Norwich City

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Norwich City forward Josh Sargent says he is not "definitely leaving" at the end of the season.

The USA international scored a 92nd-minute winner against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday as the Canaries ended a four-game winless run to keep alive their Championship play-off hopes and then looked to calm talk of an imminent exit from Carrow Road.

"It's my favourite goal of the season so far - just for the timing of it against a good opponent and it's the most relief I've had scoring a goal this season for sure," Sargent told BBC Radio Norfolk.

The 25-year-old is under contract until 2028 but has been linked with a move to the Premier League and also a potential reunion with former Norwich boss Daniel Farke at Leeds.

"I have a contract here at Norwich. I'm very happy, my family is very happy here so it's no way saying I'm gone," said Sargent.

"I'm very happy with the manager and the team. I was just trying to say there will be options but that's not to say I'm definitely leaving - that's a decision for my family and me to make and obviously the club has to agree to me leaving in the first place."

"Are you talking about football data down the pub with your mates?"

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve are joined by Norwich City fans Richard Lain-Smith and Will Graver to discuss the rise in prominence of data in football.

There is also a look ahead to the Canaries' trip to Plymouth on Saturday as the panel are joined by Argyle fan Aaron Hocking.

Plus, there's an interview with City striker Josh Sargent and the couple who got engaged on the pitch at Carrow Road.

Listen to The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, BBC Radio Norfolk

There was a warm glow around Carrow Road on Saturday and it wasn't just because Norwich snatched a 1-0 win over West Brom to keep their play-off hopes intact.

At half-time, Jack Garwood was allowed onto the pitch on the pretext that he was to take part in a crossbar challenge - only to instead propose to girlfriend Brandis.

He used to live in Norfolk but they are now together in the state of Virginia in the USA.

"She had no idea it was going to happen. I have no idea how I kept it quiet but I managed to - I just want to shout out the club and say thank you for being so accommodating," Jack told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to when I came up with the idea, but they were brilliant - what an afternoon."

Brandis was attending her first football match and said: "We were going out there and I thought 'do I have to kick this?' because I don't know how to kick a football.

"We've been together two-ish years but I was not expecting that right now."

Fortunately, she also said yes.

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An injury to left-back Callum Doyle forced a tactical rethink by Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, which paid off with a dramatic 1-0 win over West Brom.

Doyle missed the game with a calf problem and the Dane opted for a back five instead of a four, with Kellen Fisher deputising down the left.

"Knowing that we will be without a left-back for probably the rest of the season was one of the reasons behind the different approach because last time we played against West Brom, (Tom) Fellows on the right side created problems for us," Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"When you decide to have a five in the backline instead of four, you probably lose a bit of intensity in the first line of your pressing game and that's what we had to accept and do what it takes to be compact as a team.

"At the end of the day, everyone just wants to see us win so we do what is necessary. Is it my favourite kind of football? No, 100% not - but I'm not that stubborn, not to do once in a while what it takes to get a result."

Asked about Doyle's injury, Thorup replied: "He's still with us, he's doing his rehab with us but he felt some pain after the Bristol (City) game and we scanned it and could see it was a calf injury.

"It's probably three to five weeks - if we are optimistic and it's three, then we can use him (again this season), but if it's the opposite, then his season can be over."

Norwich are next in action away to Plymouth Argyle next Saturday.

Norwich City are looking to end a four-match winless streak when they host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT)

The Baggies are going for a first away league win since 10 November.

• Norwich City have won just one of their past seven league games against West Brom (D3 L3), though that sole victory did come in this exact fixture last season (2-0).

• West Brom have won three of their past five away league games against Norwich City (D1 L1), with each of those victories coming via a one goal margin.

• Norwich have lost two of their past four home league games (W1 D1), as many defeats as across their prior 30 matches at Carrow Road combined (W18 D10).

• West Brom have failed to win any of their past 11 away league games (D7 L4), last enduring a longer winless run on their travels between September 2017 and March 2018 in the Premier League (15 games).

• West Brom's Adam Armstrong has struck four goals across seven prior Championship meetings with Norwich, with three of those coming across his two matches against the Canaries last season with Southampton.

Phil Daley
Radio Norfolk sports editor

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Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup has been speaking to the media ahead of the Canaries' home game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Here are some of the key points from the press conference:

• Goalkeeper Angus Gunn is fit after missing three Championship matches before the international break. Full-back Lucien Mahovo remains out.

• "No new injuries from the players that were away on international duty and we had some good contact time with the players here," said Thorup.

• Thorup traveled to the USA during the international break to spend some time with majority shareholder Mark Attanasio.

• On leading scorer Borja Sainz, "if he makes it to 20 Championship goals I'm sure there will be plenty of interest in him. He will be very expensive though," added Thorup.

• January signing Matej Jurasek will also be around the matchday squad but will be used sparingly while he gets up to speed with Championship football.

• On Saturday's opponents West Brom, "they are a great team who can dominate a game and cause us trouble.

• "It's important we do everything to give the fans a good experience at the end of the season because we owe them that", said Thorup.

You can listen to full live coverage of Norwich City v West Brom on BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB from 14:00 GMT on Saturday, 29 March.

Former Norwich City goalkeeper Chris Woods says the League Cup final success in 1985 was a "special" moment in his career.

The ex-England international was between the sticks for the Canaries 40 years ago when they beat Sunderland 1-0 to lift the trophy.

"It's frightening to think it was that long ago but obviously still great memories," Woods told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcast.

"It's something that every footballer wants to do, go and play in a cup final at Wembley. I was very lucky when I was only 18 playing in a League Cup final with Nottingham Forest against Liverpool [in 1978].

"But I wasn't the established number one at that time so to go there with Norwich City being the number one meant an awful lot to me.

"Looking back on it, some of the players were household names. It's just great to have been part of that team and that era."

Clive Walker spurned the chance to equalise for Sunderland late in the second half when his penalty struck the post after Dennis van Wijk was penalised for handball in the area.

Woods revealed: "I chose the side I was going to go. Fortunately it hit the post but I probably would have saved it anyway, if it had gone inside.

"No one will ever know but it's something I can think to myself."

Woods recalls feeling "relief" at the final whistle when he realised "everything you'd worked for was there and you'd won it".

Fans flocked to Norwich City Hall to celebrate with the team following the victory and Woods can still recall how much it meant to the club at the time.

"Just the turnout from all the supporters, I remember being on the balcony and it being absolutely packed," he added.

"I think it's moments like that you tend to relish and think you've actually achieved something for everybody to come out and support what you've done.

"It was a great day for supporters. It was something special."

Listen to The Milk Cup Men - an hour-long special episode of The Scrimmage podcast featuring Woods and Steve Bruce - on BBC Sounds.

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Steve Bruce says the League Cup final win for Norwich City against Sunderland in 1985 is "arguably the best day in the club's history".

The Canaries lifted the trophy 40 years ago today with a 1-0 win at Wembley over the Black Cats.

"I'm a Newcastle fan so always the enemy was Sunderland, of course it was," Bruce told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcast.

"But it never really felt that way for me because it was Sunderland. It was just, can I play well on the day?

"I remember the song on the bus going down, It's Now or Never by Elvis. This was our big opportunity, our big chance - and I think we just about handled the occasion better than they did.

"It wasn't a great or a classic final. For everybody who supports Norwich, though, it was. We'd won a cup, it didn't matter. If it'd come off two deflections, it didn't matter.

"To see the excitement and for everybody concerned, if you're a Norwich fan, that day is arguably the best they've had in their history."

You can listen to The Milk Cup Men - an hour-long special episode of The Scrimmage podcast featuring Steve Bruce - on BBC Radio Norfolk at 18:00 GMT on 24 March.

Steve Bruce has reminisced over the "great feeling" of scoring the winning goal for Norwich City in the League Cup semi-final tie against rivals Ipswich Town 40 years ago.

Bruce's header in the 87th minute made it 2-0 to the Canaries on 6 March, 1985 at Carrow Road and 2-1 on aggregate.

His effort helped take the club to Wembley en-route to winning what was then named the Milk Cup by beating Sunderland 1-0 in the final.

"I'd only been there myself five or six months after a pretty dismal start when I had an own goal after 30 seconds on my debut," Bruce told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcast.

"Six months later, you're scoring the winner that takes the club to Wembley and of course, we all know what went on after that.

"It was a really good time for everybody."

You can listen to The Milk Cup Men - an hour-long special episode of The Scrimmage podcast featuring Steve Bruce - on BBC Radio Norfolk at 18:00 GMT on 24 March.

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Norwich forward Josh Sargent played 68 minutes but his USA team were upset by Panama in their Concacaf Nations League semi-final.

They were beaten 1-0 in Los Angeles and Panama will meet Mexico in the final on Sunday evening after El Tri beat Canada 2-0.

Sargent has scored 12 Championship goals for Norwich this season and is set to feature for the USA in their third place play-off against the Canadians on Sunday before flying back to the UK.

The Canaries' next league game is at home to West Bromwich Albion on 29 March.

Norwich City defender Brad Hills says he would like to "get a promotion on the CV" while on loan with Stockport County.

Stockport are fifth in League One, six points shy of second placed Wycombe Wanderers.

"I feel like Stockport do try and play and that's how I want to play. That's where I'm best suited, on the ball and getting it moving," Hills, 21, told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcast.

"Sometimes it's hard in the league with the pitches and the teams we are playing against.

"We are capable of being up there and we are there. That's the aim and that's why I came here in the first place, to get promoted."

The Canaries academy graduate joined the Hatters on loan in January in a bid to gain more playing time.

He has since started seven of his eight games for the League One side, being named Stockport's player of the month in February by supporters.

"I just want to keep myself in the team, keep building on performances and take that into next season," he added.

"I just come here and do my thing and see where it takes me. At the minute, I'm lucky enough I'm playing so I know if I play my best game, I've got every best chance of playing each week."

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage: A Norwich City podcast.

"The season is fizzling out. I think the play-off dream is well and truly gone.

"You need 75 points to get sixth place... the most Norwich can get now is 73, so it's gone. I think it had gone before Bristol City anyway."

BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham and Rob Butler look back on the Canaries' 2-1 loss at Bristol City - their second defeat in a row.

You can listen to the full episode and more on The Scrimmage: A Norwich City podcast.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk after their 2-1 defeat at Bristol City.

"We are in a difficult place in the moment and it takes a lot from us to get something out of the good stuff that we do, and we get punished really hard on the one or two mistakes we made in the game.

"The first passing mistake we made in the final third and they punished us – a brilliant finish but a situation we should deal with better.

"Our response to that was really, really good – to create one or two big, big chances that we normally score. But after they scored the second we were a little bit all over the place and frustration was about to take over.

"It was a good time for half-time and we made an okay plan for the second half but mostly praise for the players for not letting frustration take over.

"The goal came a little bit too late but we gave it a push, we tried – even though the circumstances were not in our favour.

"It's not the same mood as after the game on Tuesday [the 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday]. All of us were completely down and frustrated.

"I took some time to talk to the players, especially the ones who need the team, and the feeling that were in there were different because we were close to 3.0 expected goals away from home, we have 20 shots on goal and in the second half we missed three big chances.

"If we can consistently can deliver that then simple logic tells me it will change at some point."

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Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup has been speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk ahead of the Canaries' visit to Bristol City in the Championship on Friday (20:00 GMT).

• Goalkeeper George Long has completed the concussion protocol and will start for the first time since November in place of Vicente Reyes with first-choice stopper Angus Gunn still out with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Marcelino Nunez is also back in the squad and "available".

• "Kenny [McLean] wants the best for the team and he gets really frustrated when we are not performing as we should do," Thorup said after the captain described Norwich's second-half performance in the 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday as the "worst" this season and a "shambles".

• Thorup added: "He's a great voice in the dressing room and he's important for many things we want to do here. What I liked about his interview is his honesty, no holding back."

• Norwich have to "remember where we came from as a group" and "how many things we have overcome this season".

• "I still need to remind the players there are a lot of good things going on," Thorup said. "Just go back and watch that first half against Sheffield Wednesday. It was top class. Then I am annoyed that we don't get the second half right or at least defend it in a better way. Those are the moments we have to make sure the players remember because we are scoring goals and creating chances."

• On Gunn's contract after the keeper said he's had "no communication" from the club over renewal talks with his current deal expiring in June: "It was just a couple of months ago that I know they spoke together. Whether there has been any communication since, I'm not aware. But I will expect it to come soon. There is an international break so that's probably a fair time to go through all the contract situations."

• On whether he wants Gunn to stay: "I think Angus Gunn is a good goalkeeper, he's an international goalkeeper and in many ways has been doing well for us. If everyone can agree on something the it's definitely something we should look at."

Bristol City will look to maintain their push for a Championship play-off spot when they welcome Norwich City on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

The Robins picked up a valuable late draw at Bramall Lane on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run to six games (W3 D3) and are just two points off the top six.

The Canaries have won just one of their previous seven matches (D4 L2) and are seven points behind the play-off places.

• Bristol City are looking to complete a league double over Norwich City for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign.

• Norwich have won four of their past seven league visits to Bristol City (D2 L1) and are looking to win consecutive games at Ashton Gate for the first time since March 1975.

• Bristol City have won seven of their past 10 home league matches (D2 L1) and haven't conceded more than once in any of those 10 games.

• Norwich City are unbeaten in their past three away league games (W1 D2), last enjoying a longer unbeaten run on the road between February and April 2023 (five).

• Anis Mehmeti has scored seven goals in his past nine league starts at Ashton Gate and has scored nine goals at home this season. The last Robins player to reach double figures for home league goals in a season was Andreas Weimann in 2021-22 (12).