This Week's Opposition: Norwich City

Jake Smith takes a closer look at The Canaries.

John Mousinho’s Portsmouth embark on the final 4 games of the Championship season with a 4 point buffer to the relegation zone and are preparing to take on a Norwich City side that’ve had a largely underwhelming campaign by their typically lofty standards.

MANAGER

The Canaries are led by Danish head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup, who took up the role at the end of May last year following the departure of David Wagner at Carrow Road.

Thorup’s first and only other previous managerial role was in the Danish Superliga with FC Nordsjælland, whom he managed to guide to a 2nd place finish in the 2022/23 season.

The now-36-year-old has taken charge of 45 Norwich games across all competitions, winning 14, drawing 14 and losing 17.

ONE TO WATCH

United States international Josh Sargent is our one to watch on this occasion - He would be the club’s top scorer if it wasn’t for the man we’re about to mention in a moment.

Sargent has managed to find the back of the net 14 times in the league this season having made 28 appearances - An average of a goal every other game.

The striker wears the 9 shirt for The Canaries and has recently turned 25-years-old.

TOP SCORER

With 18 goals across all competitions this season, 17 of which coming in the Championship, 24-year-old forward Borja Sainz is currently Norwich’s leading scorer.

The Spaniard usually plays on the left wing but has been known this campaign to fill-in up front and in a more central role when needed.

Bizarrely, Sainz is also the top goalscorer in the entire division but has only found the back of the net twice since November, remarkably bagging 15 league strikes in the first 18 games of the season.

CURRENT FORM

Following a run of just 1 win from their last 8 games, Norwich occupy 13th position in the Championship and are well on their way to a mid-table finish.

Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side are 11 points clear of the drop zone and 10 points behind the Play-Off places with just 12 left to play for - It would take a miracle for The Canaries to go up or down this year but both are still mathematically possible heading into the final 4 matches.

The reverse of this fixture at Fratton Park back in December ended goalless with both teams taking the share of the points.

So will it be a Good Friday for the Blues or will it instead be The Canaries singing their way to maximum points?

Find out by catching all of the unmissable action this Friday (April 18th) afternoon from 2pm when Pompey Live returns with full coverage of Norwich City vs Portsmouth in the Championship LIVE from Carrow Road, where Jake Smith will be joined alongside Kirsty Roxanne.

Kick-off: 3pm!