please log in to view this image Round 27 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Norwich City 1 - 2 Brentford FT 90+5 HT 1 - 1Attendance: 26,148 Date: Saturday 24th January 2015 Venue: Carrow Road Kick-Off: 3:00PM KIO's not606 Match Preview The Canaries go into this match knowing that a third straight victory would see them leapfrog the Bees and move into the play off positions due to their vastly superior goal difference, a win would also see Alex Neil maintain a 100% record in charge. Last time out City managed a narrow 3-2 home victory against Cardiff despite going into the half-time interval with a 3-0 lead. Norwich v Cardiff highlights The Canaries now sit just one point behind sixth-placed Watford, who take on strugglers Blackpool at Vicarage Road on Saturday. The Canaries should be confident as they have lost just twice at home all season, indeed they have won their last three games at Carrow Road scoring 14 goals in the process. Carrow Road is certainly the place to be on match day this season where there have been 47 goals scored. Gary Hooper and Cameron Jerome are expected to start up front, but City will be without Johnny Howson for the second consecutive game as he continues to serve a three match suspension. Martin Olsson should also start at left back despite the speculation linking him with a move to Swansea City this transfer window. please log in to view this image Martin Olsson Brentford have a dreadful record at the home of the Canaries, losing 10 and drawing once in their last 11 visits. The Bees have stuttered a bit recently losing 3 of their last 5, however they do go into tomorrow's match after back to back wins. A victory this weekend would see Brentford go above Derby County and within two points of the top two. Alex Neil's Match Preview “We just want to focus on the game on a Saturday, that’s the most important game of the season and we need to go and put everything we’ve got into it. “If you look at things at the top of the table, some of the results have gone for us this week. It’s really interesting, if we can pick up three points on Saturday then hopefully we can find ourselves in a much better position.” Neil says his side will be ready to face a Bees team who have settled quickly into life in the division after promotion from Sky Bet League One last year. Mark Warburton's outfit are currently fifth in the table but the Canaries will climb above them if victory is secured at the weekend. “They’ve done very well. They’re a hard-working side and they are where they are on merit, based on how they’ve played this season,” added Neil. “It’s going to be a difficult game, but we’ll be ready for the challenge. “We’ve got to make sure we go and play as well as we can and go and express ourselves without fear.” On Mike Phelan’s departure from Carrow Road, Neil commented: “Mike approached me and said that he wanted to move on. We got on well, there weren’t any arguments or anything, he just felt he was better served elsewhere, and he’s moved on.” Team News Norwich City: Midfielder Jonny Howson serves the second of a three-match suspension in Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Brentford at Carrow Road. The former Leeds captain was shown a straight red card in the win at Bournemouth and then lost his appeal, which meant he missed the home success over Cardiff. Defender Ryan Bennett again sits out after sustaining a grade one hamstring tear while City will also check on the fitness of midfielder Alex Tettey. The Norway international was absent for the visit of the Bluebirds due to a groin injury. Brentford: Chris Long joins the squad the young striker being brought in on loan from Everton. They have injury doubts over midfielder Alan Judge, who has a knee problem, recent signing Lewis Macleod, whose debut has been delayed by a hamstring strain, and forward Nick Proschwitz (ankle). Right-back Alan McCormack is edging closer to a return following an ankle injury but is unlikely to be risked just yet and striker Scott Hogan remains on the sidelines as he recovers from cruciate ligament damage. please log in to view this image Brentford right-back Alan McCormack Current Form Norwich City: WLLWW Norwich won their last home fixture against Brentford 1-0 Norwich have scored in 80% of their last 20 home games. Norwich have kept a clean sheet in 25% of their last 20 home games. Brentford: LLLWW Brentford lost their last away fixture against Norwich 0-1 Brentford have scored in 65% of their last 20 away games. Brentford have kept a clean sheet in 30% of their last 20 away games. Match History The Bees and Canaries have met 47 times in competitive matches, the first meeting being a 0-0 stalemate at The Nest in October 1920. The head to head record is remarkably close with City just edging it with 21 wins to Brentford's 18 there have been 8 drawn games, 3 at Brentford and 5 at Norwich. City have managed just 6 wins in the away fixture their best a 4-0 victory in 1958-59, a season also remembered for their giant killing FA Cup run where as a third division side they defeated Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United among others before eventually losing a semi-final replay against Luton Town. That 4-0 winning margin is also City's best overall against Brentford. City's next visit to Griffin Park in September 1959 was also a high scoring encounter The Canaries taking all the points when they won by 4 goals to 3. Previously in the 1957-58 campaign Brentford had their best ever victory against Norwich, The Bees thrashing The Canaries 7-1 at Griffin Park. The last time the sides met was earlier this season at Griffin Park where Norwich ran out three nil winners, so Brentford will be looking for revenge. Highlights from the Canaries 3-0 win at Griffin Park earlier this season Highest Norwich City score Brentford 0 Norwich City 4 Highest Brentford score Brentford 7 Norwich City 1 Highest aggregate Brentford 7 Norwich City 1 They played for both clubs Those that have donned both the canary yellow and red & white stripes include; Che Wilson (loan), Owain Tudur-Jones (loan), Michael Spillane, Simon Ratcliffe, Efan Ekoku, Carl Cort, Drewe Broughton, Garry Brooke, Graham Benstead, Tom Adeyemi (loan), current City defender Michael Turner and current City striker Lewis Grabban who had loan spells before signing permanently for The Bees. Other club connections Tony Parks who joined City as goalkeeping coach in 2014 was once a custodian for Brentford. Former Norwich first team coach Paul Stephenson was a player at Brentford, former Norwich target man Robert Rosario was rejected by Brentford as a youngster. Most notably, former Norwich manager Chris Hughton was once a 'Bee'. TEAM LINE UPS: Will appear here when avaiable Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio Norfolk 95.1 & 104.4FM, 855Mhz and DAB Digital Radio with Chris Goreham please log in to view this image .............and guest match summariser Darren Eadie please log in to view this image OTBC ...... and don't forget to tune into 'Canary Call' post match !
The best threads on Not606 by a country mile. A win today will put us right in the thick of it & I'm hoping Forest Derby Wolves & Boro drop points .
Yes, I'll be there as usual and hoping for a more comfortable win than last week. I'm quite intrigued as to what the starting 11 may be today, though don't think we'll see too many changes from last week.
I think we may see the re-introduction of Bassong, probably on the bench. With Benno injured and Hooiveld seemingly on his way, this only leaves Miquel and Seb as back-up. Same starting eleven I would guess.
They take place on Fridays now as opposed to Thursdays under Adams. http://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/p...chael-turner-face-up-to-brentfords-big-visit/ Also, interesting in today's EDP to see:
Massive game today - but then again, they all will be if we are to seriously pursue a Top Two finish. But, there's definitely an edge today knowing that we will be back in the play-off places if we win.
Afternoon guys, it's game day ! This game promises to be a tricky one IMHO, I'm going for a narrow nail biting win for City by the odd goal P.S. Could someone please confirm that the shirt graphics are visible at the top of the OP ? Seems ok on the laptop but not on my phone ?
If they should be underneath "Round 27", they aren't visible to me on laptop. I think we might be in for quite a tense game today, both teams are aware that quite a lot is at stake. I certainly don't think an easy, comfortable victory is on the cards.
Great thread KIO, as ever. Always a good omen for me. I can't see the images at the top either I'm afraid
Comfortably the biggest game of the season so far. We were handed a big opportunity in midweek and we really do have to take it. I'm expecting a good attacking performance but the result could go either way. It won't be easy, that's for sure!
