Paddy Davitt delivers his Huddersfield verdict after Norwich City’s 1-1 Championship stalemate.

1. ‘You’re staying down’

Not that the Huddersfield fans have much to look forward to themselves, with the future uncertain at the Terriers on and off the park.

But few in the travelling support sat in the same stand as those home taunts could surely raise a case for the defence on the evidence of this disjointed offering from David Wagner’s squad, on his Huddersfield homecoming.

Norwich could not have encountered a more compliant Championship opponent in a first half that was only marred by injuries to Ben Gibson and then Adam Idah. There was none of the ferocious high press Sunderland served up.

Kenny McLean and Jacob Sorensen had time on the ball to look up and try to connect with a reshaped frontline spearheaded by Josh Sargent. City were full value for Gabby Sara’s smart volley. But the second half was a non event.

The Canaries were listless, lethargic and ultimately punished by Martyn Waghorn, who was afforded the freedom of the Norwich backline to profit from a thumping clearance that dropped outside Angus Gunn’s area.

You can park that promotion talk. By Wagner’s own measure it is all about performances. Since Millwall those have been nowhere near good enough.

2. Sad cycle

If ever 42 minutes summed up Idah’s career in a Norwich City shirt it was this first half shift at a rain-lashed John Smith’s.

The highlight? Undoubtedly the burst of pace and then composure to collect McLean’s ball around the corner before he stood up the most inviting cross volleyed home from close range by Sara.

It was the potency his critics wish to overlook. He might not have been on the end of the cross, granted, but it was a clinical counter. But then the lowlight? Another injury-related interruption.

The Irishman dropped to the turf as the City physio appeared to inspect the outside of his left boot.

Idah tried to re-join the action but lasted barely five seconds before he had dropped to the turf again in front of Wagner.

The exit was inevitable, and we must await the latest in what seems like a recurring fitness bulletin around a young striker who both Wagner, and sporting director Stuart Webber, view as a key part of the future.

That recently-signed longer term Carrow Road deal has brought unwanted attention on the Irishman as he strived to open his goal account under Wagner.

But to be that focal point for Wagner he needs the clock up the starts and the minutes on the pitch. We await the latest considered bulletin in the coming days.

3. Changing of the guard

You will not hear Wagner declaring it is time to look to the future at this stage, with the games and the points to play for.

But the underlying subtext of Sargent starting and Teemu Pukki benched is clear for whatever lies over the horizon at the end of this second tier campaign. The Finn looked a shadow of his razor-sharp best against the Black Cats.

There was a weariness to his movement, just a fraction off, but enough for those seasoned watchers of the fearsome forward to notice, given the manner he has carved a swathe through this league twice before.

His lack of goal output either side of a calf injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks underscores his is a season that has stalled where it matters most.

That contract offer may have been left on the table, but it is increasingly hard to see a world where Pukki would line up again in green and yellow for another tilt at the Championship.

Much in the way the previous departures of John Ruddy and Wes Hoolahan added some much-needed light to the end of average Championship seasons, if this is the end game then Pukki will deserve the fanfare. But it would seem Sargent is the future.

4. Oh Gabriel

When Wagner made a point of labelling Sara and McLean as the ‘perfect combination’ he might need to provide an updated version that now includes Sorensen.

At Millwall, the Dane’s deployment alongside McLean released Sara to cause mayhem at the Den, capped by his stunning match winner.

City appeared to have the best of both worlds, with the measured control of Sorensen a counterpoint to Sara inflicting damage at the top of the pitch. Wagner opted to bring in Marcelino Nunez, drop Sara deeper and remove Sorensen from his line up for Sunderland, who were the beneficiaries on a day at Carrow Road to consign to the dust bin.

Little surprise Wagner opted to return to his Millwall mix at Huddersfield. Sara was again on the scoresheet operating in advanced areas, while Sorensen again brought the reassurance and composure in tandem with McLean.

Sara is already predictably seeing his name touted with interest from the Premier League, and further afield, should Norwich remain moored in the Championship for another season.

The Brazilian is clearly emerging as a bright spot amid the gloom – even if his turn into trouble inadvertently triggered Huddersfield’s leveller through the defensive abdication of City’s centre backs - but do not underestimate the presence of a Sorensen in this equation.

5. No favours from wee Alex

Norwich on the slide since that Millwall watermark, and lying in wait is Alex Neil and his resurgent Stoke. The Potters will smell blood this weekend after a merited midweek point at Middlesbrough continued their upward curve.

Wagner and his squad have opted to remain in the north rather than travel back to Norfolk. That will afford the head coach precious time away from the training pitch to try and find the reset button for the run in.

Although he admitted after this game his first task is to get on the phone to request some of the development squad for reinforcements.

Setting aside the growing gap to the top six, Neil will have Stoke firing to probe for any fresh vulnerability.

The Scot was clearly enticed to the Potteries to repeat his promotion success at Carrow Road, with wealthy owners and a club with a Premier League pedigree from the Tony Pulis era.

In that regard, you would expect they will be one of those who harbour the same aspirations as Norwich should this season plateau and attentions turn to the next cycle. Maybe a chance to put down an early marker.