Match thread - Norwich v Swans

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:*Carrow Road*Date:*Sunday 15 December

TEAM NEWS

Norwich forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel could feature after returning to full training following a toe injury.But midfielders Robert Snodgrass and Anthony Pilkington are out with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.Swansea's Chico Flores is suspended but may not have been fit anyway after limping off against St Gallen in midweek.Fellow defender Angel Rangel should be available after two weeks out with a calf injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

Matches between these two sides always seems to be entertaining. I remember commentating for Match of the Day on Norwich's 4-3 victory in Wales last December, while it was a 2-2 draw when they met at Carrow Road in April.The last six meetings between Norwich and Swansea have produced 25 goals, so will it be another high-scoring encounter this Sunday?

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Mark LawrensonFootball analyst"Norwich picked up a great win against West Brom last week - every time Canaries boss Chris Hughton seems to be on the brink, he gets the result he needs."Norwich need to stick with him anyway, because I think they will be safe eventually, I really do. They are not one of the three worst teams in the division."Read Lawro's full prediction and scoreThree wins in their last five matches mean that Norwich come into this fixture just two points behind Swansea in the Premier League table.The Swans, having qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League, will be looking to record their fourth away victory of the campaign. However, the Welsh side have averaged less than a goal a game on their travels.Both clubs have had problems with injuries to strikers. Gary Hooper, who has been in terrific form recently, missed the start of the season, while Ricky van Wolfswinkel hasn't played for Norwich since late October.As for Swansea, Michu - who got three goals against the Canaries last season - and Wilfried Bony have both had spells out of action, although they have returned in the last week.We hear a lot about the cost of watching Premier League football, and it is good that Swansea and Norwich have agreed to reduce the price of tickets for away fans to watch the two matches between them.Swansea fans at Carrow Road this weekend will pay exactly the same as Norwich supporters will when the return fixture is played at the Liberty Stadium in March.The last time I commentated on these sides, both scored three times - Norwich in beating West Ham, and Swansea in their win over Newcastle. A six-goal thriller would be most welcome.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-headSwansea are yet to beat Norwich in four Premier League encounters (D1, L3). There have been 20 goals in those four matches.The Canaries have won 13 of their 18 league meetings against Swansea at Carrow Road.Geographically, this is the widest east-west fixture ever to feature in the English top flight.Swansea's Michu scored three goals in two games against Norwich City last season, while the Canaries' Robert Snodgrass also scored in both fixtures.NorwichThey have alternated between defeats and victories in their last seven matches.Eight of Norwich's 14 goals this season have been scored by players signed this summer.Gary Hooper has scored in three of his last four Premier League starts and Nathan Redmond has assisted a goal in three of his last four league games.SwanseaThe Swans have only won two of their last seven league matches.Swansea top both the possession (59.7%) and pass accuracy (87%) charts in the Premier League this season.They have scored just six goals in seven away matches.

★★ Courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation ★★

 

Likely line ups;

Swansea City

------------- Vorm ---------------
-------- Amat --- Ash ------------
Tiendalli --------------Ben Davies
--------------- Canas ------------
--------- Shelvey -----------------
Dyer ------- Michu ---- Hernandez
------------ Bony ----------------

Subs; Tremmel, Rangel, Taylor, De Guzman, Routledge, Lamah, Pozuelo.

 

Norwich City

Ruddy
Whittaker, Turner, Bassong, Olsson
Redmond, Johnson, Howson, Fer
Elmander, Hooper

Subs: Nash, Martin, R Bennett, Hoolahan, RvW, Becchio, Josh murphy

 

I'm predicting a good performance from us today.
Just hope we take our chances and concentrate at the back.

 

Well done on making the effort Terror.

I never look forward to this fixture but I'm strangely hopeful today. Their injuries mean the loss of a couple of decent performers for them whilst Rangel may be back for us and he definitely makes a difference to us going forward (why does Tiendalli always look for the back pass?).

We will turn the corner on our recent performances at some stage and with Michu and Bony back in contention today might just be the day. I'd take a point right now but heart says Swans 1-2. The players promised a win - it's my birthday.

 

Happy Birthday KJ....I too hope you have a good one and the Swans win as well......we need anything that keeps Norwich down

 

Thanks FB I'm sure we'll give it a good go........then again you never know with this lot.

 

Our recent wins and upturn in form have come despite the injuries. We seem to be your bogey team, and after your very recent excursions into Europe, I think a long trip to the shire is the last thing your boys will want.

It's on tv in the hope it'll be another high scoring game, which means you will turn up all lethargic, we will drop down to your level and it'll be either 0-0 or 1-1 bore draw.

Big respect to your away support making the effort today.

 

Good luck Swans - hope you take a point off them but that's all to be honest.

Purely selfishly, we don't want you pulling out of the troubled zone just yet. The more closely packed in the table the better. Well need you scrapping for points against the other bottom half clubs later in the season - your results against them could help keep us up.

Just a word of advice. Don't put the ball out of play anywhere near your goal if one of them goes down injured.

 

By the same token, don't stand for the opposition lying down and kicking the ball out in a desperate effort to waste time

 

Well I understand that. I always like to see draws in other games (Villa v Man U for example) and a win will hopefully start to but daylight between us and the chasing pack. If we play to our capability we can win this comfortably but we are so bloody inconsistent - and it is Norwich. As I've said for that reason alone I'd take a draw.

 

To be honest I think this is the one time against you where the long journey won't be a problem. I believe they flew straight to Norwich from Switzerland friday morning, so we should be relatively fresh.
Where is it on tv? I can't even find a link for it online

 

i'm strangely optimistic today, i just don't believe the players can put in as gutless and inept a performance as they did on thursday. however if they do i may start believing some of the the negative posts we've had in the past few days. COYS prove the doubters wrong

 

SAJACK try wiziwig.tv, it is listed there.

 

VIP box is worth checking

 

Cheers, didn't bother trying that as someone posted on facebook that it's down

 

Game is shown on danish tv ....\o/

 

Thanks for the thread, Terror. As ever I'm nervous about this one. If we play to our ability it is a game we can win but, as usual, we need to match them in midfield. If we win that battle we should win the game. IF...........