2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Week 46 – Birmingham vs Norwich

Birmingham City host Norwich at St Andrew’s in a blockbuster final-day showdown at opposite ends of the Championship. 

Birmingham need to win and hope that at least one of Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday or Blackburn lose elsewhere, otherwise the Blues will be relegated to League One.

Norwich will seal a play-off spot if they avoid defeat but a win would guarantee a fifth-placed finish and a play-off semi-final against Southampton.

 

Team News

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Birmingham have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw at Huddersfield last weekend.

Oliver Burke (hamstring) and Alfie Chang (ACL) remain sidelined.

Norwich will be without striker, Ashley Barnes after he suffered a calf injury in their 2-2 draw against Swansea.

Dimitrios Giannoulis (hamstring) could return but Liam Gibbs (muscle) and Onel Hernandez (foot) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Birmingham host Norwich at St Andrew’s on Saturday 4 May at 12:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

  • Birmingham are winless in their last 10 league meetings against Norwich (D1, L9).
  • Norwich have lost one of their last five visits to Birmingham (W3, D1, L1).
  • Birmingham have scored four goals and conceded nine goals in their last four home meetings against Norwich.
  • Jay Stansfield has scored in two of Birmingham’s last three home matches.
  • Gabriel Sara has scored in two of Norwich’s last three away matches.

 

Prediction

Having found themselves in a similar situation as recently as 2019-20 season, Birmingham know what is required if they want to stay up but they can’t afford to be as wasteful as they were at Huddersfield last weekend if want any chance of staying up.

Norwich meanwhile have a play-off spot in their own hands and I do expect them to deliver a strong performance just to make absolutely sure, because Hull could easily go on a goalscoring rampage at Plymouth to swing the goal difference in their favour if Norwich lose heavily here.

Tensions therefore will be high for both teams but Birmingham have to go all-out attack which could well play into Norwich’s hands, in-turn sending the hosts down if not careful.

Prediction: Birmingham 0-2 Norwich

Result: Birmingham 1-0 Norwich

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