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Norwich City v Cardiff City. Match preview

Last updated : 26 October 2013 By Michael Morris

Early team news:

 Norwich record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel will be assessed following a foot injury ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Cardiff at Carrow Road.

Sweden forward Johan Elmander is expected to return to the squad after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty.

Winger Elliott Bennett continues his recovery from knee surgery.

Craig Bellamy will return to the Cardiff matchday squad for the visit to his former club.

The Wales striker was rested for last weekend's defeat at Chelsea after playing 90 minutes against Macedonia and Belgium for his country.

Jordon Mutch is set to continue in midfield after another positive performance at Stamford Bridge while Kim Bo-kyung may line up alongside him having been on the bench in London.

 

The managers:

Chris Hughton

"One of the plusses is that we are in good form at the moment. We have been beaten in the last two games by top teams who will both be pushing for the league title, but we have played well in spells.

"We have got a really good group. We haven't felt the need to change anything in respect of what we are doing in training.

"They have an excellent work ethic and they are focused on turning things around. We are confident about what we do and we will go into Saturday's game looking to win."

 

Malky Mackay 

“We are facing a side who I think have got experience throughout their team. They have invested again and there are guys who have played together for many years. I think the atmosphere, the tight pitch, always make for a tough game at Carrow Road. I have never had an easy one and that included when I played there. We’ll be going there looking for a positive result, but we are aware how difficult a game it is going to be. It is another away game so we are under no illusions we are going to have to be at our very best to get anything.”

 

The officials:

Referee: Mike Jones. Assistants: P Bankes, I Hussin. Fourth Official: G Eltringham.

 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • This is the first time the sides have met in the top flight.
  • Cardiff have a terrible record at Carrow Road, winning just twice in 22 league visits.
  • This is the 48th meeting between the clubs. Norwich have won 26 times, twice as often as Cardiff.

Norwich City

  • Norwich have lost four of their last five league games.
  • They have scored just six goals in eight matches so far.
  • Six of their eight league matches have been against sides in the top half of the table going into this weekend's fixtures.
  • The Canaries have lost successive home games in the league - they have not lost three in a row at Carrow Road since February 2006.

Cardiff City

  • The Bluebirds have managed just one clean sheet in their eight league matches so far.
  • Cardiff come in to this game off the back of two defeats in the top flight - they have not lost three successive league games since November 2009.
  • They have managed just 20 shots on target in the league so far this season and have allowed their opponents more shots on target than any other side in the Premier League this season (51).

 

Squads:

Norwich City (from): Bunn, Nash, Ruddy, Bassong, R Bennett, Garrido, Martin, Olsson, Turner, Whittaker, Hoolahan, Howson, Fer, Fox, Johnson, Pilkington, Redmond, Snodgrass, Tettey, Becchio, Elmander, Hooper, Van Wolfswinkel.

Cardiff City (from): Lewis, Marshall, Moore, Amondarain, Brayford, Caulker, Connolly, Hudson, McNaughton, Taylor, Theophile-Catherine, Turner, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Kim, Kiss, Medel, Mutch, Noone, Whittingham, Bellamy, Campbell, Gestede, Mason, Maynard, Odemwingie, Smith, Velikonja.


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