Distress against misery at Carrow Road
With Norwich against Brentford, it comes to a crisis summit. The two promoted sides are in a relegation battle, with the hosts’ situation even worse as the current bottom of the division
For four rounds of matches, Norwich have not managed a win. However, the visitors top that streak with eight games without a win and all but one draw against Crystal Palace ended in defeat in this review.
For the match at Carrow Road between Norwich and Brentford, the tip is aiming for a draw.
Norwich – Statistics & current form
The “Canaries” must slowly increase the wing beat if it is not to go immediately back to the Championship. They are already five points adrift of the saving shore and around two-thirds of the season has already been completed.
In the coming match, however, coach Dean Smith cannot rely on a home bonus: Only two of the 13 home matches have been won and with nine points the home side have the second-weakest home record after Watford in the Premier League.
Attack with plenty of room for improvement
In addition to a shaky defence that has conceded an average of just under two goals in their home encounters, Norwich have been saddled with this meagre haul by a harmless attack. With only eight goals, the team from the east of the country even has the worst home attack in the league.
In view of this, the odds on less than three goals by the final whistle in the clash between Norwich and Brentford also make sense. The prediction is supported by the visitors’ recent poor offensive performance away from home. They have scored only two goals in their last five away matches.
Even Pukki has lost his flair for goals
Teemi Pukki is synonymous with the hosts’ current lack of finishing, with just two goals in their last four league games.
The Finn has scored only once in 2022, although he has already made nine appearances in league and FA Cup action. That he is still the top scorer with half a dozen goals clearly shows the extent of the attacking problems on the side of the two-time League Cup winners, last in 1985.
General test against the Reds
The hosts have already been active in the FA Cup this week. They suffered a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the last 16 at Anfield Road, meaning the competition is over for the home side.
Predicted Norwich line-up:
Gunn – Gibson – Hanley – Williams – Aarons – Normann – McLean -Gilmour – Sargent – Rashica – Pukki
Last matches played by Norwich:
FA Cup
03/02 2022 – Liverpool FC 2 – 1 Norwich
Premier League
02/25 2022 – Southampton 2 – 0 Norwich
02/19 2022 – Liverpool FC 3 – 1 Norwich
02/12 2022 – Norwich 0 – 4 Manchester City
02/09 2022 – Norwich 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
Brentford – Statistics & current form
The Bees continue to not get out of their slump in form. As mentioned at the beginning, they have been waiting for the next three points for eight matchdays. Due to this dry spell, the relegation places are now not far away – in fact, they are only three points away from the first relegation place.
The hopes for improvement with the return of Josh Dasilva in attack have not been fulfilled. The 23-year-old has only been available for four rounds of matches after a very long injury lay-off, but he has not yet been able to mark a goal or an assist.
To make matters worse, he picked up a red card in the recent defeat against Newcastle, so the Briton will not be able to play.
On top, Ivan Toney has been missing in attack lately. Last season’s top scorer in the Championship has been available again since the last matchday and this should be good for the visitors’ attack. After all, the 25-year-old scored in all three Premier League and FA Cup games before his injury lay-off.
Toney with more game time and a goal?
With that in mind, tips on his next goal for the west of the capital side in the showdown between Norwich and Brentford are worth additional consideration.
Although he failed to score on his comeback last weekend, his coach also granted him only a short stint in the encounter with the Magpies. A restriction that is now unlikely to be repeated.
Predicted Brentford line-up:
Raya – Pinnock – Henry – Jansson – Ajer – Jensen – Norgaard – Janelt – Wissa – Mbeumo – Toney
Last matches played by Brentford:
Premier League
02/26 2022 – Brentford 0 – 2 Newcastle United
02/19 2022 – Arsenal London 2 – 1 Brentford
02/12 2022 – Brentford 0 – 0 Crystal Palace
02/09 2022 – Manchester City 2 – 0 Brentford
FA Cup
02/05 2022 – Everton 4 – 1 Brentford
Norwich – Brentford Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
In the first leg Norwich won 2:1 away at Brentford. The win means the reigning Championship champions are unbeaten in six comparisons (4-2-0) in this pairing.
Norwich – Brentford Tip
For the clash between Norwich and Brentford, the prediction includes a draw. Both teams are in a weak condition, which is why a favourite cannot be identified. The home weakness of the hosts is also compensated by the recent poor performances of the guests away from home with five defeats in a row.
Moreover, a draw would be a result that both clubs could live with comparatively well. At least the flood of defeats in recent weeks would be stopped.
This is especially true for coach Thomas Frank’s visiting team, which would at the same time keep a direct competitor in the relegation battle at bay.
