Joe Pateman on Norwich City’s task at Cardiff City
All roads lead to Wales today as we face a Cardiff City side who enjoyed an unbeaten October, securing 11 out of a possible 15 points.
It’s a record that represents a major leap forward, especially after the Bluebirds scored just two goals in the entire span of August and September during Erol Bulut’s reign.
Interim chief Omer Riza’s impact has been evident, so the task of bringing home three points will not be an easy one, especially without our midfield fulcrum of Marcelino Nunez and Kenny McLean.
Johannes Hoff Thorup and his players have also enjoyed an October without losing any games, but will want to collect all three points for the first time since that romp over Hull City, nearly a month ago.
Winning games will largely depend on getting Josh Sargent firing at a similar frequency to last season. The USA forward plundered 16 goals in just 28 games last season, with his game time managed due to the ankle injury sustained earlier on in the campaign.
Sargent’s game and role in the side have evidently changed since the Thorup era began; he has been leading the line brilliantly and working incredibly hard for his team-mates, leading to the five assists he has contributed this season.
Last season’s game plan often relied on our overlapping full-backs whipping balls into the box and some moments of brilliance, most often from the now-departed Gabriel Sara, and, when fit, Sargent was the beneficiary of this style.
More than a third of Sargent’s goals last term were headers and he received five assists from the aforementioned Brazilian. Three were also provided by Jack Stacey, who is currently being kept out by the impressive Kellen Fisher. In fact, only Stacey and Borja Sainz of the players who assisted Sargent last season are in contention to start today’s game.
