Manchester City vs Norwich Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Haydn Cunningham Oct 22, 2015 @ 01:56 pm

Manchester City earned their first draw of the Premier League in one of the worst games of the season despite the Manchester derby having high expectations. Norwich City suffered a 3^rd defeat in a row which is a first for Alex Neal in his managerial career.

Manuel Pellegrini finally brought his captain back into the fray as City desperately sought a clean sheet which they haven’t managed since Crystal Palace back in September. A run of 8 games without a clean sheet was ended at Old Trafford in an abysmal game where Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi were instrumental in keeping Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial quiet. After 4 wins in a row, Pellegrini won’t mind the run coming to an end against a United side that were looking to overtake them with a victory. A draw insures they’re still top of the league heading into the 11^th round of the Premier League.

The last time Norwich won in the league was also the last time Manchester City managed a clean sheet. Norwich haven’t picked up 3 points in the Premier League since 12 September and after a bright start in the Premier League, they’ve fallen by the way side a little. Losing 3 games in a row is a first for the Norwich manager who at 34-years old is the youngest manager in the league and he’ll be determined to put the losing run to an end but faces a monumental task. Confidence will be draining out of the Canaries after shipping 6 to Newcastle on the road last time out and now face the daunting prospect of facing Manchester City at the Etihad. They’ll be pleased that Sergio Aguero isn’t on show as the Argentine forward has 5 goals in his last 6 against Norwich.

It doesn’t look good for Norwich when you read into form and past meetings. Man City have 24 goals in the past 6 games against Norwich and Norwich have conceded 12 goals in the past 4 away games. The visitors did go to the Etihad at the end of the 2012/2013 season and won 3-2 but neither side had anything to play for on the final day of the season. The hosts are usually superior at home and are top of the shots per game on average at home (20.4), pass success (86.5%) and are 2^nd in terms of possession with 57.3%. Kevin De Bruyne has scored 3 goals and made 3 assists in 4 appearances at the Etihad.

Fernandinho picked up his 5th yellow card of the season in the Manchester derby and he'll miss the Capital One Cup game midweek and return for Norwich at the weekend. Sergio Aguero will have been a frustrated figure watching from the stands in City’s bleak draw against Manchester United but should be able to watch in more comfort this Saturday. David Silva was missing from the squad but is likely to make it amongst the substitute’s bench against Norwich but with a key game against Sevilla to follow he’s unlikely to feature for long. Norwich should welcome Youssuf Mulumbu from a metatarsal injury and could provide some much needed steel in midfield. 

Manchester City

Stats: W-7 L-2 D-1

Recent Form - WWWWD

Norwich City

Stats: W-2 L-5 D-3

Recent Form – WDLLL

Head-to-head record:

Possible Line-ups

Manchester City (4-2-3-1) – Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, De Bruyne, Jesus Navas, Sterling, Bony.    

Norwich City (4-5-1) – Ruddy, Wisdom, R.Martin, Bassong, Olsson, Tettey, Howson, Hoolahan, Redmond, Brady, Mbokani

Injury List/Suspended Players

Manchester City – Aguero (inj), Nasri (inj), Delph (inj), Clichy (inj)
Norwich City – None

Man City v Norwich Head to Head

League Positions