The season in review (part 4)

Norwich would not lose again this season.

Let that sink in for a moment. The most intense, high pressure part of the season, and with 14 games to go, City would win the next eight, then draw four, and finally win the last two.

But promotion was only really a probability on the 22nd April, though after drawing 2-2 with Stoke it seemed that we would need to win both the last games, and then Leeds lost 2-0 at Brentford, and we needed just one point.

City began their run in again in Lancashire, at Bolton, a team who would fail to fulfill their fixtures, and still finish above Ipswich. City played like Barcelona, and ran them ragged, scoring some stunning goals, though meeting little resistance. City won 4-0.

That was followed by a 3-2 win against Bristol City, and another where City had to come from behind, three times, the second time just after equalising. This game saw the emergence of Kenny McLean, who arrived after a long injury, to the team, and fitted right in, he scored two goals in this game, including the winner.

The Den, home of Millwall, has been the graveyard of many Norwich teams over the years, but the City steamroller cruised on, brushing the home side away, 3-1. Another tick in the box, and another game down. Further ramping up the pressure.

Norwich then beat Swansea and Hull in back to back home games, 1-0 and 3-2 respectively. It was now mid March, some six weeks to go, and so close, yet more than enough time to mess it up.

City went to Rotherham, and in a bruising encounter ran out 2-1 winners, thus meaning they had beaten the bottom for teams in seven out of the eight games between them, and drew the other. Last season, they won just once. Those results being the difference from being 13th and making it to the play offs. Its a thin line.

City rounded off March by winning 1-0 at Middlesborough, and firmly entrenched at the top of the table. Now into the final stretch.

Norwich began the month of April with a home game against QPR, and thrashed the Hoops 4-0, in a demonstration of classic attacking football. Beundia was kicked throughout the game, and lashed out in the closing minutes and was shown a straight red. Up to that point, and after it too as it turned out, City didn't win when he didn't play. When knew this, but with more important games coming up, we would prevail, no?

No.

And yet, yes.

Let me explain. Two weeks from the end of the season, the top three were separated by six points, but all had won 25 games each. It was turning defeats into draws that would separate the teams, and in the end would win Norwich the title.

I'll spoil it now by saying Norwich drew the next four games, against Reading, Wigan, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke. I went to Wigan, you may remember, one of 5,300 fans who turned up at midday on a Sunday to cheer the lads on, and were left disappointed to only get a draw. We had gotten used to winning, and had we won any of those four games, we would have been guaranteed promotion before we actually were.

On Saturday April 2019, City played Blackburn, needing just the one point to be sure of going up. City set off like an express train, two up in twenty minutes. Blackburn pulled one back, and despite City battering Blackburn, no more goals came.

It was tense, but with 5 minutes to go, the fans realised we were going up and the noise levels increased. Sky were there to broadcast the came, and I watched, in tears, as the seconds drained away, and the final whistle went, and we were up. Leeds lost again, so we hadn't need even to win. Or draw.

But, Norwich held on, we promoted. There was no pitch invasion, but the team stayed out for over half an hour, taking in the cheers and applause.

All there was to do was to go to Villa Park to get the point needed to clinch the title.

City took the lead through Pukki, he scoring his 30th goal of the season. Villa pull level. But five minutes from time, Varancic puts another shot in the corner to confirm the title.

Sky stays to show the presentation of the trophy, and it brings tears to my eyes to see Norwich's colours tied to the old cup. But there were have it.

It was hoisted aloft by Hanley, a player who couldn't get back in the team ha was captain off due to the form of Aarons and Godfrey.

And Leeds lost at Ipswich.

Norwich lost 6 times all season, just three times from the end of August.

Norwich scored 93 goals in the league.

Pukki scored 30 in all competitions.

We will never see another season like this.

Probably.

Player of the season?: all of them, every jack the lad one of them.