Norwich City v West Bromwich
Albion
Norwich City welcome fellow strugglers
West Brom to Carrow Road this Saturday in a game that could put sufficient
space between themselves and the bottom three that they can begin to plan for
another season in the Premier League.
Home has certainly been where the heart
is for City; they are currently unbeaten in six games stretching back to the
start of 2014. Last time out at home, a stunning goal from Alex Tettey sealed a
comfortable 2-0 victory over Sunderland and a possible entry into Goal of
Season running. While their away form has been nothing short of woeful, the
Canaries will look to cement their Premier league status by continuing their
impressive record at home against a West Brom side who themselves look poor.
Victory for Norwich would take them onto 35 points,
which could be enough to secure their survival at the end of the season. Given
that fans often look for any reason to turn on the manager, anything less than
a victory would heap more pressure back on Chris Hughton. This is particularly
the case when looking at their last four games of the season; Liverpool (H),
Man Utd (a), Chelsea (a), Arsenal (H).
Defender Joseph Yobo will have a fitness
test on a calf injury but should he become unavailable, Michael Turner could
make his first appearance since New Year's Day following a hamstring problem.
West Brom's disastrous campaign reached a new low
last weekend. Throwing away two precious points in injury-time against fellow
strugglers Cardiff last weekend was arguably the lowest point of the season for
West Brom. Amid the suggestion that there was division in the Baggies’ camp, the
dressing room bust-up that ended up being leaked to the media seems to have
confirmed it. Albion need to channel their aggression more appropriately than of
late to claim maximum return from this one and if James Morrison sets up Saido
Berahino for an injury-time winner then things really will have turned full
circle.
They have only managed five league wins this
season; a division low. On top of that, Pepe Mel’s side have only managed one
victory in the last 11 matches, without a clean sheet in any of them.
Striker Saido Berahino is set to be involved
despite last weekend's dressing-room fracas. Victor Anichebe, Claudio Yacob and
Billy Jones are all fit again while Jonas Olsson returns after a two-match ban
Prediction: Unlikely to be a
classic but whoever wants to stay up more will grind out a victory. Norwich 2-1
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