Norwich vs Birmingham City
English League Championship
Date: Saturday, 28th January 2017
Kick off at 15:00 UK / 16:00 CET
Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich.
English League Championship
Date: Saturday, 28th January 2017
Kick off at 15:00 UK / 16:00 CET
Venue: Carrow Road, Norwich.
Although Norwich have earned just one Championship away point from late October onwards, they have enjoyed more success at Carrow Road with a 3-1 weekend win against Wolves at the venue ensuring that the Canaries claimed a fourth home win in league action since the beginning of December. Yet Norwich were helped by the dismissal of the opposition goalkeeper after 72 minutes on Saturday with the scoreline level at 1-1 and an outfield player replacing the ‘keeper.
Louis Thompson (pelvis and Achilles) and Graham Dorrans (knee) are expected to be absent at Norwich alongside Matthew Jarvis (hamstring) and Steven Whittaker (hamstring) while Youssouf Mulumbu is still involved with the African Nations Cup. Nelson Oliveira will serve the final match of a three-game ban and the availability of Robbie Brady is uncertain (transfer issues).
Since Gianfranco Zola was appointed as manager of Birmingham, his team have failed to win any of their six league matches and they were also eliminated from the FA Cup by Newcastle. The Blues had assumed an early lead at Blackburn on Saturday only to be denied by a first-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw and ahead of this game at Norwich, Birmingham have won just once on away soil since mid-September. It also worth noting that Lukas Jutkiewicz has netted five of the latest six league goals scored by the team.
Rhoys Wiggins (knee ligaments) remains unavailable for Birmingham while Greg Stewart (knee) and Clayton Donaldson (Achilles) are also expected to be absent. Jacques Maghoma is still involved with the African Nations Cup while Diego Fabbrini has moved to Italian Serie B team Spezia Calcio in an initial six-month loan deal. Jack Storer has returned to Birmingham following the end of his loan move at Yeovil, but Paul Caddis has left the club.
Birmingham have not registered a clean sheet in their latest nine away matches and have scored more than once in just three games since late October. The Blues will face a Norwich team struggling for consistency but with just one defeat incurred in their latest five league outings on home soil. Three goals have also been netted by the Canaries in two recent home victories in the Championship and their stronger attacking unit should ensure victory in this contest.
Norwich vs Birmingham City: Head-to-head stats
Birmingham City won 3-0 when the teams met for the reverse leg of the corresponding fixture on September 2016.
Meanwhile, the four previous games were all draws. This also includes the latest two meetings at Carrow Road.
Norwich City are unbeaten in the last 4 home matches against Birmingham, 2 wins and 2 draws.
Only one of the 8 home matches of Norwich City against Birmingham has seen over 2.5 goals.
Norwich vs Birmingham City: Prediction
The Canaries had won in 4 of their last 5 home games, meanwhile they haven’t won an away game since October 2016. Birmingham on the other hand, have struggled on the road throughout the season. They have 1 win from the last 10, which makes the home team strong favourites to win this one. Having said so, this can be a cagey affair and as a result we will see less than 3 goals.
Norwich vs Birmingham City: Bet Tips
Norwich City to win at 3/4 (1.75)
Under 2.5 Match goals at 1/1 (2.00).