Norwich City (H) | Match Preview
The Game
Argyle v Norwich City. Home Park. Saturday, 23 September. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Norwich lost 2-0 at home to Leicester City on Wednesday night, their second defeat in three games. Those two losses, though, are their only two defeats of the season so far.
The Canaries opened with a 2-1 win at home to Hull City, before an amazing 4-4 draw at Southampton. They beat Millwall 3-1 at Carrow Road before scoring four on the road again, this time Huddersfield Town, where they also kept a clean sheet.
A surprise 2-1 loss at Rotherham United preceded a 1-0 home win against Stoke City, before midweek's Leicester defeat.
In the Carabao Cup, Norwich have twice been drawn away to Championship opposition - Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City - and have won both games 1-0.
The Gaffer
David Wagner took over as Norwich City manager in January 2023, taking over from Dean Smith. Smith was sacked with the Canaries fifth in the Championship at the halfway stage. Although Wagner won six of his first nine games in charge, his new side only one of their last 11 league games.
German-born Wagner spent his playing career in the country of his birth, but he represented the USA at international level.
After returning, he took up coaching, and became the manager of Borussia Dortmund's second team, while Jurgen Klopp was first-team boss. Wagner became manager of Huddersfield Town in November 2015. His first full season, in 2016/17, saw Huddersfield get promoted from the Championship to the Premier League, via the play-offs. He kept the Terriers in the top flight, but left the job midway through the following campaign, with Huddersfield bottom of the league.
He spent just over a year with Schalke, which did not go well, as he was sacked and club was subsequently relegated. His next job was with Swiss side Young Boys, whom he took over when reigning champions. With his team second in the Swiss league, he was dismissed. Ten months later, he joined Norwich.
The Squad
Last season's top goalscorer Will Sargent got off to a flying start to this campaign, scoring three in his first four, but sustained an ankle injury which will keep him out for several months.
Midfielder Jon Rowe (above) scored in each of his first five games of the season. The 20-year-old, who has come through the Carrow Road ranks, had not scored in 17 games before this season, Rowe is one of nine Norwich players who have started every league game so far. Two of them are former Pilgrims.
Ashley Barnes signed for Argyle in 2007 from Paulton Rovers, but scored just twice in 25 games. Towards the end of his time with the Greens, Barnes impressed in a loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion, and subsequently signed for the Seagulls. In four years with Brighton, and then nine at Burnley, he established himself firmly as a proven Premier League forward. He joined Norwich this summer.
Ben Gibson (below) played 16 times as a Pilgrim in the early part of the 2011/12 season. It was an early loan away form Middlebrough for the then-teenage Gibson, who would go on to play over 200 times for Boro. A big-money move to Burnley never took off for Gibson, but a loan spell with Norwich led to a permanent move in 2021 and now, aged 30, he has played 91 times for the Canaries.
Fancy a Stat?
Exactly 17 years ago to the day of Saturday's game, Argyle played Norwich at Home Park. The Greens won 3-1, with a Gary Doherty own goal joining strikes from Marcel Seip and David Norris.
The History
Argyle have played Norwich 87 times, the first match coming in 1905. Argyle have won 42 of those contests, Blackburn 27, with 18 draws.
Argyle's home record against City is superb. In 44 Home Park encounters, Argyle have won 30, losing just six and drawing eight.
The last game between the teams, not including an EFL Trophy tie in 2020, was in the Championship in 2008/09. Norwich won both games that season - 2-1 at Home Park, and 1-0 at Carrow Road.
Tickets
The game is sold out for home supporters.
If you have a season ticket and cannot attend, you can make your ticket available via the Ticket Exchange and receive face value credit if your ticket is resold. Find out more about the Ticket Exchange.
Argyle TV
Commentary will be provided by Charlie Price and xx.
Argyle TV’s pre-match show, hosted by Erin Black and xx xx, will begin at 2pm, and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
Domestic supporters can listen to audio commentary on Argyle TV, while international supporters can buy a match pass to watch the game, here.
