Norwich City 1-1 Bristol City: Championship pointers

1 - No beaches

Norfolk is blessed with its fair share of beaches - from the beauty of Holkham, Wells or Winterton. But there was no sign of Bristol City on any of them. 

Any suggestion that Liam Manning's side would arrive at Carrow Road in sunglasses and brushing sand out of their toes could be dismissed after a first-half display that backed up Wagner's assertion that play-off contention was a possibility next season. 

Mark Sykes should have done better after being played through by Scott Twine. The Burnley loanee then rattled the bar with a free-kick to dial up the nervousness inside Carrow Road. Norwich had Angus Gunn to thank for heroic save that denied the midfielder late on. 

Compared with the almost dangerously high decibel level against Ipswich, there was a feeling of Carrow Road hangover from inside the stands and on the pitch. 

That off-colour feeling persisted as Haydou Roberts ended a period of building pressure by sweeping in from Tommy Conway's cutback to give the visitors the lead. 

Given the success the Canaries have enjoyed on their home patch in 2024, it was perhaps the jolt that everyone inside the ground of a yellow and green persuasion to awaken the atmosphere and performance that had stalled for the first half of this contest. 

Norwich responded to that setback by throwing on Jon Rowe. But it took just minutes before Borja Sainz had tapped in to restore parity and swing the pendulum back in their favour. 

Thereafter, Norwich struggled to engineer a clear-cut opportunity to find a winner, which has become the norm in recent weeks and months. 

With Hull failing to beat Stoke, the picture for the top six hasn't changed significantly. Bristol City are the first side leave Norfolk with points since Russell Martin's Southampton on New Year's Day. 

2 - Canaries conundrum 

It has been a debate that has caused many headaches as supporters attempt to shuffle the pieces to accommodate Jon Rowe back into the City side, to no avail. 

Would it be for Borja Sainz? For Gabriel Sara? Instead of Ashley Barnes? Maybe Marcelino Nunez would be the sacrifice? There were pros and cons to every single chess move. 

The sight of Rowe emerging for his first warm-up in front of the City faithful was met with a euphoric roar that encapsulated the joy at his return. A big game player returning just in time for some rather big ones that everyone hopes will be on the horizon. 

Wagner opted for the final option in the aforementioned list. Nunez off. Rowe on. Sara pushed alongside Kenny McLean, as has been convention for large portions of the campaign. 

That meant a front four of Sainz, Barnes, Rowe and Sargent. It is mouthwatering. It was fluid, and for brief moments, it showed signs of significant promise. 

Sara's delicious through ball for Sargent allowed Sainz a tap-in to restore parity just two minutes after the Robins had opened the scoring. Then Rowe stung the hands of Max O'Leary after being found by the Brazilian on the edge of the box.

It may been gift-wrapped by Sargent, but Sainz will be grateful for a goal-scoring boost at the moment that Rowe has been made his return. 

Owing to injuries, Wagner has seldom been able to deploy Sainz, Rowe and Sargent as an attacking spearhead in matches. The audition on this occasion lacked a grand finale but threatened fireworks. 

Rowe's Carrow Road return may not have possessed the storybook ending he's generally been able to produce throughout this season - but his mere presence was enough to construct some optimism and energy within the ground. 

Wagner will be hoping his return drives the competition up in the weeks ahead, with a host of attacking players now facing real threat for their position in the pivotal stage of the campaign. That can only be a good thing for City. 

Norwich City were unable to capitalise on West Brom's mis-step on Saturday. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

3 - High five

It is a pursuit which, at one stage, felt beyond the Canaries - but West Brom's defeat to promotion-chasing Leicester at lunchtime has opened the race for fifth spot right up. 

Norwich started the afternoon knowing a fifth-place finish was in their hands. That prospect was unthinkable only a few months ago. It speaks volumes about the level of transformation that has taken place in NR1 since the Canaries beat Bristol City 2-1 in December. 

But, which has been a rarity this term, they squandered the opportunity to leapfrog the Baggies after this result - albeit they are now level on points with Carlos Corberan's side. 

How much of a difference it would make remains to be seen, given Norwich will likely face one of the formidable four that have kept pace in this chaotic and frenzied Championship campaign, but maybe it is the psychological boost that would be welcomed. 

It is also the case that, providing Norwich get there, the home leg at Carrow Road would come before an away second leg regardless of their final finish. 

But perhaps there is an omen there. Wagner led Huddersfield to a fifth-placed finish in that famous 2016/17 campaign that set up a play-off semi-final with Sheffield Wednesday. Everyone is acutely aware of how the fairytale ending that bookended that story unfolded. 

Nakhi Wells, influential in that Terriers side, was on the bench here for Bristol City. He will not be surprised by the comeback that Wagner has managed to muster in Norfolk. 

Interestingly, Huddersfield went into the play-offs having won just one of their final five. That didn't see them stutter when it mattered most. This Norwich side is making easier work of it, having required to make more ground. 

This result doesn't alter the play-off picture with results elsewhere, but it hands their top six rivals the chance to pile on the pressure in midweek. There is a chance it could be secured with a victory over Swansea next weekend.  

They are in the driving seat, now the mission is to finish the job at the soonest opportunity. 

Marcelino Nunez was replaced by Jon Rowe in the draw with Bristol City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

4 - Reinforcements 

The worry etched on David Wagner's face after the 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday surrounding the make-up and numbers of his side was obvious. 

Wagner spoke after the draw with Sheffield Wednesday about the risk of overloading a smaller number of players to more minutes - they should now be able to manage their options in the final two matches of the Championship campaign. 

City's bench has held a youthful look of late - with four under-21s present at Deepdale to ensure it was fully filled. 

Wagner has been reluctant to throw those youngsters into the blood and thunder of the Championship campaign when the stakes are so high. 

Jon Rowe's return has been much welcomed. Christian Fassnacht was back after the safe arrival of his baby daughter. Jacob Sorensen also took his spot on the bench. Ken Aboh, who is still contemplating a new deal at City, was missing with a hip injury. 

Plenty has been said and written about City's timing being perfect in this final push for the top six, but the return of bodies is just as important. 

This wasn't an occasion that permitted Sydney van Hooijdonk from gaining more minutes. Displacing the striking duo of Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes has proved testing. Wagner feels moments will come for the Dutchman. 

But this is a City squad that is looking in a healthier place - literally and in terms of depth.