Norwich City and Coventry City squared off under the Carrow Road floodlights on Monday night, January 26, 2026, with both teams eager to extend their winning streaks and solidify their ambitions in the EFL Championship. The stakes were high, the narrative compelling: Frank Lampard’s Coventry arrived as league leaders, while Philippe Clement’s revitalized Canaries sought to continue their resurgence after a turbulent first half of the season.
For Norwich, the evening carried extra significance. Not only were they aiming for their first trio of consecutive Championship victories this season, but they were also looking to build on a thunderous 5-0 triumph over West Brom just days prior. That result had lifted Clement’s men out of the relegation zone for the first time since late October, injecting fresh optimism into the Norfolk faithful.
Coventry, meanwhile, had found their groove under Lampard, stringing together back-to-back league wins for the first time since November. The Sky Blues, brimming with confidence, were determined to show why they sat atop the division, even as their away form had faltered since early December. The matchup promised fireworks, with both sides desperate to keep their momentum rolling.
Yet, the build-up was dominated by a lengthy absentee list, particularly for Norwich. No fewer than seven Canaries were ruled out ahead of kickoff. The most notable omission was American striker Josh Sargent, whose future at the club hung in the balance amid a transfer standoff with MLS side Toronto FC. Sargent, 25, had withdrawn from selection two weeks earlier after Norwich’s FA Cup win over Walsall, and a rejected £15 million bid from Toronto only fueled speculation. According to reporter Tom Bogert, Sargent had "played his last game for Norwich," pushing hard for a move across the Atlantic.
Elsewhere, young left-back Lucien Mahovo, 20, was sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in training, compounding a frustrating campaign already marred by a previous quad issue. Amankwah Forson, the energetic 23-year-old midfielder, remained out with recurring hamstring problems that had limited him to just a handful of appearances under Clement. Forson had been forced off after just 36 minutes against Preston in late December and had missed six straight league games since.
Veteran additions Jeffrey Schlupp and Shane Duffy were also unavailable. Schlupp, 33, had yet to feature for the Canaries due to a lengthy hamstring injury, while Duffy had been absent for most of Clement’s tenure, last appearing in an Under-21 match in December. New arrival Mirko Topic, once a regular under former boss Liam Manning, suffered a devastating ACL injury in only Clement’s second game in charge, ruling him out for the season. Similarly, Croatian winger Ante Crnac was sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with an ACL issue picked up in late October, a cruel blow after his £8.5 million summer move from Rakow.
Despite the injury woes, there was a glimmer of hope for the home fans: new signing Harry Amass was expected to make his debut, while Ali Ahmed was also set for his first Carrow Road appearance. Papa Amadou Diallo continued his recovery and could see minutes, and both Elliot Myles and Gabe Forsyth had returned to training, offering depth as the season wore on.
Coventry, too, had their own personnel challenges, but the news was largely positive. Assistant manager Joe Edwards, deputizing for Lampard as he attended a family funeral, confirmed that centre-half Bobby Thomas and right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden had rejoined training and were available for selection. The only confirmed absentee was Swedish goalkeeper Oliver Dovin, still recovering from a cruciate knee injury sustained ten months prior. With Carl Rushworth excelling between the sticks, Dovin’s absence hadn’t been a major concern for the Sky Blues.
As the teams prepared to take the field, much of the pre-match attention focused on Norwich boss Philippe Clement. The 51-year-old Belgian’s connection to Coventry ran deep—he’d spent the 1998-99 season with the Sky Blues, a stint cut short by injuries and a return to Belgium for Euro 2000. Clement spoke warmly of his time at Coventry, recalling the camaraderie of the dressing room and his friendship with Norwich legend Darren Huckerby. "I was unlucky with injuries there," Clement admitted. "But I had a good time. It was a good dressing room with a good, honest manager also. I liked my time with Gordon Strachan."
Clement’s affection for British football only deepened during those years, and he relished the chance to pit his wits against his former club. "There cannot be a bigger test for the moment than this one," he said before kickoff. "I'm really looking forward to that. I have a good feeling also about where the team is for the moment."
The historical backdrop added another layer of intrigue. Norwich had enjoyed a remarkable run against Coventry in recent seasons, unbeaten in their last 11 Championship meetings (seven wins and four draws) since a 2-1 home defeat way back in February 2009. For Coventry, the challenge was clear: snap that streak and prove their title credentials on the road, where they’d failed to win in five attempts since December began.
The match itself promised a fascinating tactical battle. Clement’s Canaries, buoyed by recent results and the energy of new faces, faced a Coventry side that had rediscovered its rhythm under Lampard but was eager to shake off its away-day blues. The atmosphere at Carrow Road crackled with anticipation, fans well aware that a win could propel their side up the table or, for Coventry, extend their lead at the summit.
On the pitch, the absence of Sargent forced Norwich to reshuffle their attacking options, with supporters keen to see how new arrivals Amass and Ahmed would fare under the pressure of a marquee clash. Coventry, meanwhile, welcomed back defensive reinforcements in Thomas and Kesler-Hayden, hoping to stifle Norwich’s resurgent attack and capitalize on any nerves in the home ranks.
As the whistle blew, it was clear that this fixture was about more than points—it was a test of character, depth, and ambition for both clubs. Would Norwich’s injury-ravaged squad defy the odds and continue their climb? Could Coventry finally end their winless run on the road and cement their status as promotion favorites? The answers would unfold over ninety pulsating minutes.
With the action still ongoing at Carrow Road, both sets of supporters held their breath. The outcome remained in the balance, but one thing was certain: this was a Championship clash with all the drama, history, and heart that makes English football so captivating.