Six things you might have missed from City 1-1 Blades

1 - Home, sweet home 

Saturday’s result means that Norwich City have now extended their unbeaten Carrow Road record to 20 matches, for the first time since Ken Brown’s class of 1986/87.

Brown’s side mustered a run of 23 matches in all competitions during that campaign, beginning in September '86 and culminating with a 1-0 defeat to Everton in May '87. Since, such a run hasn’t been witnessed in NR1.

City’s current record spans two seasons and two head coaches. The full breakdown since that infamous 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on November 5 last year is as follows:

Played: 20. Won: 12. Drawn: 8. Lost: 0. Goals scored: 39. Goals conceded: 17. Points: 38.

Given the record that followed the Covid-19 shutout, the transformation of Carrow Road as a real fortress has been undeniably impressive. It was a pivotal component to their run into the Championship’s top six against the odds last season.

What will please Johannes Hoff Thorup isn’t just the record at NR1, which he has largely inherited, it will be the reception that both Carrow Road performances have received from a bulk of supporters.

Upon the final whistle, even in the pouring rain, fans remained in their seats to applaud the efforts of the improving Canaries.

Carrow Road feels like a happy place right now. Thorup’s task is to keep it that way.

2 - Drill Sargent 

Everyone of a yellow and green persuasion is wishing the transfer window to close and for Josh Sargent to remain a Norwich City player.

The American international produced another performance that reminded everyone of his own individual quality and importance to the Canaries project moving forward – Sargent is a threat in front and in behind opposition defences.

He marked the occasion with his second goal in as many matches to take his tally in the Championship to 31 goals in 69 matches played at the level. That is a goal per game rate of 0.45, just under one in every two matches.

Zoom in even further and the striker has now scored 20 times in his last 37 games in the second tier. Sargent’s recent goal record at Carrow Road is even more impressive, scoring 12 in his last 15 Championship matches on home turf.

Across the four divisions in English football, only Chelsea’s Cole Palmer (13) has scored more goals this calendar year than Sargent (12).

Those numbers epitomise why there is a nervousness heading into the final week of the transfer window, fears Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was all too happy to bizarrely fan in his post-match press conference.

Losing Sargent would be a major blow to City – but if a club coughs up the money required, believed to be significantly north of £20m, then Norwich would entertain a conversation.

3 - 500 Club 

A key pillar of Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City strategy is a desire to control matches with the ball.

Part of the improvement witnessed in this outing against a Sheffield United side tipped for an instant Premier League response was their ability to dominate key parts of the contest with the ball, namely the second half.

This was the first Championship game under Thorup where City recorded more than 500 successful passes. It was a marked step forward in terms of control compared to their opening two fixtures, where they failed to dominate possession.

City enjoyed 62pc of possession after the interval but failed to convert that dominance into clear-cut opportunities. That connection through the thirds and ability to turn territory into consistent chances is the next stage of this side’s development.

Despite seeing plenty of the ball, Norwich mustered just 10 touches in the opposition box compared to the Blades’ 29. When Amankwah Forson was replaced, City did noticeably lose a creative spark.

That control is helping them defensively, however. In all three league matches, City have kept the expected goals against below one.

That shows they are limiting opposition sides to relatively little. Given the amount of discussion about defensive set-ups, it suggests the overall structure is encouraging. Further work to do, but there are continued trends that suggest forward steps are being taken.

New Norwich City signing Oscar Schwartau watched on at Carrow Road. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

4 - Oscar the Onlooker 

Hours after his signing was officially confirmed, new Norwich City midfielder Oscar Schwartau took his place in the directors’ box alongside his representatives and family.

It marked the end of a whirlwind week for the highly-rated teenager who took the step in leaving his boyhood club to join Johannes Hoff Thorup’s revolution at Carrow Road. For City, his arrival is seen as a major coup given his talents and high ceiling.

Schwartau’s fluidity in terms of position, third man running into the box and ability to add goals from midfield are qualities that explain why City are so excited to have landed him and why Thorup regards him as a first-team option despite his young age.

The sense from those inside the club is that he is wise beyond his years and possesses a maturity that will enable him to slot seamlessly into their squad.

Schwartau’s arrival also adds some much-needed depth to the midfield, documented by the void of creativity once Amankwah Forson was withdrawn.

Post game, Schwartau made his way from the directors’ box to the side of the pitch for a debrief with compatriot Anis Slimane before heading into the dressing room to meet a lot of his new colleagues.

The teenager is likely to make his Canaries debut in the Carabao Cup at Crystal Palace on Tuesday.  

Johannes Hoff Thorup made a host of subtle tweaks to Norwich City's structure. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

5 - Subtle changes 

Johannes Hoff Thorup has been labelled as an ideology-led coach, but Saturday’s draw proved the Dane is willing to be pragmatic when it comes to adapting his approach.

Norwich have thus far adopted a flat 4-3-3 formation out of possession, but that was adapted to a 4-5-1 with less intensity to press to stabilise their defensive structure after last week’s struggles against Blackburn Rovers.

That gave them more solidity against the ball and helped reduce a strong Sheffield United to very little in terms of clear cut chances. It enabled Shane Duffy to look more comfortable with that set-up equally.

Norwich’s ability to wrestle control of the contest was enabled partially due to a slight tactical tweak at the break that saw Thorup instruct Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez to drop slightly deeper to close off the space behind them.

There has also been flexibility with City’s deep build-up structure. On Saturday, Norwich built up more with a two-three structure, with Duffy and Doyle at the base and Nunez, McLean and Ben Chrisene in front.

Its success hinges upon the ability of the three ahead of Doyle and Duffy to take risks and play quickly to connect the thirds.

Norwich have also shown a capability, such as in the second half against Blackburn, to build up in a back three with the left back inverting to become an additional central defensive option.

Those structural changes have so far been subtle but effective.

Selhurst Park hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Norwich City over the years. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

6 - Up for the cup?

Norwich City are now preparing for a Carabao Cup second round trip to Premier League side Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Thorup has already outlined his intention to make changes and hand minutes to players like Jose Cordoba and new additions Ante Crnac and Oscar Schwartau as he continues to build up their respective fitness reserves.

But City will bounce into that clash with a degree of momentum and positive feeling after two positive home offerings, coupled with a lack of expectation to progress.

City haven’t recorded a win against Palace at Selhurt Park this century and their last three games in Croydon have ended with an aggregate score of 6-0 to the Eagles. Historically, it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for them.

Thorup will be acutely aware that the priorities lay elsewhere and the true test will be how competitive can City’s performance be against well-established top flight opposition.

It is likely to be a night of discoveries for Thorup ahead of next weekend’s trip to Coventry City and further activity in both directions on the transfer front. Buckle up.