Head-to-Head
- Norwich have won three of the last five head-to-heads between these sides but Birmingham have failed to win in their last three visits to Carrow Road.
- Birmingham have the superior form with three wins and two draws from their last five matches, while Norwich have four wins and one loss.
Norwich (home)
- He has restructured the Canaries into a compact 4-2-3-1 system that plays first for transitions, focusing on defensive organisation and quick vertical attacks.
- Clement’s men have won both their most recent home games and look to have finally turned a corner, but Norwich’s overall home record in the Championship remains poor (W5, D1, L9).
- Jovon Makama is their best finisher with 10 goals in 28 Championship games, but the Canaries’ goals are spread across a host of players this season with no one really capable of turning a game on their own.
Birmingham (away)
- Birmingham City beat Norwich City 4-1 in the Championship just two months ago and the Blues are taken to repeat the trick this time around.
- Chris Davies has built a fresh, high-energy system at St Andrew’s that is based on possession, counter-pressing and overloading the wide areas.
- Birmingham have won three and tied two of their last five Championship matches, so the visitors are in terrific form right now.
Key Players
- Jay Stansfield has been the driving force of their attack this season with nine goals in 30 Championship appearances and his predatory instinct is key to their ability to win tight games.
- Marvin Ducksch has added two during that run, contributing key strikes in tight games.
- Jovon Makama is their best finisher with 10 goals in 28 Championship games, but the Canaries’ goals are spread across a host of players this season with no one really capable of turning a game on their own.
Betting Insights
- Birmingham are 11th with 46 points from 32 games while Norwich are 17th with 39 after 32, so there is little to separate them in the Championship table.
- Davies’ side are the slight favourites at 2.65, which is certainly generous given their unbeaten run of five matches and the fact that Norwich are 2.58.
- The draw at 3.35 looks a bit short too as we see this as a game that Birmingham are better equipped to take something from.
- Both teams to score also appeals at 1.67 as it is clear that Norwich will play their part in an open affair at Carrow Road.
Prediction
Norwich average 1.07 goals per home match, scoring 16 times in 15 games at Carrow Road, while Birmingham have netted 13 goals in 16 away fixtures, so a one-goal win for the visitors looks likely.
