Two Championship teams hoping to close in on the automatic promotion places will face off at Carrow Road on Saturday evening as Norwich City play host to Blackburn Rovers.
While the Canaries claimed maximum points against Swansea City last time out, Rovers suffered a disappointing defeat at home to Preston North End.
Match preview
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After losing 2-1 at home against a resurgent Middlesbrough outfit before the World Cup break, Norwich returned to winning ways with a slender 1-0 victory away at Swansea last weekend.
Teemu Pukki scored the only goal of the game after just 58 seconds, tapping in at the back post from an early corner, and although the Swans dominated proceedings in South Wales, the Canaries did enough to hold on for their 10th league win of the season.
Dean Smith's side have now picked up 10 points from their last five Championship matches and have subsequently climbed up to fourth in the table, one point behind Saturday's opponents Blackburn in third and six points adrift of Sheffield United in second place.
Norwich have struggled in recent matches at Carrow Road, losing three of their last four games on home soil, which is as many as they had in their previous 39 in the Championship.
However, the Canaries have performed better in front of their own fans against Blackburn, winning six and drawing two of their last eight Carrow Road meetings with Rovers, and they will fancy their chances of securing another positive result this weekend considering their opponent's inconsistent form.
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Blackburn are the only team in the EFL who are yet to draw so far this season, winning 12 and losing 10 of their 22 Championship matches, the longest run by any club at the start of a second-tier campaign since Bolton (26 games) and Manchester United (24 games) back in 1934-35.
Rovers supporters have experienced mixed emotions when watching Jon Dahl Tomasson's side, but they currently sit third in the standings, four points clear of Millwall in seventh and five points behind the automatic promotion places.
After winning two mid-season friendlies against Hearts and Ajax by an aggregate score of 6-0 earlier this month, Blackburn's return to Championship action began in disappointing fashion as they lost 4-1 at home to Preston last weekend.
Bradley Dack netted his first Championship home goal since September last year, but North End eventually ran out as comprehensive winners at Ewood Park, leaving Tomasson with plenty to ponder ahead of the hectic festive schedule.
Blackburn's away form leaves a little to be desired as they have lost seven of their 11 Championship games on the road this term – failing to score in each defeat – while they have only won one of their last 14 away league matches against Norwich, so they will need to be on top of their game if they wish to claim maximum points on Saturday.
Team News
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Norwich were boosted by the return of centre-back Andrew Omobamidele and striker Adam Idah last weekend, with the latter making a nine-minute cameo off the bench, and both players will now be pushing to start on Saturday.
The Canaries will be without Jon Rowe, Jakob Sorensen (both ankle) and Sam Byram (hamstring) due to injury, though, and Smith is unlikely to make too many changes to the side that beat Swansea last time out.
Pukki, who has scored three goals in his four league games against Blackburn, is set to be supported in attack by top scorer Joshua Sargent, while Angus Gunn could continue in goal ahead of Tim Krul.
As for Blackburn, Callum Brittain sustained a medial collateral ligament injury in the defeat against Preston as is set to be sidelined until February, while Jack Vale and Sam Barnes remain out with respective calf and knee problems.
Lewis Travis or Ryan Hedges could be tasked with filling in at right wing-back in the absence of Brittain, having playing in this position earlier this season, while Daniel Ayala will be pushing to return at centre-back ahead of Hayden Carter after watching on as a substitute against Preston.
Star attacker Ben Brereton Diaz is expected to start up front and Dack could support him again in the final third after scoring last time out, although Sam Gallagher and George Hirst are options who Tomasson could call upon.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, McCallum; Sinani, Hayden, McLean; Sara; Sargent, Pukki
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Ayala, Hyam, Wharton; Travis, Morton, Buckley, Hedges; Szmodics; Dack, Brereton Diaz
We say: Norwich City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
There is little to separate these two teams, but Norwich will head into Saturday's contest as slight favourites considering their head-to-head record and Blackburn's struggles on the road.
The return of Omobamidele and Idah has also strengthened the Canaries at a time when Rovers have lost Brittain for a lengthy period, and Smith's side should do enough to claim all three points on home soil.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
