At the start of the 2022/23 EFL Championship season, many had Norwich City and Sheffield United amongst the favourites for the title, and with it, promotion to the promised land that is the Premier League. Both sides have enjoyed a fairly strong start that suggests they will be in the mix come matchday 46, with the Canaries currently sitting in seventh on 25 points, and the Blades in 5th on 26 points – current league leaders QPR currently have 30 points.
Sheffield United enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, immediately putting themselves in the title picture, but they have since experienced a dip in form – they are without a win in six games. Norwich have also had a tough time lately, winning just once in their last six fixtures: the fact that both sides are still knocking on the door at the top end of the table tells you how well they started.
This tactical analysis will provide an insight into how this 2-2 draw played out – the tactics that followed Norwich’s early 2-0 lead, alongside an analysis of the way Sheffield United got themselves back into the game to snatch a point from their pressing to their wide play.
Lineups
Paul Heckingbottom looked to turn his team’s fortunes around, making four changes from the defeat to Coventry City. A shape of 3-5-2 sees the familiar back three of Chris Basham, John Egan, and Anel Ahmedhodžić, while Ben Osborn returned to the left flank after playing a central role in their previous game. John Fleck came back into the fold in a central midfield role, with James McAtee operating as an attacking midfielder. Former Liverpool player Rhian Brewster started in a striker partnership with club legend Billy Sharp.
City manager Dean Smith opted for a 4-2-3-1, making several changes to the lineup from the defeat to Luton Town last time out. Angus Gunn kept his place between the sticks, with Dimitris Giannoulis coming in at left-back – this is the only change at the back from the previous match at Luton. In midfield, Aaron Ramsey (not to be mistaken for the experienced ex-Arsenal man) was joined by Isaac Hayden and Marcelino Núñez, with Todd Cantwell and Josh Sargent operating on the flanks.
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