Daniel Farke is urging Norwich City to avoid a sucker punch in Saturday’s latest Championship home test against Derby County.


The Canaries have been feted for their East Anglian away success at Ipswich and a valiant League Cup defeat in front of nearly 9,000 travelling fans at Arsenal.

Farke, however, wants his troops to get back down to business against the ‘dangerous’ Rams.

“We received a lot of compliments for our performances at Ipswich and Arsenal,” he said. “It is quite normal that now you take a breath and a home game against Derby, after being so focused on two big tasks, probably our biggest of the season at Ipswich and then at Arsenal.

“The opponent is there with a big aggressiveness and in good shape. Anyone who thinks this will be an easy win for us 100pc should realise this is a dangerous opponent. Derby is perhaps not one of the top favourites for promotion but for me probably has the most experienced group.”

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Farke is confident City have no hang ups strutting their stuff at Carrow Road.

The Canaries’ dramatic upturn has been rooted in a defiant winning run away from Norfolk but the German predicts Gary Rowett’s men will make life no easier than the likes of Burton, Bristol City and Hull City.

“When you think about the away form and you win five away in the league it is not easy to match that or beat it at home because that is perfect,” he said. “Yes, we have had difficult tasks at home but we are unbeaten in four. We missed so many chances against Bristol City and Burton but I don’t have the feeling we have problems to play at home. We were the better team in each of the last four home games.

“It is not so easy against an opponent who concentrates on counter-attacks. I expect Derby will concentrate on defending and counter-actions. It is not easy to create chances against them. We need 100pc concentration to get the points and we have to be precise in the final third.”

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Farke insists spirit remain high despite the manner of that midweek sour League Cup exit.

The German forced himself to sit through the low lights of City’s spirited 2-1 extra-time defeat at Arsenal.

“The most frustrating thing was the day after the game. We actually deserved to be in the next round and when you watch some of the clips back we had some big chances,” he said. “If we score from one of those situations that would’ve been the determining factor.

“Then there were a couple of decisions from the referee. It was hard to accept during the game and even harder watching it back.

“You have to handle this when you work in the football business. We are back in a good mood. I said to the guys we are still unbeaten in 10 for me if you look at a 90 minute game.

“Or at least if you don’t count the cup then in the league we are eight unbeaten and no team has more points than us during that spell.

“It is incredible.”