Sheffield United have come up alongside the Canaries... will it get feisty again? Chris Lakey looks back at some recent games between the two
September 16, 2017
Sheff Utd 0 Norwich 1
Shame that one of Yanic Wildschut's few 'moments' in a Norwich City shirt should be overshadowed by the behaviour of the opposition manager...
This was the Dutchman's second and final goal - within months he was sent out on loan to Cardiff, and whilst technically still on City's books, the likelihood of seeing him in the top flight is close to zero.
However, his goal settled the issue at Bramall Lane with another highlight the sight of Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder sent to the stands after 65 minutes as he exchanged words with his Norwich counterpart Daniel Farke for kicking the ball at some Norwich water bottles as he tried to put the ball back into play quickly. Frustration because United could have gone top with a win.
Then came the post-match rant, with Wilder unhappy with everything from City's perceived time-wasting to their late arrival at Bramall Lane prior to kick-off.
"Dear me, where do you start?" he said. "They put the team sheet in at 1.45pm but was there a lot of traffic around Sheffield about 1pm? Well, get here a bit earlier then. What you do is get a coach driver to do his job and find out if you are in the city centre there might be a bit of traffic. There might be a bit of traffic around 1.30pm at a football stadium when about 28,000 are turning up.
"Do a little bit of homework and possibly set off 10 minutes earlier. There wasn't a crash on the M1 or whatever, they came up on Friday night. Get to the game on time and show the opposition manager and captain and referee and fourth official and the assistant and the assessor a little bit of respect."
He went on and on and one...
December 28, 2010
Norwich 4 Sheff Utd 2
Wes Hoolahan was and is a Norwich City legend. So best not forget his only hat-trick in English football.
The first half had seen three goals - Michael Nelson's equaliser sandwiching strikes by Andy Reid and Richard Creswell as the Blades led at the interval.
Then along came Wesley, with three goals - including two from the penalty spot - in the final half an hour, having come on as a substitute at half-time for Simeon Jackson.
Hoolahan's first penalty on 64 minutes came after Nick Montgomery fouled Grant Holt, the second 20 minutes later after Kyle Bartley handled. Stephen Quinn was shown red for a foul in time added on but there was still time for Hoolahan to complete his hat-trick with a low shot.
It was a fourth win in five games for City and kept up their hunt for automatic promotion - by the end of the season they were second to QPR... while Sheffield United were relegated.
January 22, 2011
Sheff Utd 1 Norwich 2
No apologies for picking a game from the same season, but it was a special campaign.
City lost only two games in 2010-11 after January 1 - thanks to Andrew Crofts, this wasn't one of them (it was Burnley and Swansea away).
Crofts put City ahead on 61 minutes after keeper Steve Simonsen flapped at a corner, only for former Canaries loan player Ched Evans to equalise eight minutes later - probably little more than they deserved after controlling the first half.
Crofts settled it 10 minutes from time.
Leon Barnett admitted he was at fault for the Blades' goal, so was indebted to Crofts.
"Their goal was my fault and I hold up my hands to it," said Barnett. "He (Evans) has done well there after I got too tight. But I've got to thank Crofty for the two goals and that was a bit of a relief for me."
It was City's first double of the season
February 22, 2003
Sheff Utd 0 Norwich 1
Paul McVeigh lifted City spirits with the only goal of the game against opponents who finished with nine men.
After reaching the play-off final the previous season, City were struggling to rediscover their best form and had slipped to eighth, their worst position of the season. This was their first league win of the year and their first away from home since the previous September, lifting hopes of a promotion push. It wasn't to be.
The hosts gave them every chance - Wayne Quinn was sent off for his second yellow, with McVeigh scoring nine minutes later, dancing through the defence for his 14th goal of the season.
Peter Ndlovu saw yellow for the second time, and the Canaries held on.
Manager
Chris Wilder
Revered by Blades fans - started his playing career at Bramall Lane and is, as they sing, one of their own.
The 51-year-old also played for Rotherham, Notts County, Brighton and Halifax. His managerial career began at Alfreton Town, in October, 2001, and he went on to win the league and three trophies that season. He returned to Halifax in the summer of 2002 and was there for six years until liquidation in 2008. Had six weeks as Bury assistant before Oxford United came calling and, again, spent six years with them, taking them into the Football League. In January, 2014, he moved to League Two rivals Northampton Town where he saved them from relegation and then led them into League Two. That attracted the Blades, and in May, 2016, he became manager. He led them to the League One title in 2016-17, but their first season in the Championship saw them drop from first to an eventual 10th-placed finish. Last season he guided United into the top flight, behind the Canaries - and was named Manager of the Year.
Last season
"My first season didn't go well but since the gaffer came in he's been phenomenal - by far the best manager this club has ever had. I don't think any fan will disagree with me" - so said Billy Sharp, Chris Wilder's biggest weapon in their promotion season.
Wilder didn't have much in the way of financial backing but, like some other managers or head coaches, proved that getting out of the Championship was about management of his players rather than management of expensive players. Martin Cranie, Enda Stevens, John Fleck, Mark Duffy and David McGoldrick all played major roles - and all were free.
Plus, he had an interesting line in tactics involving overlapping centre-halves which caught a few out.
New season
But will his tactics work in the top flight? Is there a point where players who will run through brick walls for you, can't because the quality of opposition is so much better? It's a question which no doubt will face all three promoted clubs.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
NW Draws SUW
League 25 16 23
FA Cup 3 1 1
League Cup 1 1 0
Total 29 18 24
Last 10 league games
2018/2019
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Norwich 2 Sheff Utd 2
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Sheff Utd 2 Norwich 1
2017/2018
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Norwich 1 Sheff Utd 2
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Sheff Utd 0 Norwich 1
2010/2011
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sheff Utd 1 Norwich 2
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Norwich 4 Sheff Utd 2
2008/2009
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sheff Utd 1 Norwich 0
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Norwich 1 Sheff Utd 0
2007/2008
CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sheff Utd 2 Norwich 0
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Norwich 1 Sheff Utd 0
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