The lowest number of goals scored in the top flight by Norwich in a season until 2013/14 was 36 (in 42 matches, an average of 1.16 goals per match) during 1972/73, the club's first ever season in the first division and they managed to stay up by the skin of their teeth with 32 points! Only 2 teams were relegated, not 3.

Unlike 2013/14 Norwich boss Ron Saunders decided not strengthen his squad during the summer of 1972, instead opting to stick with the players that earned the club promotion to the top flight of English football for the very first time. Norwich began the season well (ironically their opening match was a home draw against Everton) and were comfortably sitting in mid-table at the end of November with a record of 8 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats during their first 18 matches. Unfortunately it all went downhill after the 2-0 home victory against West Bromwich Albion on November 18th 1972. It wasn't until the following April (after 19 matches) that Norwich would win again, 1-0 against Chelsea at Carrow Road. The winning goal was scored by David Cross, a £40,000 signing from Rochdale in October 1971. Cross adapted well to the first division and netted 11 times, including a brace at Everton and a crucial winner at West Bromwich Albion on April 21st 1973 which sent the Baggies down. The win at the Hawthorns was huge but a 2-1 home victory against Crystal Palace 3 days later meant that City were safe with one match to spare.

The Norwich team of 2013/14 conceded 62 goals in 38 matches and were beaten by 3 or more goals on 7 occasions. In '72/73 the Canaries were beaten by 3 goals or more only twice and their heaviest defeat was a 4-0 thrashing at West Ham on September 16th 1972. Like Van Wolfswinkel we also had a misfiring striker in '72/73, Jim Blair had a decent goalscoring record with St Mirren (60 league goals) but couldn't cut the mustard in the English top flight. However he cost just £18,000! The Scot only played a few matches including the 1973 League Cup Final against Spurs.

The Norwich team of 2013/14 failed to score on 17 occasions. The '72/73 team was slightly worse with 16. However they scored more than once in a match on 9 occasions compared to the current squad's 5. The Norwich team of 2013/14 conceded 62 goals (1.63 per match.) In '72/73 the Canaries conceded 63 goals (1.5 per match). Norwich kept 12 clean sheets in 2013/14 compared to 6 in 1972/73.

Here is a list of the Canaries' goalscorers in 1972/73: David Cross 11. Graham Paddon 7. Jim Bone 5. Dave Stringer and Terry Anderson 4. Alan Black, Trevor Howard, Ian Mellor and Colin Suggett 1. Own goals 1.