rashford made it 3-3 in the 121st minute and as penalties looked inevitable, Amad Diallo lifted the roof off Old Trafford with an incredible winner just seconds later.

You can only imagine what was going through the young player's mind and he ripped his shirt off to celebrate with the euphoric home fans.

Unfortunately he had already been booked, so the ref had no option but to show him another yellow card and send him down the tunnel.

What utter madness.

Yes they are the rules, but the rules were clearly written by people with no understanding of the passion we all love so much about our beloved sport.

He ran to his own supporters and caused no aggro anyone.

Surely there must be a change in the rules to mean this ridiculous situation never happens again.