Norwich City's Avengers flexing their muscles again

It was almost 14 months to the day that the Pilgrims humbled us in a 6-2 thrashing at Home Park, but for me and many others, that day feels like a full footballing lifetime ago.

From Tuesday’s starting line-up, only Angus Gunn, Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy and Kenny McLean endured the Devon disaster; six of the other starters from that day are now plying their trade away from Carrow Road.

Tuesday’s win was a victory for growth and perseverance. The resilience shown by the remaining core players, paired with the fresh energy from new faces, reflects a club moving in the right direction. Norwich City’s journey under Johannes Hoff Thorup has always been about evolution, and this performance felt like a significant step forward.

We completed an impressive 729 passes, an average of eight per minute, highlighting the increased tempo of this Norwich City side. While some passes went astray and occasionally caused self-inflicted problems, it’s crucial to continue refining this style to unlock its full potential.

Whilst we had waited over a month to cheer a goal at home, when Ante Crnac smashed in his maiden Carrow Road goal, that was City’s 21st home goal this season, four more than any other club currently. This suggests that recent form was surely down to numerical matters.

For the Marvel fans amongst us, Thorup having his squad bolstered by the returning players felt like that pivotal moment in the film Avengers: Endgame -the team, battered and bruised, holding the line against the overwhelming odds of Championship football, seemingly outnumbered and outmatched.

Just as Duffy tightens his shield, preparing for a final stand, the portals begin to open, and reinforcements arrive. Ashley Barnes strides back into the fray with veteran grit, Onel Hernández returns with a spark of pace and creativity, McLean shakes off the shackles of his suspension to re-anchor the midfield, and with his imminent return, Marcelino Núñez is ready to bring flair and control as he readies to step back onto the pitch.

Like the Avengers rallying for one last, decisive battle, Norwich’s returning players bring hope, strength, and the promise of a united front. The Canaries faithful can almost hear Onel’s rallying cry: “On your left.”

Ben Chrisene - belying his years (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Ben Chrisene impressed me again midweek; it’s hard to believe that the former Aston Villa left back is only 20 years old; his football IQ and understanding seem to be well beyond the years of someone turning 21 in January. His awareness and decision-making played a huge part in our playing out from the back. Our other former Exeter City full-back, Jack Stacey, will be hoping his last two performances earn him the chance to eye a fifth assist of the season against another former club, Luton Town, this afternoon. With Jose Cordoba and Kellen Fisher likely to be available, Thorup will be finding himself having some ‘nice problems’ when it comes to selection.

Competition for places will be fierce, not only across the back line but throughout the squad.

Players will be driven to perform at their highest level, knowing that team-mates are ready to step in if standards drop. This dynamic ensures no room for complacency, fostering a highly competitive environment. The depth in quality across the park creates constant pressure to excel, pushing every individual to maximise their potential. I would expect such intense healthy contention to raise the overall levels of the players.

Only Tuesday’s victims of ‘Hoff-Ball’, Plymouth, have conceded more than today’s visitors, Luton.

The Hatters have seen a small change of fortunes this month, claiming seven points from a possible 12, but defensive frailties remain a concern, with goals continuing to leak at critical moments. While their recent form shows signs of improvement, Luton’s vulnerability at the back could prove costly against a Norwich side eager to exploit any weaknesses.