Chicken casserole with herby dumplings

Name: Chicken casserole with herby dumplings
Ingredients: 12 skinless chicken pieces - a mixture of thighs and drumsticks on the bone, and halved chicken breasts; 3 tbsp plain flour; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 2 onions sliced; 2 carrots diced; 200g bacon lardons smoked or unsmoked, or streaky rashers, snipped; 3 bay leaves; 3 sprigs thyme; 250ml red wine; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 1 chicken stock cube; 140g cold butter diced; 250g self-raising flour; 2 tbsp chopped mixed herb - try parsley, thyme and sage or chives