Prediction: Norwich vs Blackburn

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet

Two sides who find themselves battling it out in the top-two chase, Norwich will welcome Blackburn to Carrow Road on Saturday evening.

Norwich

Starting with the hosts, while Norwich might have endured a real October nightmare, it appears that Dean Smith’s side have put those issues behind them. Marking their return to action last weekend with an eye-catching display as they claimed a 1-0 win away at Swansea, the former Aston Villa boss has an immediate Premier League return at the top of his agenda. Despite suffering a 2-1 loss at home against Middlesbrough on November 12th, that is the only defeat that they have suffered from their last five Championship contests. Opening Saturday’s fixtures sat six points adrift of finding a route into the automatic promotion spots, Smith’s side will now be hoping to find some much-needed stability on home soil. Including an action-packed 3-2 loss against Preston on October 8th, it should be noted that Norwich have won just one of their last six showdowns at Carrow Road.

Team News

Bagging the winner against Swansea last weekend and recording his seventh Championship strike of the season, Teemu Pukki will spearhead Norwich’s charge on Saturday evening. Returning from injury in south Wales, Adam Idah will be hoping to join Pukki in attack.

However, Smith looks set to once again be without the trio of Marcelino Nunez, Sam Byram and Jacob Sorensen here.

Blackburn

As for the visitors, while Blackburn might also find themselves battling it out in the promotion chase, they are coming off the back of a nightmare display. Eventually getting hit with a shock 4-1 hammering at home against Lancashire rivals Preston, Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men will be desperate to find an immediate response on Saturday evening. Likewise, heading into this winter’s enforced break with a 3-0 defeat away at a high-flying Burnley on November 13th, it should be noted that the Rovers have lost three of their last four Championship contests. Showing some rather glaring defensive issues on either side of the World Cup interval, Blackburn have also gained somewhat of a reputation for their struggles away from Ewood Park. In fact, on a run that stems back to the start of August, Tomasson’s side have won just a trio of their previous 10 second-tier contests on the road.

Team News

Despite drawing a blank against Preston last weekend, attacking talisman Ben Brereton Diaz will lead Blackburn’s attack at Carrow Road. The 23-year-old should be joined by Bradley Dack on Saturday evening.

Limping off at Ewood Park with a medial collateral ligament injury last weekend, Callum Brittain is not expected to feature again until February.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last faced off in March 2021, Norwich and Blackburn played out a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
• Seven of the last eight meetings between Saturday’s opponents have finished with both teams finding the net.
• Blackburn have recorded just a trio of wins from any of their previous 10 Championship matchups away from Ewood Park.
• Norwich have lost just one of their last five Championship appearances on either side of the winter break.
• Including a 4-1 drumming against Preston last weekend, Saturday’s guests have lost three of their last four Championship contests.

Conclusion

Marking their return to action with an eye-catching display away at Swansea last weekend, Norwich will be desperate to lay down another marker here. Bouncing back from their extended October blip and losing just one of their last five Championship contests, Saturday’s hosts will be hoping to cash in on a struggling Blackburn squad. Coming off the back of a woeful 4-1 drumming against local rivals Preston, the Rovers have now lost three of their last four second-tier appearances on either side of the winter break. However, with Norwich continuing to show some worrying issues at Carrow Road, we could be treated to an enjoyable affair here. It should be noted, with the two promotion contenders seeing seven of their last eight meetings finish with both teams finding the net, we’re backing a similar outcome.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker: Unibet