MX23RW : Sunday, February 16 17:56:59| >> :120:82899:82899:
[monks data]
Norwich logo
Championship
Feb 14, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Wolves logo

2-0

Johnson (28'), Grabban (67')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Norwich City vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship showdown between the two leaders of the playoff-chasing pack as Norwich host Wolves at Carrow Road.

The leading two in the chasing pack for the playoffs will face off in the Championship this weekend as Norwich City host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Carrow Road.

Just one place and two points separate the sides going into the match, with the hosts sitting in seventh position and Wolves immediately behind them in eighth.

However, the vast gap in goal difference effectively makes it a three-point gap, and Norwich will be hoping to extend that further still on Saturday.

Back-to-back victories have seen Alex Neil's side move to within two points of sixth-placed Brentford, and any slip-up from the Bees away to Charlton Athletic this weekend would give Norwich the chance to climb back into the playoff places.

Incidentally, it was Charlton who provided the most recent opponents for Norwich, a match that saw Cameron Jerome net a late winner after the Addicks had previously come from two goals down to equalise.

They are now looking to make it three wins in a row for the first time since August, while Neil has still only been beaten once since taking over at the club towards the start of January.

The Canaries have won four of their last five games at Carrow Road and have been in fine scoring form in the process, finding the net 18 times in those four wins while conceding only three goals.

Gary Hooper netted a hat-trick in his last home match for the club and should retain his place up front, while Jerome is once again likely to find himself on the bench despite scoring the winner on Tuesday.

Wolves also go into the game off the back of a midweek victory, and their 4-1 triumph away to Huddersfield Town was a timely one for Kenny Jackett.

It ended a three-game winless streak that saw them slip off the pace in the playoff battle, but a second straight victory this weekend - something they haven't yet managed in 2015 - would see them climb back into seventh.

Wolves have at least become harder to beat since their dreadful slump in form in November and early December, losing just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions excluding penalties.

Indeed, they have not lost on the road since November, a run of six matches that has seen them concede only three goals in the process.

Nouha Dicko returned to the side to score twice in the victory over Huddersfield and is beginning to form a potent attacking force with Bakary Sako, now back from the Africa Cup of Nations, and Benik Afobe, who has scored in three of his five appearances for the club since joining in January.

That trio is expected to start once again, while at the other end of the pitch Tomasz Kuszczak will continue to deputise for the injured Carl Ikeme having impressed in midweek.

Norwich:

Recent form: WWLDWW

Possible starting lineup: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Tettey, Howson, Johnson; Grabban, Hooper

Wolves:

Form in Championship: WWDDLW
Form in all competitions: LWDDLW

Possible starting lineup: Kuszczak; Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Iorfa; McDonald, Price, Van La Parra, Afobe, Sako; Dicko

Sports Mole says: 2-2


ID:205005: cacheID:205005:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5717:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Benik Afobe of Wolverhampton Wanderers beats the challenge from Andre Bikey of Charlton Athletic during the Sky Bet Championship match on January 24, 2015
Read Next:
Wolves put four past Huddersfield
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd33226547232470
2Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
3Burnley33171423993065
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn33156123931851
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom331115742311148
7Coventry CityCoventry33138124441347
8Bristol City33111394137446
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds33129124650-445
10Watford33136144348-545
11Middlesbrough32128125043744
12Norwich CityNorwich331111115145644
13Queens Park RangersQPR331111113941-244
14Millwall321011113233-141
15Preston North EndPreston3291493438-441
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd33911133447-1338
17Swansea CitySwansea33107163446-1237
18Portsmouth3399154155-1436
19Stoke CityStoke32811133140-935
20Cardiff CityCardiff32711143554-1932
21Hull City3279163243-1130
22Derby CountyDerby3378183346-1329
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth32610163466-3228
24Luton TownLuton3276193052-2227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!