Norwich v Swansea Competition - Sky Bet Championship Venue - Carrow Road Date - 22 April 2023 Kick off - 3:00pm Following their 4-2 victory over Preston at the Swansea.com Stadium, next up for Russell Martin’s Swansea squad is a difficult looking trip to Norwich. On Wednesday evening, Preston’s Championship play-off hopes suffered a heavy blow as they were beaten 4-2 in a bad-tempered thriller against the Swans. The Swans cruised into a 3-0 lead courtesy of first-half goals from Joel Piroe, Joe Allen and Harry Darling. Preston threatened to pull off a spectacular comeback thanks to Tom Cannon and Troy Parrott goals before Piroe scored his second in added time. Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe and Allen were sent off after an ugly late melee. Lowe's shove on Allen - who had already been substituted - appeared to be the spark for a brawl which involved players and staff from both clubs and seems certain to lead to further sanctions. Swansea were unhappy that play was not stopped when Jay Fulton went down with what looked like a head injury, with Allen protesting on the side of the pitch and then reacting to Lowe. Defeat leaves Preston 11th, two points adrift of sixth-placed Blackburn. The Swans remain 13th despite extending their longest unbeaten run of the season. Whilst the Swans were winning 4-2, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City ground out a high-energy stalemate that did little to help their respective hopes for the remainder of this Championship season. The hosts ended the night just one point above the drop zone with an inferior goal difference to sides around them, while play-off hopefuls Norwich missed the chance to climb into the top six. Rangers took the lead early through Lyndon Dykes before Adam Idah levelled just after the break. Neither side were able to seize the initiative and claim a victory which both clubs desperately needed for different reasons. As a result, Norwich are in 10th place in the Championship table, 3 points ahead of the Swans. The Swans have played the Canaries on 58 previous occasions, winning 23, losing 25 and drawing 10. In some respects the most memorable match between the sides took place 12 years ago in the season when they both achieved promotion to the PL: (Did you spot a certain Norwich player crossing the ball to Holt in the first half - he’s arguably a better Manager than a crosser …. ) Turning to Saturday, both sides will be eager to win - the Swans to maintain their somewhat remote/faint play-off hopes, whilst Norwich will be keen to maintain their somewhat stronger play-off aspirations. The Swans last won in Norfolk in November 2008 and I think that the wait for another win there will go on, although I think that the Swans will return to South Wales with a point in a 1-1 draw
Well things are going rather jolly well at the moment... which means the bump is coming! Saying that, I'm feeling positive at the moment, the most for some time, so I think we can get a draw, maybe more? You know what, let's say 1 - 2
Swansea City make three changes to their starting line-up for Russell Martin’s return to former club Norwich this afternoon. Olivier Ntcham, Jamie Paterson and Luke Cundle come into the side as Harry Darling and Ollie Cooper drop to the bench, while Joe Allen misses out through suspension. Andy Fisher continues in goal, with Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango and Ryan Manning making up the Swansea back four. Captain Matt Grimes is joined by Ntcham, Paterson and Cundle in midfield, with Liam Cullen and Joel Piroe leading the line for the Swans. Swansea City: Andy Fisher; Joel Latibeaudiere, Nathan Wood, Ben Cabango, Ryan Manning; Matt Grimes (captain), Olivier Ntcham, Luke Cundle, Jamie Paterson; Liam Cullen, Joel Piroe. Substitutes: Andreas Søndergaard, Harry Darling, Morgan Whittaker, Kyle Naughton, Matty Sorinola, Ollie Cooper, Cameron Congreve. Norwich City: Angus Gunn, Max Aarons, Andrew Omobamidele (captain), Adam Idah, Sam McCallum, Gabriel Sara, Jacob Sørensen, Josh Sargent, Onel Hernandez, Marcelino Nunez, Liam Gibbs. Substitutes: Tim Krul, Sam Byram, Isaac Hayden, Christos Tzolis, Teemu Pukki, Jonathan Rowe, Abu Kamara.
