This Week's Opposition: Norwich City

The lowdown on Pompey's midweek Championship opponents at Fratton Park.

The Blues have now won back-to-back home games for the first time since March 2024 after keeping a clean sheet against Bristol City with a 3-0 scoreline at PO4.

Next up, a Tuesday night under the floodlights as we welcome Norwich City to Fratton Park.

MANAGER

Danish head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup is the man in charge of The Canaries.

In May 2024, following the removal of previous manager David Wagner, Johannes was announced as the new head coach of Norwich City on a 3-year contract.

So far he has overseen 21 matches in all competitions and has recorded 7 victories, 7 draws and 7 defeats, resulting in a 33.3% win percentage since his appointment.

ONE TO WATCH

Marcelino Núñez is our one to watch this time around.

In August 2022 he joined Norwich for an undisclosed fee. Núñez was awarded EFL Goal of the Month in February last year for his spectacular volley from 25-yards out against Birmingham City.

In 12 matches so far this campaign he has scored 2 goals. Núñez wears the number 26 shirt.

TOP SCORER

Left winger Borja Sainz is the current top goalscorer for not only Norwich but the whole of the Championship, with a 5 goal advantage over West Bromwich Albion’s Josh Maja.

Sainz joined The Canaries last summer, making the switch from Turkish side Giresunspor.

Following a strong start to the 2024/25 season, which has seen him score 4 goals in 3 matches including a hat-trick against Derby County, he was named EFL Championship Player of the Month for September.

Sainz then went on to win the award for a 2nd consecutive month following a further 4 goals and 2 assists in October.

In their recent 6-1 win at Carrow Road against Plymouth Argyle, the 23-year-old bagged his 2nd hat-trick of the campaign.

The number 7 has notched 15 goals and 2 assists out of 19 matches so far this season.

CURRENT FORM

The Canaries currently sit comfortably in the top half of the table in 10th, accumulating 25 points from their opening 19 league fixtures - the same points as Millwall and Bristol City.

Their last 5 games have resulted in 2 victories, 1 draw and 2 defeats, with their most recent victories at Carrow Road against Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town producing 10 goals for and 3 against.

However, coming off the back of a 3-0 loss on the road to QPR on Saturday could work out in Portsmouth’s favour.

The last time these teams met was back in 2019 in the 3rd Round of The FA Cup - Norwich went down to 10 men and the Blues sent their away following wild at Carrow Road, Andre Green scoring a 94th-minute winner.

Can the Blues maintain their current run of form and keep climbing up the table, potentially out of the drop zone?

Jake Smith, Henry Deacon and James Wilson will be on hand with full coverage of Portsmouth vs Norwich City in the Championship when Pompey Live returns on Express FM from 7pm on Tuesday (December 10th) evening.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!