As I See It

Last updated : 01 March 2004 By Thomas Rooney

TBA: Sunderland (A)

The Opposition: The Black Cats are currently 9th but have two games in hand over most teams above them. Their home form is very very good. The game is live on sky so I doubt there will be a full house, which should make it easier for Norwich.

Memories: My main memory of this fixture is when Norwich became the first team to win at the stadium of light. We won 1-0 after a goal from........Daryl Sutch.

Prediction: Sunderland 0-0 Norwich

Tues March 2nd: West Brom (H)

The Opposition: The Baggies are in 2nd position 3 points behind us. They seem to have recovered from their recent blip after a good win at Sheffield United. Their biggest threat is Koumas, as I'm not too worried by any of their strikers.

Memories: Not many memories if playing the Baggies at Home. I seem to remember a win a few years ago when Iwan bundled the ball home after a mistake by their keeper.

Prediction: Norwich 2-1 West Brom

Sun Mar 7th: Ipswich (H)

The Opposition: Our friends from Suffolk have been leaking goals like there is no tomorrow. They currently a placed in 5th position but if they continue to defend how they have been recently then the likes of Preston, Palace and Reading will surely overtake 'The Tractor Boys'.

Memories: Top of the league at Portman Road! Earlier this season at Portaloo Road was an occasion we shall never forget. 2-0 to the Norfolk boys. I also remember winning 2-0 at their place when Iwan got a couple.

Prediction: Norwich 1-0 Ipswich

Sat Mar 13: Cardiff City (A)

The Opposition: Cardiff are placed in 11th position only 4 points off the top six. They seem to have hit form recently and thumped Sunderland 4-0 last time out. Their biggest goal threat is Earnshaw. Let's just hope he injures himself doing his customary celebration before they play us.

Memories: The only memory I have of playing Cardiff is earlier this season when we absolutely trounced them 4-1 in December. It was Huckerby's 'farewell' appearance and he completely ripped them to shreds.

Prediction: Cardiff 2-1 Norwich (always felt we would lose this one)

Tues Mar 16th: Gillingham (H)

The Opposition: They are only 5 points from the relegation zone as they sit in 20th position. They have lost their biggest goal threat, Marlon King, to Forest and have struggled for goals in recent weeks.

Memories: I have a bad memory from last season when we lost 1-0. We were trailing 1-0 and Fleming popped up to score what I thought was a last minute equaliser. After recovering from my celebrations I realised it had been disallowed.

Prediction: Norwich 3-1 Gillingham

Sat Mar 20th: Crystal Palace (A)

The Opposition: The Eagles have been the form team in the Division since Ian Dowie took over the Managers position. They won 5 games in a row before a shock recent defeat at Derby. They currently are placed in 10th position 3 points off a play off place. Their danger man is without doubt Andrew Johnson.

Memories: We always seem to lose against Palace away. We normally make Dougie Freedman look like the best player in the world. I remember playing them on TV two seasons ago and losing 3-2 with a penalty from Iwan and a scuffed free kick from Marc Libbra.

Prediction: Palace 1-1Norwich

Sat Mar 27th: Stoke City (H)

The Opposition: Stoke lie in 13th position safe in mid table. They have been one of the best form sides in recent weeks. Former Canary Darrel Russell seems to be doing well there and players like Carl Asaba and Chris Commons provide them with some quality.

Memories: I remember chucking away a 2 goal lead last season. I remember being really depressed after that game. Lee Mills scored a screamer.

Prediction: Norwich 2-0 Stoke

Sat April 3rd: Burnley (A)

The Opposition: Burnley are one of the most inconsistent sides in the Division. Robbie Blake and Ian Moore seem to score every week and yet they are still badly placed in 16th position.

Memories: I remember drawing 1-1 at Burnley in the Play off-season. Marc Libbra scored for us and almost won it with a late effort, which hit the post.

Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Norwich

Sat April 10th: Wigan (H)

The Opposition: Wigan have been in good form recently and are currently 3rd in the table. They had a bad run of form over the Christmas period but the signing of Jason Roberts has help them surge up the table.

Memories: The only time we have played Wigan in recent years was this season. A superb run from Hucks set up Iwan to equalise for Norwich in a 1-1 draw.

Prediction: Norwich 2-2 Wigan

Mon April 12th: Reading (A)

The Opposition: Reading have been very inconsistent this season. They have an outside chance of the players and are in 8th position. Shaun Goater is in good goal scoring form. The Goat along with Nicky Forster form a decent strike partnership.

Memories: Winning 2-0 at Reading last season was a good memory. Two goals in the first 5 minutes from McVeigh and Mulryne won it for us.

Prediction: Reading 1-2 Norwich

Sat April 17th: Walsall (H)

The Opposition: Shouldn't be a problem for Norwich. They are only 5 points off a relegation place and concede almost as many goals as Ipswich. There biggest threat will come Paul Merson if he is fir.

Memories: Earlier this season we went 1-0 down but then goals from Henderson, Crouch and McVeigh meant that Norwich won all three points. It was one of the best away performances of the season.

Prediction: Norwich 4-1 Walsall

Sat April 24th: Watford (A)

The Opposition: Watford have won a couple on the trot recently although they are still struggling in 17th position. They are decent footballing side who held Chelsea to a draw earlier in the season. Their biggest threat is Danny Webber.

Memories: I remember playing Watford away when it was shown on the TV. We went 1-0 down then we equalised through an own goal, and then Helguson scored in the last minute.

Prediction: Watford 1-1 Norwich

Sat May 1st: Preston (H)

The Opposition: Preston have had a mixed season but have two of the division’s in form strikers in David Healy and Ricardo Fuller. Craig Brown has done a decent job at Deepdale although a play off place looks increasingly further away as they sit in 13th position.

Memories: I remember getting hammered at Preston 4-0 two seasons ago. I think Healy and Macken completely ripped our defence apart.

Prediction: Norwich 1-0 Preston

Sun May 9th: Crewe (A)

The Opposition: Crewe are a decent side who have produced many quality players in recent years. They have fallen away recently and are placed in 16th position. Their goal threat comes from Dean Ashton and Billy Jones.

Memories: Two seasons ago we lost to a late Dean Ashton goal. It was at a time when we always lost away. I think the goal is shown on an advert at the moment.

Prediction: Crewe 1-2 Norwich

If all my predictions are correct we will win promotion. We haven't got an easy run in. That is for certain. Although I hope that if we can see through the next 4 or 5 fixtures without too much damage. We should be OK.

On the ball........

Keep Teh Faith