Norwich City travel to the Hawthorns this Saturday with their sights set on disrupting West Bromwich Albion’s ongoing struggles on home soil. After a disappointing run of six matches without a victory, the Canaries are eager to return to winning ways against a Baggies side that has faltered particularly in front of their own supporters.
West Bromwich Albion has not tasted success at home since their triumph over Plymouth in September. The team's struggles are exemplified by their recent performance, having netted only two goals in their last seven fixtures at the Hawthorns. Iwan Roberts, a former striker for Norwich, suggests that these difficulties provide an ideal opportunity for Norwich to implement a strategy designed to unsettle the home crowd. He notes that creating frustration among West Brom's supporters early in the match could play a pivotal role.
In his column for the Norwich Evening News, Roberts stressed the importance of a solid defensive showing, particularly in the opening stages of the game. "If Norwich can sustain their defensive structure for the first 15 to 25 minutes, it could lead to a nervous atmosphere among West Brom fans, who have been disheartened by their team's recent lack of scoring," he remarked.
Roberts further acknowledged the potential volatility of the crowd, noting, "It's a great stadium to go to. They love their manager, Carlos Corberan, but given the current run of form, it wouldn't take much for the home crowd to grow restless. They've managed just two goals in their last seven games, which certainly raises concerns.”
Norwich City will undoubtedly feel the weight of history as they approach this fixture, with their last victory at the Hawthorns coming in 2016. This encounter represents a critical opportunity for the Canaries to rewrite that narrative and regain their confidence.
As the match draws near, both teams will be looking to assert themselves, set against the backdrop of Norwich’s determination to accrue vital points and West Brom's ongoing woes at home. The upcoming clash promises to be a compelling contest, with fans keenly anticipating how these dynamics will unfold when the whistle blows on Saturday.