Blackburn v Norwich City: Johannes Hoff Thorup match preview
Johannes Hoff Thorup wants his Norwich City side to play the game, not the occasion, as they prepare for a crunch clash against play-off-chasing rivals Blackburn Rovers.
The Canaries are hoping to reduce the four-point gap to sixth-placed Blackburn with victory at Ewood Park, but know defeat would be a major blow in their race for the play-offs.
Externally, the televised game will be seen as a major opportunity by City supporters to advance their claim for a top-six finish, but Thorup is out to avoid the hype as he targets a positive performance in Lancashire.
“Everything is an opportunity for us at the moment,” Thorup said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ewood Park.
“What I don’t believe in football is that you can say, okay, now we have five finals, or now there’s a game that is worth six points, or now this occasion is so much bigger than all the others.
“I don’t believe in that. Saturday is another game in the league, and we have to do our best and play up to our maximum in every aspect of the game.
“That’s the journey I would like to take the players on. There should be no change, or there should be no difference in our approach. It should be the same.”
This game is the first of a run where City face four teams around them in the next five matches.
That will invariably bring added external pressure and emotion, but Thorup is focused on achieving a consistent process in the hope of achieving positive results to propel City up the Championship table rather than fixating on the league table.
“You don’t get performance or results from looking. I can look at a game in the Championship and I hope for this result but the next week it changes,” City’s boss said.
“The only thing that will get you points is good performances. That’s where we should start. If the performance is not good enough, then forget about anything else.
“That’s the focus we have
Blackburn have been forced to battle with turmoil after losing manager John Eustace to relegation-threatened Derby and head into this encounter having lost 3-0 to managerless Swansea last weekend.
