Season Review: Norwich bounce back in emphatic fashion to secure another Championship title

Many fans and pundits tipped Norwich City to struggle upon their return to the Championship after a dire campaign in the top flight.

The Canaries finished rock bottom of the Premier League in 2019/20, picking up just five wins all season as they immediately dropped back down to the second tier. Daniel Farke’s future at the club was questioned, and many thought that the club would need a major rebuild to be genuine promotion contenders.

Instead, the Norfolk club stuck to their values and made astute signings while keeping ahold of their main assets. In fact, Norwich even managed to improve on their previous Championship campaign, securing a Premier League return with four games to spare.

Five key games

Norwich 0-1 Derby

It might be strange to start this section with defeat, but the Canaries’ home game against Derby was arguably the early turning point of their season.

Farke’s side headed into the clash with just four points from their opening three games, having beaten Huddersfield, drawn against Preston and lost to Bournemouth. The defeat away at The Cherries, who were relegated alongside Norwich the previous season, didn’t raise too many alarm bells but made the following game against Derby a must-win.

The hosts dominated the game with 66% of the ball, but Wayne Rooney’s late free-kick condemned them to consecutive defeats and saw them drop to 15th in the table. It provided the kick that the club needed, and Norwich subsequently went on a 11-match unbeaten run that saw them climb up to the top end of the Championship.

Norwich 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

A narrow win against bottom-of-the-league Sheffield Wednesday may not seem glamorous, but this game was all about character and determination.

Norwich were in the midst of a major injury crisis, where the club could name an entire starting lineup of sidelined players. The Canaries stumbled over the line at the end of November, but their unbeaten run was ended by Luton at the start of December, and fans were concerned that the Canaries would crumble and surrender their place at the summit of the Championship.

2,000 fans were present at Carrow Road for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday, who took the lead after the hour mark despite being dominated by the league leaders. But late goals from teenage substitute Josh Martin and right-back Max Aarons saw the hosts pick up a crucial three points ahead of a busy winter fixture list.

Norwich 4-1 Stoke

The start of February presented another stumbling block for Norwich, who had a winless run of three matches starting at the end of January. Consecutive 0-0 draws against Middlesbrough and Millwall preceded a 2-0 defeat away at Swansea, who largely outclassed the Canaries in South Wales. Norwich kept their place at the top of the table, but knew they could drop out of the top two with the teams below them having games in hand.

Having failed to score in their last three games, a home match against Stoke was far from ideal for Norwich. The Potters are known for playing a low defensive block, a tactic that the hosts had struggled with in previous games. However, Farke’s side obliterated their opponents in a clinical and convincing win that kickstarted another unbeaten run that continued until mid-April.

Norwich 1-0 Brentford

The Canaries’ aforementioned unbeaten run saw them edge nearer to promotion, and they built up a seven point lead on second place Brentford ahead of their clash at Carrow Road. The match was a must-win for Brentford, who would see their automatic promotion place in jeopardy if they suffered defeat in Norfolk.

The sides had drawn in the reverse fixture back in October, with Brentford arguably the better side when they met at the end of October. This was a much improved Norwich side, however, and the task was far greater than what they faced in West London just over four months earlier.

The Bees had their chances, but ultimately their attacking line wasn’t sharp enough to really threaten the Canaries. Ivan Toney, who ended the season as the division’s top scorer, was completely anonymous, while Emi Buendia’s stunning solo goal sealed the win for Norwich to take them ten points clear at the top of the Championship.

Norwich 7-0 Huddersfield

Consecutive draws against Blackburn and Preston had not weakened Norwich’s promotion odds, but rather delayed confirmation of their Premier League return. Struggling Huddersfield were next to visit Carrow Road, but found themselves getting mauled by the Championship leaders by half time.

The Canaries were 5-0 up at the break thanks to a brace from Teemu Pukki and goals from Buendia, Todd Cantwell and Kieran Dowell. Pukki grabbed his hat-trick just after the hour mark, and Jordan Hugill added a seventh with just under 10 minutes to play.

This result became the biggest winning margin in a second-tier game in the club’s history, and proved to the rest of English football that they are ready for another crack at the Premier League.

Key players

It would be wrong to start with anyone other than Buendia, who has been in scintillating form for Norwich this season.

The Argentine had an impressive debut season in the Championship, but his subsequent Premier League campaign was underwhelming and left question marks over his ability. He clearly took this as a personal challenge, as the 24-year-old notched up 15 goals and 16 assists in 2020/21. Nobody is surprised to see him linked with Arsenal and Aston Villa this summer.

Pukki cannot be forgotten either. The Finnish international was the third highest goalscorer in the division, beaten only by Brentford’s Toney and Adam Armstrong of Blackburn. While he was unable to match his 29 goal tally from 2018/19, Pukki has consistently shown how lethal he is up front and proven that he’s a crucial part of Farke’s set-up.

Other players perhaps haven’t contributed to Norwich’s attacking presence as much as Buendia and Pukki, but deserve considerable credit for the club’s success this season. Grant Hanley has been an immense presence at the back throughout the season, captaining the squad and organising a much improved defence.

Spurs loanee Oliver Skipp helped to cover the back four while acting as a true warrior in midfield, winning the ball back and forcing an incredibly intense press on the opposition. Max Aarons, who was linked with a move to FC Barcelona last summer, also built on his impressive Premier League campaign with another impressive season at Carrow Road.

Season verdict

Nobody can criticise Norwich City this season.

Securing a second Championship title in three seasons is an incredible feat, even if the club suffered a humiliating relegation in between. The Canaries improved on their 2018/19 campaign, finishing with 97 points and suffering just seven defeats all season.

Given the injury crisis in early December, this is remarkable, even considering the strength of Norwich’s squad. They’ve still had to overcome the odds to earn their Premier League return, and the decision to keep Farke following their relegation to the Championship has well and truly paid off.

Next season

Norwich are England’s perennial ‘yo-yo club’. Too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League. That has to change, and the Canaries will be desperate to consolidate their position in the top flight.

Farke’s side will undoubtedly be one of the favourites for relegation next season, and understandably so. The club’s recruitment in the Premier League simply hasn’t been good enough, and they need to increase their spending if they are to challenge next season.

Keeping ahold of key players will also be crucial. Norwich have a reputation for developing incredible talent and selling them on, such as James Maddison and Ben Godfrey. Having won promotion, there should be no obligation to sell their star players unless an incredibly enticing offer comes in. Many members of their squad will be in high demand, none more so than Buendia, who Norwich need to try and keep at all costs.

Ultimately, Premier League survival is paramount and key for their long-term aspirations going forward.

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