Just over a couple of weeks ago you may recall me saying in this column that the Canaries' season was just about to start.
City had basically wasted a third of the season and, as a result of giving everyone else in the division a head start, had handed themselves the mountainous task of somehow being able to claw their way out of the mire.
Since then, of course, both performances and results have dramatically improved, and three wins from their subsequent four matches had not only seen Norwich lift themselves off the foot of the table, but also disperse the morbidly dark clouds that were beginning to form over Carrow Road.
And if ever evidence was needed to confirm that fortunes were indeed on the change here at Norwich, we got it against Plymouth in mid-week.
It wasn't the greatest of displays by the Canaries by any stretch of the imagination, ? in fact City arguably lost out in terms of both possession and territorial advantage against Paul Sturrock's men ? but another three points were secured to continue the upturn in form.
And we've all heard the old clich? about a side winning games when it hasn't played well.
So pleasing to say that City's season was now very much up and running.
And considering that visitors Sheffield United arrived at Carrow Road on the back of a 3-0 home defeat in midweek and were not enjoying the best of seasons themselves, it's probably fair to say that at kick-off come Saturday the Canaries were actually favourites to win the game.
And in the first-half, in particular, Norwich not only played like favourites on the day, but they also produced as good a 45 minute display as we've witnessed for a very long time indeed.
There's certainly new life in the Canaries these days, and the manner in which they controlled the game and picked their opponents apart almost seemed like a throw-back to the times when City were winning games for fun and seemingly invincible here at Carrow Road when they romped to the Championship title.
Darren Huckerby was in full flow down the left, twisting, tormenting and usually making something happen every time he received the ball, while in midfield Mark Fotheringham, Matty Pattison and Jimmy Smith were flexible and adept enough to slide across the pitch as a unit in order to prevent the visitors from trying to pass their way out of trouble.
And once Ched Evans had opened the scoring after ten minutes, Norwich really stepped on the gas.
It meant that Sheffield United were forced to defend deep in side their own half to try to prevent the Canaries from extending their lead and only able to clear their lines once they did regain the ball, but there was always that old familiar feeling as the teams left the field for their half-time cuppa that City might live to regret only having a one goal lead to show for their obvious dominance.
And that's almost what happened.
The fact that it didn't and that City were able to hang on for their victory can be put down to a combination of errant finishing from the Blades and downright dogged defending from the Canaries as a team, because the second-half was almost a mirror image of the first but with the roles reversed.
City just about hung on for all three points which, as pleasing in as it was in itself was also slightly disappointing considering their first-half superiority.
But then again, even the above statement carries some weight of its own I suppose, because it merely highlights the improved expectation that is now present at Norwich?
Twelve points out of possible fifteen in the last five matches? Oh this season has now started alright.
In fact it's now gathering momentum at such an astonishing pace that you can't wait for the next game to arrive.
Now imagine saying that just over a month ago!
Leave a Reply