This article is part of Football League World's 'Fan's Voice' series, where we gather original opinions from those closest to the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience...

Norwich City will be hoping they can win a timely promotion back into the Premier League this term under the management of Daniel Farke. 

The Canaries are currently sat top of the Championship table after their opening 13 matches, and will be hoping they can pick up three points when they return to action against Coventry City this weekend.

Norwich have only conceded ten goals in this year's league campaign, which makes for hugely impressive reading for the club.

Football League World's Norwich City fan Fred Garratt-Stanley highlighted his side's defensive resilience as of the main reasons as to why they have started this year's campaign so strongly.

"If there was one chink in the armour of Norwich City's swashbuckling 2018-19 title-winning side, it was their susceptibility at the back. Throughout the campaign, the Canaries' attacking brilliance helped conceal the weaknesses of a young, promising yet inexperienced back four who ended up conceding 57 goals (more than Stoke City, who finished 16th).

"If a similarly impressive promotion push is to be mounted this time around, a strengthened defence is crucial. So far, the signs are highly encouraging.

"With 13 games played, City have conceded 10 goals, a defensive record bettered only by Cooper’s Swansea (8) and Warnock’s Middlesbrough (6). By contrast, at this stage of the 2018-19 campaign, Farke’s side had conceded 17, including 4 at home to an admittedly rampant West Brom, and a 3-0 battering at the hands of Bielsa’s Leeds.

"This shift in defensive competency owes itself to several factors, however the resilience of City’s backline was seriously tested during a near-capitulation at Stoke on Tuesday, sparked by a brainless Buendia sending off."

The Canaries were dealt a frustrating injury blow in the game against the Potters, with Tim Krul being forced off early on in the match in midweek.

Garrett-Stanley labelled the Dutchman's injury as a huge blow for the club, whilst also praising the central defensive partnership between Ben Gibson and Grant Hanley.

"Tim Krul’s first-half thigh injury meant back-up keeper Michael McGovern was ushered in for a tense second period. While he collected a couple of tricky balls and eventually succeeded in soaking up the Stoke pressure, Krul’s absence is a huge loss which will test the fortitude of the Norwich defence. The task of protecting McGovern will rest primarily with centre-backs Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson, who so far have been outstanding.

"Despite the latter’s huge potential and hefty transfer fee, it could be argued that Gibson is an upgrade on the departed Ben Godfrey at Championship level. His leadership, organisation and ability to read the game, coupled with a consistently solid level of distribution from the back, have made the ex-Burnley struggler one of the first names on the team sheet.

"A perfectly balanced partnership appears to have been forged between Gibson and skipper Grant Hanley, whose brave tackling, aerial ability and domineering physicality have been crucial to City’s defensive solidity so far."

Max Aarons is another player that has caught the eye with some strong performances for the Canaries this term, and that hasn't gone unnoticed by Garrett-Stanley.

"One unsung hero in Norwich City’s early rise to the Championship’s summit is young Max Aarons, whose commitment, mental attitude and unwavering professionality were underlined by his continually impressive performances throughout September and October, despite being linked with the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

"A mainstay this season, his enhanced positional sense, leadership skills and adeptness both defensively and going forward help form a player who looks vastly more experienced than his 20 years of age would suggest.

"On his opposite side, Danish Under-21 international Jacob Sorensen has been a remarkably competent stand-in left back in the absence of Villareal loanee Xavi Quintilla. The young holding midfielder has stepped up to the task admirably (particularly given he is right-footed), and against Stoke his resilience was crucial in hauling three points over the line.

"Injuries to Quintilla, Sam Byram and Bali Mumba have made the decision to send promising left- back Sam McCallum back to Coventry on loan seem slightly bizarre, however Sorensen has proved a worthy defensive replacement."

The Norwich City fan is hopeful that they can continue to impress this season, and felt that their defensive solidarity will be crucial as they look to win a swift promotion back into the top-flight this term.

"Ultimately, this newfound defensive solidity has been absolutely integral to City’s success so far, especially given the side’s worrying list of injuries going forward. Attacking talents like Todd Cantwell, Onel Hernandez, Kieran Dowell and Adam Idah have all faced lengthy periods on the side-lines, meaning the Canaries have so far struggled to consistently replicate the beautifully precise, intricate attacking passing networks which blew defences away in the 2018-19 campaign.

"Decisive first halves against Bristol City and Stoke have demonstrated the offensive potential of this side, but they are certainly yet to reach previous heights, meaning Farke’s improved defence have had a crucial influence. As the season progresses and the Christmas schedule gets hectic, this must continue to be the case if City are to bounce back to the Premier League."

Disclaimer: The views cast from various supporters in the Fan's Voice series do not represent those of Football League World.