Norwich City vs Birmingham City: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Preview

Norwich City will face Birmingham City at Carrow Road this Saturday, in a crucial Championship match. Both teams come into this fixture with strong performances in recent games. Norwich City is seeking another victory against their West Midlands rivals after a successful week, while Birmingham aims to bounce back from a recent FA Cup exit.

Match Preview

Norwich City has won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions. Under the guidance of head coach Philippe Clement, the team is experiencing a significant revival. Norwich recently secured a spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup, defeating West Bromwich Albion with goals from Edmond-Paris Maghoma, Ben Chrisene, and Mohamed Toure. This marks their first FA Cup advancement since 2007.

Currently, Norwich sits in 17th place in the Championship. They are seven points clear of 22nd-placed Leicester City. Despite a challenging start to the season, the Canaries have shown improvement, with four consecutive home victories. During this run, they have scored 12 goals, which indicates a potent attacking form.

Norwich’s Injury Concerns

• Leading goalscorer Jovon Makama is out due to a muscle injury.
• Ante Crnac is sidelined for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
• Recent acquisition Mohamed Toure has been notable, scoring five goals in three games.

Birmingham City’s Recent Form

Birmingham City enters this match looking to recover from a penalty shootout loss to Leeds United in the FA Cup. This defeat ended an impressive unbeaten streak of eight games (W5, D3) across all competitions. The team is pushing for a playoff spot, just two points behind sixth-placed Derby County with 14 matches remaining.

New signings have positively impacted Birmingham’s performance. One standout player is Ibrahim Osman, whose speed and energy have been crucial for the team’s attack. Birmingham last secured an away win at Carrow Road in 1973 and will aim to change that this weekend.

Birmingham’s Squad Updates

• Paik Seung-ho is recovering from a shoulder injury and has opted against immediate surgery.
• Jhon Solis is set to start in midfield alongside Tommy Doyle.
• Tomoki Iwata may return after missing the previous match due to minor injuries.

Predicted Lineups

In terms of potential outcomes, predictions suggest a closely contested match. A score draw seems likely, given both teams’ recent performances and injury challenges. Norwich City is expected to approach this match with confidence, while Birmingham City’s playoff ambitions will be thoroughly tested.