Norwich 2-2 Blackburn: Paddy Davitt Championship pointers

1. Half measures

Blackburn ahead. Norwich level. Norwich ahead. Blackburn level. Nearly lift-off for Johannes Hoff Thorup on his competitive Carrow Road Championship bow. When Borja Sainz slotted Josh Sargent’s perfect cut back, eight minutes after Sargent had smashed a rising shot past Aynsley Pears, life was good.

But much like the goal fest against Stevenage earlier in the week, Norwich’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed in the closing minutes of normal time when Yuki Ohashi dived in front of Shane Duffy to slot Callum Brittain’s cross.

Plenty to admire again, both in a first half where Sargent waged a one-man campaign at times without any joy. But also in the manner they overhauled a Rovers who for a spell in the first half were beating Thorup at his own game; quick, incisive, mobile passing motions from back to front.

But once Sainz had notched from close range, the Dane would have expected to see his side close out the game. As he himself remarked, prior to a much less uplifting opening day defeat at Oxford, nothing will be perfect at this stage.

This was a pertinent reminder. But with Jose Cordoba making his debut, and Sargent in the mood, you could understand the positive reaction that rippled around the stadium at the final whistle. These home fans appear to be fully on board with a new era.   

2. Gabe’s world

What a week for the 18-year-old. A first competitive senior appearance for Norwich City at Oxford on the opening weekend of the new Championship season underlined Forsyth’s pre-season progress.

Then a longer term Carrow Road contract signed, sealed and delivered to mark him out as one of the brightest of Thorup’s new breed. Now a first full start against Blackburn. When his feet return to terra firma, Forsyth may be able to reflect but, for now, best to ride that wave of youthful fearlessness.

Observed from the outside, Forsyth already looks to be physically able to handle the demands of senior football in such a frenetic environment as the English second tier. But it his maturity and that sense of assurance he exhibits on the pitch that, combined with his talent, has seen him lead the charge.

Abu Kamara might have been a safer play on the right of that attacking trio against Rovers. Kamara shone in Portsmouth’s League One title triumph in that area of the pitch, and scored his first senior goal for Norwich in the midweek League Cup win over Stevenage. But on this day, against this opponent, Thorup opted for the raw Forsyth.

Harry Pickering was left in a heap on the turf in the 11th minute after Forsyth introduced himself to the Rovers’ full-back. Only Pears denied him a fairytale debut goal in the 34th minute, when the Scot turned and without a moment’s hesitation unleashed a rising left footer from fully 35 yards arrowing towards the top corner, before the Rovers’ keeper acrobatically turned it away.

Thorup wisely withdrew the young man before the hour mark, but the warmth of the applause as he walked around the perimeter in front of the Barclay will not be the last time he gets that reception in a yellow shirt.

3. Sliding doors

A deal nearly two years in the making for Bertug Yildirim was parked after the Rennes striker’s medical.

No concern in the here and now, but given the scale of the outlay for a striker with limited game time in the past two seasons, City opted to tread cautiously and pivot away to the other options Thorup himself hinted at when pushed on Thursday afternoon at his pre-match press call.

Norwich’s scenario-planning has paid off already this season in the speed Amankwah Forson entered the building following Gabby Sara’s departure to Turkey. That would have been matched had a pursuit for Yildirim reached a natural conclusion.

But at the start of this transfer window there was an acceptance internally both Adam Idah and Sargent could depart. Idah got his wish to return to Glasgow Celtic in recent days. MLS interest in a Sargent homecoming ebbed away as the American transfer window officially closed in midweek.

Thorup spoke about the striker’s ‘100pc commitment and focus’ at his pre-Rovers press. But in this window, above others, it pays to take nothing for granted until the late night deadline on August 30. But a good finale from here is sourcing that new frontman, and keeping Sargent in the building.

4. Quality counts

How crucial the American forward is to this changing of the guard at Norwich City was underlined last season with 16 Championship goals in 26 appearances.

Without him, the Canaries would not have made the play-offs, and when he suffered more ankle-related issues in the first leg against Leeds, the game was effectively up. Even if he was patched up for the second leg humbling.

That was David Wagner. This is Thorup and Sargent remains a focal point. The 24-year-old could have walked off with a matchball in the first half against Rovers. He dragged an early shot wide of the far post and thumped a header against the woodwork before he was hauled down in the act of shooting at Pears, and seconds later denied by a sliding last-ditch block from Sondre Tronstad.

But Sargent keeps on knocking, and when Callum Doyle broke up a Rovers’ counter and threaded the perfect ball into the channel, the forward smashed a rising shot past the previously unbeatable Pears.

Then he turned provider for good measure with a driving run, link with Marcelino Nunez, and cut back for a Sainz tap in.

There may be some major structural differences between previous head coach and present, in how Norwich want to progress the ball, how they want to dominate possession and create chances, but there is one constant in the potential success of such a marked transition in playing philosophy.

If Sargent stays clear of those ankle concerns that have blighted his progress since the World Cup in Qatar, he is as near to a Championship goal guarantee as you could get.