Latest news with #IwanRoberts
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Set-piece defending has been City's 'Achilles heel'
Former Norwich City striker Iwan Roberts believes failure to resolve defensive frailties is a big reason for Johannes Hoff Thorup's downfall as head coach."I watched the first half of the Norwich-Portsmouth game (on Friday) and made a tongue-in-cheek comment to my son after the game, I said 'that's a sackable offence', conceding five goals against a team that had scored seven in their previous 12 games," he told BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary Call."I wasn't serious in what I said but I was worried about him after that horrendous defeat. "Then going down to Millwall yesterday and losing that one in the manner that they did, set-pieces have been an Achilles heel all season, and they conceded another two yesterday."What is it now? One point from their last five, four points from their last eight games, two wins in the last 14. I am surprised the decision has been made with two games to go but any manager with those kind of numbers going against him will be looking over his shoulder."Wales international Roberts, who played almost 280 league games for Norwich between 1997 and 2004, said he understood why the club had made a change of head coach when they parted company with David Wagner following last season's play-offs defeat by Leeds."They wanted to go in a certain direction and I can understand that, they wanted to give younger players an opportunity," he added. "The job of a head coach and his staff is to improve these youngsters and there's not many that have improved that much over the last six or seven months."
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Harrogate clean sheet a bonus for Jardim
Iwan Roberts believes Newport County's clean sheet will be one of the most pleasing aspects of their victory over Harrogate Town for boss Nelson Exiles shipped five goals as they were thumped by Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium four days they maintained their strong home record as goals from Cameron Evans, Courtney Baker-Richardson and James Clarke earned Newport a 3-0 triumph over Simon Weaver's side at Rodney was their 10th success at home in League Two this season, with only Bradford City, Walsall and Wimbledon managing they have won just three times away in the league this former Wales forward Roberts has challenged Jardim's men to replicate their home form on the road."Their home record has been brilliant," Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast programme."Nelson Jardim will be happy with the clean sheet as well after conceding five at Accrington Stanley."They've won five of their last seven at Rodney Parade, but the problem for Newport is the performances and results away from home."But it's a brilliant result for them on Saturday beating Harrogate 3-0."
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wycombe win 'brilliant' as promotion race hots up
Iwan Roberts says Wrexham provided a "brilliant" response to their defeat at Reading by beating Wycombe lost 2-0 to the Royals four days earlier, Phil Parkinson's men defeated the Chairboys at Adams Park courtesy of Sam Smith's 78th minute goal on lifted Wrexham above Wycombe into second in League One, although Mike Dodds' side could return to the automatic promotion places by beating Rotherham United in their game in hand on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT)."It wasn't a classic. You could see that the two teams, not under pressure, but there were nerves out on the pitch because it was such a big game for both sides," Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru Dros Frecwast."But what a goal to win it from Sam Smith."Of course there was a long delay due to a medical emergency with a Wrexham fan, and we had a delay of almost an hour before the players came back out after hearing the fan was in a stable condition."Wycombe had a chance right after the restart that was cleared off the line by George Dobson and then within seconds Sam Smith scores."But it's so close (in the table). Wycombe play tomorrow night, they're at Rotherham so they've got a chance to go second again."Charlton are only five points behind Wrexham and Stockport only six points behind, but it was a brilliant result after they had lost 2-0 at Reading."Wrexham return to action against fifth-placed Stockport County at the Stok Racecourse on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff must be wary going into 'massive' Hull game
Iwan Roberts says Cardiff City must be wary of Hull City's sparkling away form as they prepare to face their fellow Championship strugglers on visit the Cardiff City Stadium in what is a game in hand on all three sides in the second tier's bottom three for both the Bluebirds and the are three points and one place outside the relegation zone going into the game, with Hull above their opponents on goal Riza's Cardiff are without a win in their past four matches, though they are unbeaten in five on their own they take on a Hull side who have a far better record on their travels than they do at their own MKM Stadium this season."It's only three wins in 20 league games for Cardiff and they have drawn six of their last 10. That's why they are not more points clear of the bottom three," former Wales striker turned pundit Roberts told BBC Radio Wales."They have the game in hand at home on Tuesday. It's a massive game."If you look at Hull away from home, they have won four of the last five. Those wins have come at Blackburn, Millwall, Sheffield United and Sunderland on Saturday."So that is going to be a tough game for Omer and the boys." Anthony Patterson's own goal was enough to earn Hull their shock weekend triumph at was their sixth away league win this season compared to just two victories at home, one of which was in Riza's game as Cardiff boss back in head into the return fixture having secured a point at Plymouth Argyle despite losing Dimitrios Goutas to a red card early in the second Cardiff had hoped to claim victory against another of their relegation rivals, Roberts felt the draw was a positive result."When you look at Plymouth's form at home, that's why they have not been relegated already," he said."They were going into this game having won their last three at home and they'd beaten Liverpool in the FA Cup. I think it was a good point."
