Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has identified Norwich City as a potential dark horse in this season's Championship promotion race. His comments come as the Canaries sit 12th in the table with six points from five games, having scored and conceded eight goals.
Phillips, who tipped Norwich at the start of the campaign, remains optimistic about their prospects. "I tipped them to be one of the dark horses at the beginning of the season, but it's still very, very early," Phillips said. "I think the promising thing from their point of view and Clement's point of view is that they're dominating a lot of games; they're creating opportunities." He pointed to the recent victory over Burnley as evidence of their quality but stressed the need to stop conceding goals.
Norwich City's attacking potential is a key reason for Phillips's confidence. He specifically mentioned Mohamed Toure as a threat, with the forward already netting three times in all competitions this term. Phillips noted the team has players who can score goals, which is vital in a league where the margins are fine. The challenge, as he sees it, is turning dominance into consistent results. Their current form of two wins and three losses shows the need for greater stability, especially with a goal difference of zero.
Phillips also highlighted Swansea City as another team capable of surprising people. "The way they've started, wow," he said. "And having watched them, watched highlights, they look exciting." He praised their offensive areas and the fact they retained last season's top scorer, Vipotnik, while also having players like Opoku and Idah chipping in with goals. Swansea's strong start sees them currently leading the Championship, five points ahead of Norwich in the standings.
Norwich's immediate focus must be on turning performances into points. Phillips suggested the team needs a quick win to build momentum. Their next opportunity comes in a tough away fixture against second-placed Middlesbrough on September 12th. This match is a key test against a direct rival near the top of the standings. Also, the Canaries are handling this period without several players, with Ali Ahmed, Jovon Makama, Lucien Mahovo, and Mirko Topić all currently sidelined.
Kevin Phillips believes Norwich City will be in the mix for the play-off places come the end of the season. He referenced Hull City's success last term, where they finished sixth on the final day before beating Millwall and Middlesbrough in the semi-finals to win promotion. The Championship offers six play-off spots, and Phillips thinks Norwich's style gives them a chance if they can add defensive solidity to their attacking play. Consistency will be the deciding factor for both Norwich and Swansea in a long and demanding campaign. The full fixtures list shows a packed schedule ahead for Johannes Hoff Thorup's side, starting with the trip to the Riverside Stadium.
