2022-23 Sky Bet Championship: Week 23 – Saturday

Norwich City welcome Blackburn Rovers to Carrow Road in a mouth-watering clash in the promotion race.

Irrespective of results earlier in the day – Norwich can leapfrog their visitors into third with victory, whereas Blackburn can stay third with a win.

 

Team News

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Norwich have no fresh injury concerns to report after last weekend’s win at Swansea, as Dimi Giannoulis looks to chase a start after he was brought on as a substitute against the Swans.

Jacob Sorensen (foot), Jonathan Rowe (shin) and Sam Byram (hamstring) are ruled out.

Blackburn will welcome Harry Pickering back into contention after he missed their defeat against Preston due to illness.

Callum Brittain (medial ligament), Jack Vale (calf), Sam Barnes (knee) and Jake Batty (ankle) are ruled out.

 

Stat Attack

• Norwich are unbeaten in their last eight meetings against Blackburn (W6, D2).
• Blackburn are winless in seven visits to Norwich this century (D5, L2).
• Both teams have scored in all eight meetings at Carrow Road this century.
• Norwich have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven home matches (W2, D2, L3), which came in a goalless draw against QPR in early November.
• Jon Dahl Tomasson’ Rovers are the only team in England’s top six divisions to have not been held to a draw in a league match this season.

 

Prediction

A clinical first minute strike from Teemu Pukki proved the difference for Norwich against Swansea in a game where they were just solid throughout, with excellent saves and defending to snatch the win once the Swans got on top and dominated parts of the game.

Blackburn meanwhile just were outclassed by Preston with atrocious defending and sloppy passing throughout, especially in possession but they did have difficult sleet conditions to contend with as well which certainly is bound to have added extra trickiness on the pitch.

This clash consequently couldn’t come at a worse time for Rovers given their poor form at Carrow Road this century, but I do hope that they turn up and can deliver an improved performance against a clinical Norwich team who can’t be underestimated.

Norwich though don’t have the best home record but Blackburn seem to somehow avoid draws which makes this a tricky clash to predict, but I feel like this could have a draw written all over it.

Prediction: Norwich 1-1 Blackburn

Result: Norwich 0-2 Blackburn