Norwich City: Ben Gibson analysis after Championship upturn

In many ways the Canaries' narrow victory was routine. It was a standard, if initially laboured, performance, against standard mid-table Championship opposition, continuing a precedent of home victories that at this stage has become standard for David Wagner's side.

Josh Sargent scored his customary winning goal, Sam McCallum and Liam Gibbs received their customary late introductions, Sydney van Hooijdonk was given his customary hero's welcome.

There were few signs of a game that will live long in the memory for any City fan, but then very few things are in fickle world of first-team football.

One person against whom that isn't the case, however, is Ben Gibson. The former Middlesbrough captain has for some reason become a player whose mistakes have outlasted the usual collective short memory, and his successes have been consigned to history in near-record time.

Perhaps a good deal of that is the fact that no supporters were actually there to witness his best displays in yellow and green, absent for his solid title-winning performances because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gibson played a key role in the Canaries' charge to the Championship title in 2021 (Image: PA)

He's not alone in that sense; Oliver Skipp and Dimitris Giannoulis both contributed significantly to promotion with few there to give them the credit they deserved.

Instead there's been a cache attached to the Premier League errors Gibson made that hasn't been afforded his key role in the club's last promotion to get there.

Over time a collective anxiety had developed amongst the fan base, with tension palpable when the 31-year-old was closed down and audible gasps within the crowd when a long ball flew over his head.

But that's where things deviated from the routine on Saturday. While everything else seemed standard, there was a calm when Gibson had possession that hasn't been present in NR1 since the early days of the 2021-22 season.

Even when he was in apparent peril there were no trembling murmurs or doubtful cries, and that wasn't because of a general peace provided by recent home form. As Kenny McLean's now-infamous run-in with the South Stand proved, Gibson was one of few trusted on the ball.

The reason behind that will be clear to anyone who's observed his performances in recent weeks, when a combination of aerial dominance, progressive distribution and well-timed intervention have made him a formidable opponent for attackers.

The timing of that is remarkable in multiple senses, chiefly because of the personal issues he's faced recently.

Just over two months ago Gibson rushed to hospital immediately upon the conclusion of a 1-1 draw with Southampton, alarmed by a club official that his new-born daughter had stopped breathing eight times.

"I was on the way to the hospital feeling horrendous that I was at the stadium," he told The Athletic. "Making myself available for the squad, trying to do the right thing, but I was thinking, 'Ben, what the f*** are you doing?' That was a real tough moment."

Navigating that trauma to produce some of his best work in a Norwich shirt must be commended, and it's even more impressive when added to the professional uncertainty he's facing.

No talks have taken place over a new deal for the former English youth international, whose contract is up in four months and is highly unlikely to remain in Norfolk. In that sense there's motivation provided by the need to secure a future elsewhere, but Gibson is clearly keen to end his time in Norwich on a high note.

His wages combined with sporting director Ben Knapper's desire to lower the squad's age profile mean it's likely the ideal choice for all parties to part ways this summer. Gibson hasn't had the easiest ride since moving east.

But if he ends it at the same level he's playing at now he'll be remembered fondly, and it's hoped he'll have two City promotions on his CV by then.