As we approach the climax of the Championship season, the nerves are starting to show throughout the division.

Teams at the top of the table are faltering towards the finish line, stumbling through the final fixtures with an air of trepidation.

No more so was this true than at Carrow Road at the weekend. With fans buoyed by Leicester’s defeat of West Brom in the early kick off, this was our chance to extend our run of eight consecutive home wins and leapfrog the Baggies into fifth place. Victory would have all but confirmed our place in the play-offs, easing the pressure of the last two games.

Our opponents Bristol City had no intention of allowing that narrative to easily play out, and their manager came with a tactical plan to stifle our style of play.

Liam Manning may have stated that none of his family are Norwich fans, but I suspect his local connections may have been keeping a close eye on the Canaries. As a former academy prospect he knows the club well, and would have been determined to prove himself on his first competitive return.

The nervousness wasn’t just on the pitch, with the supporters in the stands also rather subdued. The first half stalemate didn’t offer much inspiration, and the occasion was unlikely to replicate the passion of two weeks earlier, but still the atmosphere felt flat for a club pushing for promotion with just three games to go. Maybe the unseasonal icy wind that blew through the county of Norfolk this weekend, tempered the excitement of those in the stands.

Although the match ended without all three points gained, it was still very important that Norwich didn’t lose.

We now sit level on points with our Black Country rivals and the teams below us didn’t make up any ground; Hull also drew their fixture, and Preston lost to QPR. Even if Coventry win their two games in hand they will still be outside the top six, and after the devastating way they were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday they may struggle to bounce back and win all their remaining matches - which they may need to do to sneak back in.

Over the next couple of weeks the tension will notch up even further as the regular season plays out, even with Norwich sitting in a strong position. The upcoming final home game against Swansea is our chance to regain momentum and show we have plenty of fight left to take us into the play-offs. Hopefully it would also avoid us needing to beat a Birmingham side desperately fighting for survival on the final day.

Norwich Evening News: Gabriel Sara and Norwich City are battling to finish in the play-off places.

But, of course, finishing in the top six is just the first act in the play-offs promotion drama, we will then enter a four-way battle to make it to the top flight. As Norwich fans we know all about the highs (Wembley 2015) and lows (Cardiff 2002) of that mini knockout competition, and cannot help but be drawn in to the emotion of it all. And with Canary connections and rivals amongst the possible opponents, there will be opportunity for revenge and tragedy as well as heroic victory before the month of May is out.

However, first we must get through the next fortnight, and stay focused on the positives.

The return of Jonny Rowe at such a crucial stage and the impressive form of Gunn junior between the sticks being just two. But most importantly it is the team spirit that Wagner has instilled within our first team squad.

When he was under pressure back in the autumn, being criticised from all sides, he never lost the support of his players. They play as much for him as for themselves and the fans cheering them on. Now we will see how far that united dressing room can go, and if it can take us all the way to the Premier League.