Norwich City are just outside the Play-Off places in the Sky Bet Championship, and are looking like the biggest threat to the current top-six.
Alex Neil’s side are seventh in the table, and sit four-points behind Sheffield Wednesday, following their 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Tuesday evening.
The Canaries started the season well, and looked on course to be challenging the automatic promotion places in October, but a poor run of results left doubt over Norwich’s chances of making the Play-Offs.
Following a 5-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in October, Norwich failed to win a single game in November, including losing to Play-Off rivals Leeds United.
However, Norwich’s form has picked up since the turn of the year, with Neil guiding his side to 14-points from their last seven fixtures.
With Norwich knocking on the door of the top-six, here is a look at THREE reasons why Neil’s side will make the Play-Offs:
Past experience
The last time the Canaries were in the Championship, they were eventually promoted via the Play-Offs in 2015, defeating Middlesbrough at Wembley.
Neil has kept much of that squad together, retaining Cameron Jerome, Jonny Howson and John Ruddy, along with many others, and their experience at this stage of the season will be key.
Out of the four sides that currently occupy the Play-Off places, only Sheffield Wednesday have recent experience at this stage of the season, where they lost last season’s Wembley final to Hull City.
Norwich’s past experience will give them the edge over the teams they are chasing between now and May.
Cameron Jerome
The experienced striker is in fine form at the moment, and he put in another excellent display in Tuesday’s entertaining draw with Newcastle United.
Jerome laid on the equalising goal for Jacob Murphy, before capitalising on a Karl Darlow error to put Norwich in the lead.
The 30-year old has ten goals this season, and he is Neil’s first choice in the striking role.
Jerome’s form between now and the end of the season will be key to Norwich gaining promotion or staying in the Championship, and if he can keep his current form up, he may well fire them back to the Premier League.
Upcoming fixtures
Norwich face all four of the sides in the top-six between now and the end of the season.
They travel to Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town, before hosting Reading at Carrow Road and visiting Elland Road for a clash with Leeds United in the penultimate game of the season.
Norwich have experience over the other Play-Off contenders, and with Neil’s side facing four of the teams they are looking to catch, they know their top-six chances are in their own hands.
Whilst this could also work against Norwich in the coming months, Neil will be confident that his side has more than enough ability to continue their current form and pick up results against the top-six.