Manning: A Good Time to Go Into Derby
Thursday, 2nd Oct 2025 10:19

Norwich boss Liam Manning insists that now is a good time for his side to go into the East Anglian derby, despite the Canaries being on a run of four games without a win.

The Norfolk team, who cross the border on Sunday looking to extend a 16-year unbeaten derby record, lost 1-0 at home to West Brom last night, their fourth home defeat in their four Championship games at Carrow Road this season, in addition to a Carabao Cup exit on their own turf to Southampton.

All Norwich’s points have come on the road where they are unbeaten in their four Championship matches having won two and drawn two, as well as winning at Watford in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Manning, a former Town academy player and coach, admits his 19th-placed side’s current home form isn’t acceptable and understands the frustrations of the club’s support.

“It hurts. We are in the results business and that is not good enough,” he told the Pink ‘Un after last night’s match. “I understand the reaction from the fans. We are not winning at home and that is unacceptable.

“Ipswich was always going to be a big game. We understand the importance of it and the lads will be ready to go. It is a different game in terms of what has gone before gets parked.

“It is a huge game. It is a good time for us to go into that game. We have just spoken about it in the changing room, about the importance of it. The lads will be fully aware of what it means to the fans and we will be ready on Sunday.

“That is not a record anybody wants. But it will fuel me and it will drive me. My default is to fight, to get my head down and make sure I give the lads everything to provide a platform where they are quite clear on what they need to do.

“Despite getting a point at Stoke [1-1 on Saturday] we were hugely disappointed with the performance and what that looked like, and the challenge was to respond. It was better but we didn’t get the result.

“I thought there was some much better stuff in terms of performance, but that doesn’t count for much.

“I challenged the lads to go and play with some bravery and identity and I thought they did. But ultimately we lacked quality in and around the box to get your rewards for all the other bits.

“All I can control is making sure the group progress and get better. This is a tough period and we have to show resilience. I will never shy away from that.”

In addition to Manning, his assistant Chris Hogg is also a one-time academy coach and player at Town and first-team coach analyst James Krause was a member of the Blues’ 2005 FA Youth Cup-winning side.

Photo: ITFC

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Cafe_Newman added 10:29 - Oct 2 Of course it is, it'll wake their fans up.
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EuanTown added 10:31 - Oct 2 Good choice if background Phil in the image of insider agent Liam Manning. Master planning the downfall of NCFC from within.
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Bluewhiteboy added 10:42 - Oct 2 Really poor Norwich side, surely nothing other than a win incoming
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NthQldITFC added 10:47 - Oct 2 Don't slouch on the desk Liam, it makes you look as feckless as your team. Get them to buy you a new jacket, you shouldn't have to wear the one from you last club still. Oh, and keep up the good work.
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ellaandred added 10:48 - Oct 2 Not sure why we would be interested in anything the Norwich manager has to say. He's hardly going to say ''I think we'll lose''
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bobble added 11:52 - Oct 2 Shouldnt be too tough a game, 3 -1 to town
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philpott2 added 11:53 - Oct 2

I disagree with comments about NCFC being a poor team, as so are we. And with their attacking players, and our poor defence and application of tactics, I feel we will concede at least three goals....we need a Keeganesque scoring more than them game. We need to attack at pace and in numbers (Jack Clarke was the only player beating his man on Tuesday!), crisp passes and stop standing still when we receive the ball, we aren't Man City, stop passing backwards and sideways and back to the keeper only to then put ourselves under pressure again!
I will be at the game, having had my very first ticket out of the ballot process since it's introduction, but I really do hope we try and win and not just focus on trying to keep the ball, as we do nothing with it when we do.

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Bazza8564 added 12:22 - Oct 2 Local derbies are always a leveller, maximum of everything required, and the side that started against Portsmouth please
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Jack27 added 12:23 - Oct 2

It's the old saying - but it really is true. Form counts for nothing in a derby match. In our last Championship season we all expected us to turn up and win at PR - and although we were unlucky not to win, it ended 1-1 (and then we lost away). I really hope and expect us to play with intensity and aggression - and hopefully and early goal will see us on our way...but make no mistake, Norwich will be playing for pride and the magnitude of the game will up their recent performances.

ringwoodblue added 12:23 - Oct 2 His job must surely be on the line so he has to be positive. It’s a derby game so the form book goes out of the window but we must perform at our best.
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Ebantiass added 12:53 - Oct 2

Regardless of what the majority want or believe this game could go either way. The yellow peril have been dreadful of late and i cant remember a better time to haave play them. That said we have not been pulling up trees ourselves apart from the Sheffield game. We have played three good halves all season imho. The workrate is there but we look shot shy and will try to walk the ball in,with only Jaden havin a pop from a distance. This will be a close one and they wont make this easy, what better way to kick off your season than to do your rivals at their place again.
Come on lads leave nothing on the field because the shyte will be working their socks off.

VitalSigns added 13:26 - Oct 2 If we win it will be a huge boost to our confidence and can be the catalyst for a real run of form. Hopefully it will be an open game , which should suit us. We need to move the ball forward quicker , especially in transition ; deliver early crosses into the box; defend set pieces much better. Onwards and upwards!
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Carberry added 13:31 - Oct 2 We have to put the 16 years to bed with a convincing win. It is not a monkey on any of the players' backs just us fans, so go out there and play positively like a £200m team and we will win.
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JewellintheTown added 13:32 - Oct 2

Pivotal game for both sides. I can see the ref doing some serious semaphore with the cards this weekend unless he gets a hold from the off. Players from both sides will want to go in hard from the start, especially Nunez, & the team will be sticking up for him & each other. Even without the old boys with history like Wolfy, Clarke & Morsy it's going to be tasty, very tasty. Bring it on!

philpott2 added 13:48 - Oct 2

It cracks me up that I get down marked for having an opinion.
Hell, I watch the games too, went to almost all of the home games last season, and have been going to Portman Road since 1985.
I am just as frustrated with the style now as I was with the likes of Duncan, Jewell, McCarthy, Ferguson, Cook, Royle, Lambert, Hurst at the helm.....different reasons, lack of pace / slow transition from defence to attack the biggest bugbear currently, along with being terrible at set pieces at both ends (and we've been woeful at that for years).

Gforce added 13:54 - Oct 2

They have recently gained draws at both Coventry and Stoke,who are both in the top three, so they are no mugs.
However from the highlights I watched, they were quite fortunate not to lose, especially at Coventry,who had about 28 shots.
We need to get after them straight from kick off,with a high tempo and put them under pressure.
It's about time they had their first away defeat ,hopefully starting Sunday.

terry_butchers_twin added 14:20 - Oct 2

I watched the last 30 mins NCFC V WBA last night and had Norwich been more clinical in front of goal they could have won it. West Brom did a large amount of back passing from the Norwich penalty area back to their own keeper (made 3 great saves) a little bit too much like we seem to play so unless we get a couple of quick goals it could be a very difficult game.

ITFCSG added 14:30 - Oct 2

The $cum better come and play ball, if they set up in a low block like what they did at Cov then we may be in for a long afternoon. And their fans will continue to sing about the x years unbeaten.

Also we need to go for the jugular right from kick-off, no more sideways and backwards passing, send long balls into their box if needed. Our defence is hardly watertight, one mistake and that’s it.

jas0999 added 15:51 - Oct 2 As we. Any win away - nor looked even remotely likely to so far - then it’s imperative we win at home. Norwich are a poor side and there is no reason nor any excuse not to win on Sunday.
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Billysherlockblue added 16:16 - Oct 2 Kipre on sergent imho
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armchaircritic59 added 18:01 - Oct 2 This match like any other comes down to this, if both teams play as well as they possibly can, than who wins? I'll leave everyone to their opinions on that. If not, almost anything can happen!
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EatonBlue added 18:03 - Oct 2 In truth, Liam Manning probably needs a result in order to keep his job.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:54 - Oct 2 Difficult team to work out at the moment are Norwich. Should have beaten WBA at home this week but lost. Two, on the face of it, good draws at Stoke and Coventry, but could and should have been thrashed, both times. Might be a case of expect the unexpected on Sunday!
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Northstandveteran added 21:08 - Oct 2 We need to win after sacrificing half the team for the Bristol City match for this game. Just to note Kieran. Beating Norwich won't guarantee promotion.
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GAZ1234 added 06:14 - Oct 3 Philpott2 Totally agree Palmer and the defenders are far too slow with their distribution. I thought that Kipre improved the situation, he was quicker & zipped the ball with purpose which improved the tempo of the whole game.
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