2018-19 Sky Bet Championship: Week 28 – Friday

Norwich aim to move one point behind Leeds United as they welcome Birmingham City to Carrow Road, kicking off this weekend’s Sky Bet Championship action. 

Team news

Embed from Getty Images

Norwich will be without Timm Klose who is visiting a knee specialist in Switzerland concerning a knee injury. 

Alex Tettey is absent with an abductor muscle injury and will miss the next three weeks. 

Kenny McLean, Tom Trybull and Louis Thompson are all fit and available alongside Grant Hanley, who returns from suspension. 

Birmingham are set to be without striker, Omar Bogle due to a calf injury for next two weeks, whilst Marc Roberts (calf) will be ready to return that same weekend.

David Davis (ankle) is still ruled out until March. 

 

Form

Norwich enter this match with one league defeat in 15 but have drawn two of their last three games in all competitions. 

The Canaries are also without a clean sheet in their last five matches across all competitions, with five of their nine conceded league goals in last four outings coming in first half. 

Birmingham City meanwhile come into this off the back of recording back to back defeats in all competitions for first time since August, having previously gone five matches unbeaten across the festive period. 

Away from St Andrew’s, Birmingham are unbeaten in their last four away games with two wins and draws apiece.

 

Stat Attack

• Norwich are unbeaten in last four meetings with Birmingham City (W3, D1).
• Three of Norwich’s last five goals in this fixture have come in second half. 
• Birmingham are without a win at Carrow Road in last six visits since taking a 1-0 win in March 2002 (D2, L4). 
• Che Adams has scored in each of Birmingham’s last three away games with two of his three goals coming in the second half. 
• Norwich have scored six of their last nine goals after 80th minute with their last two both coming in 83rd minute. 

 

Prediction

Norwich are doing what true champions do and grind out results, whilst Birmingham need a win here to get their play-off bid back on track. 

I can definitely see both teams scoring here given their recent goal scoring form, although Norwich should edge this if they can produce a typical late winner. 

Prediction: Norwich City 2-1 Birmingham City

Result: Norwich City 3-1 Birmingham City