‘We have to be prepared for another battle’ – Royals draw has focused Canaries for trip to Wigan

Reading’s late fightback has given Norwich City all the motivation they need for a battle with another of the survival threatened sides this weekend, with Wigan having a fine home record.

The Latics may be just two points above the relegation zone but they are a different beast at the DW Stadium, having picked up just seven points on their travels.

At home they have won nine and lost just four of their 20 league games, conceding 19 goals in the process, with West Brom, Bristol City and Aston Villa all among their scalps.

“We realised on Wednesday how difficult it is to play against a side who has nothing to lose against the league leaders and is fighting with a knife between their teeth in order to get something out of this game,” City boss Daniel Farke said, referring to the dramatic 2-2 home draw with Reading.

“On Sunday we will face a side who is at home so the crowd will help them and they have a pretty decent home record and when you regard the quality of the players, also definitely a decent side.

“They were in a pretty good position for more or less 70 percent of the whole season. There was a bit of a dip in form in the recent weeks and months and for that they slipped a bit away in the table. But they have proved already that there is lots of potential and I’m pretty sure they will be really desperate to get something out of this game.

“We have to be prepared for another battle and another unbelievably difficult task, to be really respectful, especially in an away game at Wigan, but no task is easy and we are looking forward to the next challenge.”

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While Wigan are good at home, City are excellent away from home, scoring a division-high 37 away goals and winning five of their last six outside Norfolk, including a huge 3-1 win at Leeds.

Farke added: “The reason that we were that successful, especially in the away games was that we were not too carried away from all the praise for all our away games, for our brilliant form.

“Especially on the away games it was more like because we were really focused and switched on in being good in every moment. This is what we have to do, it is not a guarantee because we were really brilliant in the recent away games at Millwall, Rotherham or Middlesbrough, we have to make sure we are again there and deliver with a really brilliant performance.”