2024-25 Sky Bet Championship: Week 38 – Friday

Bristol City host play-off chasing rivals, Norwich in a huge Championship showdown at Ashton Gate. 

Victory would see Bristol City climb to fifth in the table, whilst Norwich can move up to ninth with a win.

 

Team News

Bristol City have no fresh injury concerns following their 1-1 draw at Sheffield United in midweek.

Ayman Benarous, Luke McNally (both ACL), Ross McCrorie (hamstring) and Adam Murphy (fitness) remain absent.

Norwich have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-2 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

Gabriel Forsyth (knee), Ben Chrisene (ankle), Liam Gibbs (hamstring), Matej Jurasek (thigh), Angus Gunn, Marcelino Nunez (both muscle), Lewis Dobbin (calf) and Archie Mair (finger) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Bristol City host Norwich at Ashton Gate on Friday 14 March at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Bristol City have claimed just seven points in their last eight league meetings against Norwich (W2, D1, L5).
• Norwich have lost one of their last seven league trips to Bristol City (W4, D2, L1).
• Bristol City are looking to do the league double over Norwich for the first time since 2008-09 season.
• Three of Bristol City’s last five goals at home were scored by Anis Mehmeti.
• Josh Sargent has scored in two of Norwich’s last three away matches.

 

Prediction

Unbeaten in six matches and just two points off the last play-off spots, Bristol City just need to continue their momentum which saw them dig deep for a point at Sheffield Utd, particularly with a strong defensive effort and composure to come from behind at the end.

Norwich meanwhile will be ruing their second-half defensive meltdown which saw them blow a 2-0 lead in a game where they looked in control come half-time, yet they switched off at set pieces which proved their undoing so a win is vital if want any realistic shot at the play-off spots.

Ashton Gate though hasn’t been an easy away trip for any team since December aside from Swansea so a huge defensive improvement is needed from the Canaries, otherwise I can see Bristol City nicking a win ahead of a tough start to their run-in after the international break.

Prediction: Bristol City 1-0 Norwich

Result: Bristol City 2-1 Norwich