Paddy Davitt delivers his Huddersfield verdict after Norwich City’s comfortable win.

1. Merry Christmas

When Norwich fans trooped away from Carrow Road after Blackburn’s 3-1 cruise on November 5 you would have got long odds on David Wagner presiding over one defeat from the next eight. Allied to prolonging that unbeaten East Anglian derby run.

By Wagner’s own calculation he spent six weeks batting away questions on his own future in these parts before and after every game that felt like a public test of his suitability to continue in post.

Some turnaround for the German and a squad who will now wake up on Christmas Day two places and two points out of the top six. Quite a remarkable tilt in a season which most feared was careering out of control.

A third home win in four (with a draw in the other game against Preston) is also another favourable current. It is not just those hardy away supporters who have been able to celebrate and savour and maybe look forward with renewed optimism to the second part of this campaign.

Huddersfield were pliable opponents. Tidy in possession during a first half spell but toothless and with a job on to stay in the division under the likeable Darren Moore.

Probably best not to get carried away with this victory, given the turbulence on the pitch that has characterised 12 months with Wagner at the wheel. But there is no debate now. This is more than brief respite.

There is a confidence, belief and growing body of results to suggest this could be sustainable.

2. Pressure valve release

Carrow Road looked fuller than it had of late for this festive joust at kick-off. But it was the difference in noise that felt the most marked contrast. There was a palpable buzz of anticipation prior to the game, and plenty of din in that bright opening 15 minute spell from the Canaries.

Maybe it was the mulled wine and mince pies. More likely it was events at Portman Road the previous weekend, and no doubt that Ipswich hammering at the hands of Daniel Farke’s Leeds earlier on Saturday afternoon.

Indeed it took only 12 minutes for the first throaty rendition of ’14 years, 14 years Norwich City’ to echo around Carrow Road in homage to extending that derby hex.

Beyond a 13th unbeaten game against the neighbours the biggest dividend right now from what unfolded in battling fashion in Suffolk appears to be a release of some of the pent up tension and frustration that had enveloped Wagner and his squad during a prolonged downturn.

Contrast the scenes at the full time whistle after this routine win as a smiling Wagner, his coaches and players all took the acclaim from the Lower Barclay with the angst and derision that accompanied any number of previous home tests.

Perhaps that seam of frustration at Norwich’s own failings was amplified for many by the soaring trajectory of Ipswich.

With leaders Leicester to come on Boxing Day for the Blues it will be fascinating to see what the gap is in the table when April’s Carrow Road derby return looms into view. Norwich need to keep their end of the bargain for that meeting to have an added edge beyond bragging rights.

3.  The power of 10

Quite the week in the life of Jon Rowe. A derby day brace to further cement this academy prospect in the hearts of the City faithful. Then the first but not the last piece of Premier League transfer speculation touting the 20-year-old with the likes of Wolves and Aston Villa ahead of next month’s window.

Followed by Wagner's revelation while speculation can rage all parties who matter in this dance plan to sit down in the summer to decide Rowe’s short term future. A piece of news that will have added to the festive cheer.

But when the team news dropped, and the game got underway, there was a twist with Rowe deployed not in the wide areas where he has led many a Championship opponent a merry dance in his breakthrough season but stationed behind Ashley Barnes.

We have seen it before. The late September home win over Birmingham when it was a chief support role to Adam Idah. But ironically on that occasion his goal came after he had been shifted back to the right, and Hwang Ui-Jo had entered the fray.  

There were glimpses of some promising link up play involving Sainz – notably a shot drilled at Chris Maxwell in the 54th minute - but also some imprecision in a congested area of the field where the skillset is quite different to the freedom afforded in wider tracts.

Notably a premium on playing with his back to goal, which saw him upended in forcible fashion from Tom Lees early in the second half.

The dynamic might shift again when Josh Sargent is back in the mix.

But it again underlined the growing value, versatility and importance of the youngster, who was withdrawn ahead of the final quarter for Idah.

4. Trading places

The Irishman injected a real burst of energy and thrust when he replaced Rowe. There was a teasing cross on the run down the left that just evaded Barnes and the diving Sainz, before he hared away down the opposite flank to lead the breakout and his intended cut back for Barnes was pounced on by Sainz to seal the win.

Ben Gibson returned after his lengthy lay-off in the closing stages, Hwang was also back in the mix, and both Grant Hanley and, crucially, Sargent look primed for festive involvement. The relative strength on the Norwich bench for the Terriers compared to Ipswich only a week prior underlined Wagner now has some enviable options at his disposal.

In the short term that can only aid the quest for more upwardly mobility ahead of some difficult looking fixtures to come against the likes of West Brom and Southampton.

But it might also require some judicious juggling from the German and sporting director Ben Knapper when that January window does open. Given Tony Springett, Przemyslaw Placheta and Adam Forshaw did not make this matchday squad, the level of competition is only set to increase with the availability of more seasoned options.

The challenge moving forward might be to decide who is a real part of this equation, and who perhaps needs game time away from Carrow Road.

Wagner has already revealed there have been loan enquiries. He may not just have selection calls to make from here.