The Championship returns midweek where Norwich travel to Middlesbrough. Though our recent form has been good, our away form is actually fairly poor (19th place over the last 6 away games). Hopefully that can turn around as we push for the final playoff place as long as Norwich get a better result that Hull do against Birmingham we will be in the playoffs. Form: Middlesbrough LLWLL Norwich WDWWD No injury news yet after the weekend, to be updated later
From today's presser: Marcelino Nunez (hip) will be a late call for Wednesday night. Wasn't expected to be back until Rotherham this weekend after departing in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw against Blackburn but has responded well to treatment Kenny McLean. Fit and available. Featured in the 1-0 weekend win over Sunderland, but was unable to train in the build up due to stiffness in his back. McLean needed intensive treatment to be passed fit Wagner reported no fresh fitness issues from those on duty against Sunderland Onel Hernandez out for the season. Has had a clean up operation on his foot, not surgery, but still expected to be out for 12 weeks. Broke his foot in training last Wednesday Shane Duffy (calf) will not return until after the upcoming international break after a 'routine' scan last week. Suffered the issue in the second half of the Coventry City win Jon Rowe ruled out until April at the earliest. No surgery required. Suffered a 'serious' hamstring injury in the final minute of a 2-2 Championship draw at QPR
By my count, that 'Boro line-up features just three of those who started at Carrow Road. If it's anywhere near accurate, whatever is going on at that club?
This might be why: Others might be new players added in January window. We think McLean is aging at 32, but Jonny Howson on is still playing at 35 and will be 36 in May.
I forgot to say I feel gutted for Onel. Like him or not, he plays with energy and optimism. IMHO he will be missed.
I agree. It's even worse because he's trying to earn a new contract and the injury was will make that doubly difficult.
Hull drew 1-1 at home to Birmingham tonight, so we could go above them with a win tomorrow. Their next game is Leicester at home while we play Rotherham at CR.
Yep it’s our chance to get ourselves into the playoff places with no-one else able to go above us after 36 matches - that sounds minor but I think it’s an important psychological step as from there we simply have to do as well as the teams around us for the last ten matches. No more playing catch-up. Last time we were there it was round 7. It would also be very nice if tonight QPR could carry over their magnificent form from the weekend…
Yes it would, Rob, but West Brom are also on a good run with an equal number of points over 5 games with a better goal difference. As for ourselves, we're now in 4th place in the form table and could move up to 2nd if we win tonight. Quite a lot depends on tonight's result.
On current 6 match form, this is a contest between 19th (Home Form) versus 17th (Away Form). The sub plot is another interesting contest -- Carrick v Wagner.
Team unchanged from Saturday according to the pay-walled EDP: Norwich City: Gunn; Stacey, Hanley (C), Gibson, Giannoulis; McLean, Sara; Fassnacht, Barnes, Sainz; Sargent. SUBS: Long (GK), Fisher, Batth, Sorensen, McCallum, Gibbs, Nunez, Welch, van Hooijdonk. Jonny Howson is fit and starts against us at the Riverside. Tonight's game between Saints and Preston is off due to a fire. So Preston, currently 2 points behind us, will have a game in hand on us. They are matching us form-wise too.
What a strange goal, Middlesbrough appear to just stop thinking Barnes is offside, he misses the ball, falls over and then kicks the ball in while still on the floor, keeper almost didn’t try to save it either
Is it me, or is this the flattest game ever? There seems to be no crowd reactions, Boro are absolute ****e. I'm thinking of watching something else
