City loan starlet Ryan Bertrand revealed today that the pressure is well and truly on to get the points needed to stay in the Championship as the Canaries travel to Sheffield United tomorrow in hope of getting back to winning ways.
Glenn Roeder's men have won only one of their last seven in the league and all of a sudden, they find themselves in 18th position and only five points clear of the dreaded drop-zone.
A week or two ago, the Norfolk public were dreaming of the play-offs; now, it's a relegation battle.
But whilst all the talk before the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Tuesday was of the season petering out into a mid-table finish, with results not going their way, they now find themselves back near the brown stuff.
There is never a dull moment at Carrow Road and the Norwich faithful have certainly never known a season like it.
“It was a bit shocking to look at the league the other night and see how far we'd gone down,” said Bertrand at Colney this morning.
“It's important to get a couple of wins under our belts and then we can stay clear of the ones down at the bottom – just win as many as we can and make sure we're not in the battle at the end of the season.
“But if you look at it it's just one win and we can go back up to 12th, so that's how tight it really is.”
Bertrand has been one of City's most consistent performers since his loan arrival from Chelsea and Canary supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed that Roeder and Co can persuade the Chelsea hierarchy to let him out to play for a second season.
City boss Roeder has long since made his admiration of Bertrand known and out of all the loan stars, along with Ched Evans, he has impressed the most.
With Adam Drury coming back from a long-term injury, an extra season at Carrow Road would mean an impressive look to the left-hand side of City's squad.
Bertrand, for one, would be happy with that outcome. But he hasn't given up on a push for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge just yet?
“Chelsea is a very big ask,” Bertrand added. “You have to be realistic. They've got Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge still.
“Obviously I'd like to and if the chance came then I would, but I'd be happy enough playing my football here at Norwich. It's a nice family club and it's in a nice area.”
The left-back ? who has also been used in a more forward role during his spell in Norfolk ? is clearly enjoying his spell in the Championship and from a personal point of view, he revealed it couldn't have gone much better.
Recent results are a different kettle of fish but, like so many before him, you get the feeling that Bertrand is an honorary Norfolk boy already.
“It's gone really quickly. I've only got about eight or so games left until the end of the season and my time has gone really quickly.
“But I think it's gone really well, mostly positive. Not as much recently, but certainly at the start and hopefully we'll pick that back up again Saturday.
“Performance-wise it was good the other night (in the defeat to Stoke). On any other day a few of those chances would have gone in. They scored by a long throw and a flick and it was a bit of a disappointing goal to concede.
“But the team performance was positive and hopefully we can carry that on. If we play the rest of the season like that then we'll get more wins.”
But with new Blades boss Kevin Blackwell enjoying an encouraging start to life in South Yorkshire, tomorrow's showdown at Bramall Lane will be another big, big test of City's character.
A reverse would put the Canaries further into the relegation mire but in this topsy-turvy season, it would be typical of Norwich to go and turn the form book upside down.
Put it this way, I'm not sure the tipsters have had a successful season with those accumulators. Inconsistency is the Championship's buzz word.
“It will be a tough game against Sheffield United tomorrow. I suppose they're in a similar position to us, but they've been bringing it back together recently. It should be a good game because it's a must win for both teams.”
Tom Haylett
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