Norwich City secured their place in Monday night’s FA Cup fifth round draw yesterday afternoon, thanks to a 3-1 victory over fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
The score-line may suggest that it was a comfortable victory.
However, it was anything but at times. Here are three pointers from yesterday’s win for the Canaries.
This match came as an opportunity for new signings and players who haven’t played as much as they would have liked recently.
With a sold-out Carrow Road awaiting, there was plenty of pressure and expectation. There was plenty of rotation, but it remained a strong squad.
Harry Darling and Jack Stacey were reinstated to the lineup, as was January signing Ali Ahmed, who has made a massive positive impact since joining from Vancouver Whitecaps.
Ex-Manchester City youngster Jacob Wright also had another chance in midfield alongside Sam Field.
Summer signing Mathias Kvistgaarden impressed too, following the recent heroics of January signing Mohamed Toure, who signed from Randers.
Barring a spell midway through the second half, it was an impressive performance and one perhaps where Norwich should’ve been up by more than one goal at the break.
Another player who was given a chance to impress yesterday was January signing Paris Maghoma. It is pretty safe to say he certainly took that chance.
The former Brentford and Bolton Wanderers midfielder was impressive on his full Norwich debut, capping off a man-of-the-match performance with a well-deserved goal, heading in from a set piece to score his first goal in Norwich City colours.
The 24-year-old received plenty of praise on social media too, especially with West Brom fans. One even compared him to Neymar, obviously joking, but that is how much he impressed yesterday.
It’s been a couple of years since Norwich City had a concrete, settled starting attacking midfielder in the ranks.
Could Maghoma follow in the footsteps of club heroes such as Emi Buendia, Gabriel Sara and Wes Hoolahan?
Not to mention James Maddison, who starred in the 2017/18 season under Daniel Farke. That may be found out soon in the upcoming weeks and months.
With Mohamed Toure scoring his fifth goal for the club in just 130 minutes of football for Norwich City (a goal every 26 minutes – insanity), you’d be forgiven if you thought he would steal the headlines.
Think again. It was Anis Ben Slimane, who is the top assister in the competition so far with four assists, who stole the headlines.
We’ll just let the video do the talking because it is absolutely outrageous.
It’s a run to the last 16 of the FA Cup for the Canaries, a first since 2022, and with the form that they are currently in under Philippe Clement, they could fancy a Premier League side in the next round.
They haven’t reached the quarter finals since 2020, and are now only two wins away from Wembley.
However, focus is now back on the Championship, where they have been statistically the best team in the division over the last ten games, with only Millwall having as many points as The Canaries. Dare to dream?
