Meet the opposition: Norwich

5th March
First team

As Swansea City prepare to head to Carrow Road to face Norwich City on Friday night (7.45pm), we take a closer look at the Canaries.

What’s their story?

Following relegation from the top-flight in 2015-16, Norwich are competing in the Championship for a third consecutive season.

With four separate stints in the Premier League since it’s inception in the 1992-93 season, the club achieved its highest ever position in the same year with a third-place finish.

Falling to the third tier in 2009 for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Canaries clinched successive promotions under Paul Lambert, narrowly edging the Swans in the hunt for automatic promotion in 2010-11.

Relegation in 2015 was followed by the club bouncing straight back up at the first time of asking thanks to play-off success under manager Alex Neil, but they dropped back into the second tier for a record-equalling fourth time in 2016.

Their most notable honours are two League Cup victories in 1962 and 1985, whilst they became the first English club to beat Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium during their 1993-94 UEFA Cup campaign, with Wales international Jeremy Goss among the goalscorers in that famous success.

How’s their form?

Table-topping. Sat at the top of the tree heading into Friday’s fixture, the Canaries look well-placed to grab an automatic promotion place this season.

With only one loss in their last 10 league games, the Canaries sit two points clear of chasers Leeds United after beating Marcelo Bielsa’s side at Elland Road in February.

They have won their last three in a row against Bolton, Bristol City and Millwall, and they will be looking to continue that good form against Graham Potter's men.

The Canaries have only lost four games at home this season, and their 35 points accumulated on home turf is currently the fourth-highest in the second tier, even though they have played a game less than two of the sides with better home records.

Who’s the Boss?

Daniel Farke. Playing his entire career in the lower leagues of German football, his first managerial move came at the helm of his beloved SV Lippstadt, a club he joined three times as a player.

Taking over as manager at the age of 32, Farke led the club from the sixth tier of the German leagues into the fourth, before taking charge of Borussia Dortmund II when Thomas Tuchel was at the helm of the first team of the Bundesliga giants.

Placed in charge of the Canaries in 2017, Farke came through a challenging first season at Carrow Road where he laid the foundations for their excellent form this campaign.

Who are the key men?

Teemu Pukki has been in fine form for the Canaries bagging 24 goals in the Championship so far this season to be the division's leading marksman.

Shot-stopper Tim Krul brings a vast wealth of Premier League experience between the sticks, and already has 10 clean sheets to his name.

Christoph Zimmerman found himself on the scoresheet last time out, with the German following Farke from Dortmund, whilst youngsters Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis have found consistent playing time and are thriving this season at full-back.

Onel Hernández has been excellent, with the winger chipping in seven goals and six assists for the Canaries in all competitions, while Mario Vrancic is a strong, assured performer in the middle of the park.

Marco Stiepermann also got among the goals in Norwich’s last game and has been contributing regularly during the campaign from the middle of the park, netting six times and offering creativity and guile in the final third.