One point separates four teams as Norwich City’s Under-23s fight for the Premier League 2 Division Two play-off places against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s at Carrow Road on Friday night (7pm KO).
Coach Alan Neilson hopes to see his team respond to Monday’s 3-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion Under-23s when they play at Carrow Road, where supporters can watch the game for free and get behind the boys.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “If you’d have said at the start of the season that we’ll be in the play-offs going into the last game, it’s really exciting and hopefully all the fans come out.
“The situation is great for the players because it’s a little bit of pressure to go and get the result. If we win, we’re in the play-offs. If we don’t, we have to hope other teams do us a favour. There are three teams on 39 points and one team on 40, so it’s very, very close and very very exciting.
“If you get into the play-offs, they’re knockout games, but this is virtually a knockout game straight away now. For all the teams involved, it will be exciting.
“We’ve got to go and perform and enjoy it. You want to play football for these games, especially at Carrow Road, where the fans will get behind us. We’ve got to produce the football we know we can play.”
Flynn Clarke scored a brace at West Brom on Monday and is on a good run of form in the attacking midfield position. Norwich play an open, attacking style so it promises to be an entertaining game on Monday night, with kick-off at 7pm.
“Flynn’s been really good,” said Alan. “As has Tony Springett, Jonathan Rowe, Abu Kamara and Tom Dickson-Peters, who have scored goals all season. That’s why we are where we are. We know we’re an open team but we need to be a little bit more solid and strong defensively.
“After the games we’ve played this season at Carrow Road, the players have gone across to thank the fans and some players have given them their boots. Everyone wants to play there in the first-team, so getting experience in a game where you know you’ve got to get a result is what you do it for.
“The boys are disappointed after the performance on Monday but they know if they produce a good one on Friday, we’ll be in the play-offs.”
To find out more about attending Friday's game, click here.