English Premier
2011-09-11 - Norwich City vs West Brom
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Sunday 11 September 2011 - Kickoff 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Norwich City
Norwich City have made a decent start to life back in the Premier League, although they are still searching for their first win of the season. Paul Lambert has received plenty of praises for guiding this team to back to back promotions from League One, but this is still going to be his greatest achievement if he can keep the Canaries flying in the top flight come May.
The team sit in 14th place in the Premier League after picking up 2 points from their opening 3 games, but they were just minutes away in their only home game to picking up the 3 points before Stoke scored a late equaliser. More disappointing was the Carling Cup exit to the MK Dons here, even if Lambert had made 11 changes to the side.
A point gained at Wigan could be very important at the end of the season, while the draw with Stoke at Carrow Road was more disappointing because the team conceded so late. Norwich also held their own at Stamford Bridge last time out, until a late sending off for their goalkeeper and penalty scored by Frank Lampard meant they came away with nothing for their efforts.
Daniel Ayala is out until the end of next month, but Elliot Ward could pass a late fitness test to feature. Zak Whitbread could miss out with a hamstring injury and John Ruddy is suspended after being sent off at Chelsea. Declan Rudd will start in goal in place of Ruddy.
West Brom
You have to forgive Roy Hodgson if he decides to shoot the fixture compiler after his side were given an extremely tough start to the season against the sides that finished 1 and 2 last season and following that with a game against a side that has an Indian sign held over the Baggies.
Even after saying all that, West Brom are extremely unlucky to be sitting in 18th place and pointless. They conceded late goals against Manchester United and Stoke City to lose those games, and could not hold onto a 0-1 lead at Chelsea, even missing chances to make it 0-2 and possibly record a famous victory.
That defeat at Stamford Bridge was their only away game of the season so far, although they have won a Carling Cup game away from the Hawthornes. Roy Hodgson has been known for struggling in away games during his time with Fulham and Liverpool, but West Brom are 2-3-2 in their last 7 in the Premier League.
The only real injury doubts for West Brom are Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie. Long is going to need a late fitness test, but Odemwingie is winning his race to be passed fit.
Head to Head
These two teams last met in the Championship during the 2007/08 season. West Brom won both games that season, including a 1-2 win here at Carrow Road.
In fact, the Baggies have won on their last 2 visits to this stadium and have only been beaten on 1 of their last 4 visits, although that was the last time they met in the top flight in the 2004/05 season.
Prediction
This should be a decent game, even if on first glance it is hard to understand why it was picked as the live game, as both managers and teams like to get the ball down and play.
I am actually favouring the away team to come out on top as the underdogs as I feel West Brom have shown enough in their opening 3 games to suggest a win will be coming sooner rather than later.
I also think Roy Hodgson will make sure they are set up in a good shape defensively, while Norwich look like a team that will give the opposition chances to win games.
It was only a special performance from John Ruddy that prevented Stoke coming here and taking full points earlier this season, and I feel Norwich will really miss his presence in this game.
West Brom have a touch more creativity in their side, and the more prolific forwards, so the prices are just tempting enough for me to be on.
The Pick :
Norwich City 0-1 West Brom
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back West Brom @ 2.90
