Iwan Roberts: Norwich City fans can't afford to get over-excited

Norwich had not won in five, losing four of those, and they’d scored the same amount of goals in their previous seven games as they did against a hapless Preston side. 

Mind you, it was possibly a good time to play Ryan Lowe’s team as they had lost four of their previous six games, including their last three at home. 

It’s fair to say that there's been a positive reaction on the field to David Wagner’s appointment. 

I didn’t see the Preston game, but from what I’ve heard there was much more energy, pace and intensity about Norwich’s performance. 

It hasn’t taken long for some people to go a little over the top with their praise, saying Wagner will lead the way to yet another promotion from the Championship. 

All I’ll say is to be careful with your expectations are. One win, albeit a cracking one, doesn’t change everything and I saw supporters go well over the top in their praise for Dean Smith after he won his first game as Norwich head coach against Southampton. He was this, he was that, he was the saviour and look how that ended up. 

I’ve seen people say what a great start for David. I wouldn’t say that. I’d say it was a great result but it’s one game. Now the team needs to build on that and be far more consistent than they’ve been in the first half of the season. 

In my opinion, if they Norwich can go on a run of not losing in their next six or seven games, winning the majority, then I’ll say what a good start it has been for the new head coach. 

It’s a trip up the A14 this weekend for an early kick-off at The Coventry Building Arena. I still call it The Ricoh as it’s far less of a mouthful! 

I was up there twice last month when Swansea and Cardiff visited there, both of which came away with a draw even though they were hammered on the day. 

I watched Coventry’s FA Cup third round tie with Wrexham when Phil Parkinson’s men put four past them to go through to the fourth round. 

I’ve been impressed with Coventry and their manager Mark Robins, who always sorts me out a car parking space whenever I visit The Ricoh. I made a few goals for him when we both played for Leicester so I guess that’s the least he can do.  

Mark Robins was always destined to be a manager, says Iwan Roberts (Image: PA)

We had a great week in Aberystwyth in 2005 when we did our A licence together. He was a massive help to me, especially in the lecture room where my concentration levels were nowhere near his!  

I could tell there and then that ‘Robbo number 2’ (there’s only one Robbo and that's yours truly) was going to be a very good coach/manager one day. Mark had a cool confidence about him whether he was outside putting a session on or inside talking to a room full of strangers. 

Mark’s team play very quick counter-attacking football and in Viktor Gyokeres they have a real handful up front for them. He’s the Championship’s second top scorer, scoring a goal every two games. They have some excellent attacking midfielders in Jamie Allen and Callum O’Hare, who have an abundance of creativity and pace about them. Mind you, I don’t think the impressive O’Hare is available after picking up an injury over the festive period. 

Coventry, like Preston, aren’t in great form with just one win in their last seven league games. However, their home form has been very good, they’ve not lost in their last seven games, keeping five clean sheets in this good run. 

Even with Gyokeres’ 12 goals, only four teams have scored fewer goals than Coventry but they are very stingy. They’ve kept 12 clean sheets and no goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than Coventry’s Ben Wilson. No wonder Mark Robins men have the third best defensive record in the division. 

I think this game has the making of a really good spectacle and advert for the Championship. 

Let’s hope it lives up to expectations. After all, there’s a reason the game is live on TV this Saturday lunchtime.