Norwich City play host to Watford on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that could take them into the top half of the Championship standings.
Meanwhile, the visitors to Carrow Road already occupy a place in that area of the table, sitting in sixth position.
Match preview
© Imago
With highly-regarded first-team coach Narcis Pelach having departed for Stoke City this week, it remains to be seen what impact that will have on Norwich.
Johannes Hoff Thorup may have felt that the Spaniard could have been his natural successor should he not be able to kick-start the Canaries' campaign.
Just one victory has been posted in their first five league games, with that coming away at Coventry City, although some context is needed when draws have been recorded against the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United.
Last time out, Norwich went down by a 1-0 scoreline at Swansea City, the third time in seven outings in all competitions that they have failed to score this season.
Positives can be taken from only six goals being conceded in five games, yet Thorup will acknowledge that they must drastically improve in the final third having scored just four times.
As for Watford, there will be disappointment that they have not been able to build on starting the new Championship season with three successive triumphs.
Nevertheless, reaching 10 points from five games is still a major plus for Tom Cleverley, their only defeat coming away at Sheffield United.
The Hornets responded to that with a 1-1 comeback draw versus Coventry City, a result that has kept Watford in the top six for the time being.
Sitting three points off top and with fellow in-form side Sunderland to come next week, Cleverley will recognise the importance of getting another win on the board here.
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Team News
![Watford head coach Tom Cleverley during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Watford at The Den, London, England on August 10, 2024. [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/tom-cleverley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Watford head coach Tom Cleverley during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Watford at The Den, London, England on August 10, 2024. [on August 11, 2024]")
© Imago
Midfielder Liam Gibbs and forward Ante Crnac are among the Norwich players who will feel in contention for a recall on Saturday.
The latter could replace Oscar Schwartau on the right-hand side, but the likes of Jacob Sorensen, Christian Fassnacht and Ashley Barnes are all sidelined through injury.
With Giorgi Chakvetadze having been ruled out with a back injury, Ken Sema and Daniel Jebbison are both pushing for starts in the final third.
Youngster Rocco Vata will also come into consideration, depending on whether Cleverley wants to play with one central striker or two.
Festy Ebosele may also be handed a first start since signing from Udinese.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Doyle, Chrisene; Nunez, McLean; Crnac, Forson, Sainz; Sargent
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Pollock; Ebosele, Dele-Bashiru, Sissoko, Larouci; Kayembe, Bayo, Sema
We say: Norwich City 1-1 Watford
For different reasons, this will feel like a must-win match for either side even at this early stage of the season. Nevertheless, we feel that a low-scoring draw will play out in East Anglia, suiting Watford more so than Norwich.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
