Gary Rowett has expressed confidence in Norwich City’s ability to avoid relegation from the Championship, despite a tense 1-1 draw at Carrow Road against his Oxford United side. The match left the Canaries feeling frustrated, as they were on the verge of securing their first home victory of the season until Filip Krastev netted a late equaliser, leaving Norwich struggling in the lower tier of the league. Read more about Zimmermann Retires: Norwich City Legend Calls Time on Career.
Norwich had the upper hand for significant portions of the match, creating numerous chances but failing to convert these into goals—an issue that ultimately hampered their chances of clinching the win. Rowett acknowledged this shortcoming, expressing satisfaction with the point gained by Oxford while also recognising the latent potential within Norwich’s squad that he believes will enable them to rise up the table.
“On the balance of play, of course, I'm happy with the point," Rowett stated. "I think they had a couple of moments where you maybe expect them to score the second goal. Whichever position they're in in the league, you've got a team with (Kenny) McLean in and (Josh) Sargent in and a lot of other good players. Listen, I think that's clear to see that they're probably not going to be there for a long, long time. I think we have to accept that."
Despite the disappointment of conceding the late goal, Rowett commended his players for their resilience against a Norwich side that has struggled with consistency this season. “I felt for 30 minutes we were excellent," he noted. "I’ve been to Norwich an awful lot of times in the Championship and regardless of where they are in the league at the moment, I thought we kept the ball really well. We controlled a lot of that first half.” Read more about Clement Faces Tough Start as Canaries Stumble in Championship.
The second half saw Norwich apply pressure, yet they were unable to build on Jovon Makama's initial goal. Rowett remarked that his team was fortunate to secure a point, especially as they endured a sustained period on the defensive. “We rolled the dice, four attacking substitutions at the same time, and we got some reward in the 95th minute because we were pushing probably for about seven or eight minutes before that," he elaborated. "It was just that one moment we were looking for and Krastev popped up and gave us it.”
In the aftermath of the match, Norwich's head coach Philippe Clement faces the daunting task of reorganising his squad amid ongoing injury woes. Mirko Topic was substituted at half-time, and while Clement was hesitant to speculate on the injury's severity, he indicated concern, stating, “I don’t like to make big conclusions after games, but I will tell you what my medical staff told me; it doesn’t look good.”
Clement's frustration is palpable as he navigates a squad already beleaguered by injuries. He will be anxiously awaiting news on Topic's condition, given the midfielder's significance to the team since his summer arrival. With several key players unavailable, the potential loss of another crucial asset poses a significant challenge.
As the Canaries reflect on a missed opportunity to secure vital points, they must focus on transforming promising performances into tangible results ahead of their upcoming clash with QPR. Rowett’s insights suggest that Norwich possess the requisite quality to alter their fortunes.