Saturday’s visit of bottom-placed Rotherham poses tricky banana skin for Norwich City

Norwich City are looking to extend their recent run of good form and keep the pressure on Championship leaders Huddersfield as they play host to bottom-placed Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon. City’s visitors are two points adrift at the foot of the Championship and have not recorded a victory since late August, losing their last four in a row - what could possibly go wrong?

It is Norwich City we are talking about so, in theory, everything could go wrong. If ever a game screams ‘banana skin’ then it is this one - especially considering City’s recent history of slipping up in winnable home fixtures. Furthermore, despite winning five of six home games (the sixth being a draw) our performances have not been wholly convincing. Last time out at Carrow Road saw a 3-1 victory over Burton, but the scoreline perhaps did a disservice to the problems that Nigel Clough’s side caused, whilst the three home victories prior to that were all secured by nervy, one-goal margins.

To worsen any pre-match anxieties held among Norwich supporters, there is a large possibility that we will be going into the game without at least one of Timm Klose and Robbie Brady - both of whom picked up injuries whilst representing their respective nations during the international break. Whilst Brady has flattered to deceive on too many occasions this season, City’s victory over Wolves last time out saw the winger somewhat close to being back to his best - with his impressive performance capped by his sumptuous 25-yard strike that proved to be the winning goal. At his best or not at his best, his quality will be a miss. Equally, or perhaps more so, concerning is the potential absence of Klose who, in the aforementioned Wolves fixture, was man-of-the-match; his domineering display at centre-back going a long way to helping City secure the three points. Without Klose, the worrying prospect of a Russell Martin and Sebastien Bassong (the pairing that cost us on that dreaded night in Newcastle) emerges - Dexter Blackstock (how is he only 30-years-old, by the way?!) will be licking his lips.

Anyway, enough of being pessimistic purely for the sake of being pessimistic - we should be fine tomorrow. The absence of Brady could pave the way for Alex Pritchard, who has struggled to break into Alex Neil’s first-team thinking, to start on the left-hand side. Most Norwich fans believe that Pritchard was initially purchased as a replacement for Brady, but, as it transpired, the Irishman was not sold and this has resulted in Pritchard largely being a peripheral figure. That is not to say that he has not still illustrated his talents, however, as in his brief cameo appearances and starts in the two cup competitions, he has impressed. Tomorrow, up against a vulnerable Rotherham side, could be the perfect opportunity for him to finally make his mark and secure his place in the side for the busy coming weeks.

The visit of Rotherham marks the first of three games in a week - three games in which, if promotion ambitions are to be harboured, City will expect maximum points. It is followed by a trip to Fulham in midweek before Preston are the visitors to Carrow Road in eight days time. It is imperative that Norwich continue to build the momentum that was built prior to the international break; a spell of form which saw City earn six wins out of their last seven and saw boss Alex Neil collect the Manager of the Month award for September.

Neil has proven many things and successfully navigated many obstacles during his time as City manager, now he has to try and do what so many before him have been incapable of: stave off the Manager of the Month curse.