Bristol City VS Norwich City Match Prediction
2018-12-15
17:30:00
Bristol City
VS
Norwich City
Our Prediction Tip
Norwich City will win this match.
2018-12-1517:30:00 Norwich City will win this match.
Norwich have won 33 of the 70 previous meetings between these two sides, compared to 20 Bristol City victories. The Canaries are unbeaten in all four games since their most recent relegation from the Premier League, winning two and drawing two. In 2016/17, Norwich won 1-0 at home and drew 1-1 away, while last season it was goalless at Carrow Road before James Maddison scored the only goal at Ashton Gate.
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Goals have been few in recent matches between these two sides but that could change this season with Norwich in form in front of goal despite shipping a few at the other end.
The Canaries have found ways to win without being at their best – scoring late in wins against Millwall and Bolton in recent weeks, for example.
Bristol City, for their part, are back in form and have their injury woes easing, but Norwich – the league leaders, of course – are favourites for this one.
The Canaries have a dominant head-to-head record in this fixture too, and are unbeaten against Lee Johmson’s side since their most recent relegation to the Championship.
Norwich’s key man is clearly Teemu Pukki, whose late goals have kept their current streak of form going and has seen them pull away from the chasing pack.
Jordan Rhodes can make an impact from the bench, meanwhile, and there is experience in key areas with the likes of Timm Klose and Alex Tettey too.
Norwich have built a side that looks very capable of challenging for promotion under Daniel Farke this season as they head into the busy Christmas period.
A win against Bristol City will keep their current momentum going and ensure they remain top for the time being at least.
Norwich are favourites to beat Bristol City and can be backed at a best price of 13/8 with Bet365 to earn all three points at Ashton Gate.
Goals have been few and far between in recent matches between these two teams, but Norwich have scored and conceded a lot lately – over 2.5 goals is evens with Bet365, Ladbrokes, Betfair,and 888sport.
Both teams to score has been set at a best price of 10/13 with 10Bet, meanwhile, and Norwich to win and BTTS is 4/1 with Bet365, Ladbrokes, Betfair, Paddy Power and 888sport.
Teemu Pukki has been the main man in front of goal, and the Finn can be backed at 13/8 with 888sport to net at any time.
Norwich City have been the form team in the last two months and, with Teemu Pukki firing, the Canaries can take all three points at Ashton Gate.
After returning to form in recent weeks, Bristol City might be unchanged for the visit of Norwich, with Korey Smith, Liam Walsh, Frank Fielding, Jens Hegeler, Bailey Wright and Matty Taylor all out injured. Fielding and Wright are said to be close to returns, however. Eros Pisano returned from his own lay-off to start the last two matches and looks to have pushed ahead of Jack Hunt in the pecking order at right-back.
Andi Weimann – Signed from Derby in the summer, the Austrian has scored five times this season to top the Bristol City charts.
Famara Diedhiou – Leads the Bristol City line after four goals in his 15 appearances so far this season.
Niki Maenpaa – The Finnish keeper needs to prove his worth with Frank Fielding close to a return from injury.
After four straight defeats, Bristol City have hit back with two wins and a draw in their last three games. Both victories were away from home, as an own goal and one apiece for Jamie Paterson and Famara Diedhiou in the space of ten second-half minutes earned a 3-2 win away to Ipswich. Another own goal helped them to a 1-1 home draw with Millwall before Diedhiou returned to the starting line-up to score the only goal at Birmingham last weekend.
With Moritz Leitner absent, Mario Vrancic has come into the central midfield in recent weeks but the Norwich line-up remains largely consistent. Onel Hernandez is pushing for a recall ahead of Todd Cantwell but changes are likely to be few, if Daniel Farke even opts for any. Timm Klose withdrew ahead of the win at home to Bolton, but should slot back in at centre-back in place of Ben Godfrey.
Teemu Pukki – Top scorer this season, including some crucial late goals in the recent winning run to take him to 13 for the season.
Jordan Rhodes – The Scottish international striker is back in form in front of goal and now has eight for the season, despite mostly featuring as an impact sub lately.
Timm Klose – Martials the defence at one end, while popping up with three goals at the other – his experience is key in this Norwich line-up.
Norwich have won eight of their last nine matches, drawing the other. That draw was a rare blank in front of goal against Hull, in their last away match, but the Canaries have won the last two at home. Todd Cantwell, Max Aarons and Teemu Pukki scored in a 3-1 comeback win at home to Rotherham at the start of December, before Pukki’s last-minute winner against Bolton last weekend. Mario Vrancic and Marco Stiepermann had earlier put the Canaries 2-0 up before Bolton had looked to have snatched a point.
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