English Premier
2011-10-29 - Norwich City vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 29 October 2011 - Kickoff 3pm
Norwich City
Paul Lambert put another notch on his reputation by helping Norwich City earn a point at Anfield last week, but now faces an opponent that is likely to be one of those that the Canaries will be fighting against for survival in the Premier League this season.
The point earned last week with a little bit of luck saw Norwich move up to 8th in the Premier League and improved their points tally to 12 on the season. They have a 2-1-1 record at Carrow Road this season, scoring 6 goals and conceding 4, but they have turned a corner there recently.
Norwich have won back to back home games in the League, beating Sunderland 2-1 and then beating Swansea last time out here 3-1. Nowrich have only lost 1 of their last 5 League games, winning 3 of those, and they are beginning to score goals regularly at this level with 8 being scored in the last 5 games.
Lambert does not have any new injury worries in the squad and will be hopeful that Zak Whitbread is back in the squad to bolster a defence that has had a few injury issues.
Blackburn Rovers
I honestly think Steve Kean would have been sacked as Blackburn Rovers manager on Wednesday night if his team had gone out of the Carling Cup after conceding 2 goals in injury time to draw 2-2 with Newcastle and move into extra time. However, they showed tremendous heart to recover from those body blows and record a 4-3 win in extra time, although there could be a few tired legs on Saturday.
A 1-2 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday meant Blackburn returned to the bottom of the League courtesy of their inferior goal difference compared with Wigan. Rovers have shown some battling qualities away from home where they are 0-2-2 this season, scoring 4 goals but conceding 8.
The team have failed to win any of their last 5 games in all competitions in the normal 90 minutes allotted, although they have moved through to the Quarter Finals of the Carling Cup in that time. Blackburn have conceded at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 previous games in all competitions. Rovers have conceded and scored in every away game they have played in the League this season.
Michel Salgado and Ryan Nelson will be hoping to be available to strengthen a defence that is conceding far too many goals, while Scott Dann should return after missing the last couple of games. David Dunn is another player who could return this week.
Head to Head
Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers met in the Carling Cup last season with Rovers winning 3-1 at home.
Norwich and Blackburn last met here at Carrow Road in 2004 with the teams drawing 1-1.
The home side have failed to win their last 3 games against Blackburn here at Carrow Road, drawing the last 2 games 1-1.
Prediction
I think this is a fairly tough game to predict in terms of who will come out as the winner, but I do feel the layers have maybe missed out on the possibility of there being at least 3 goals in the game, which is being priced up just below evens.
Norwich have been scoring goals in recent games, including 5 in their last 2 home games, while Blackburn have been struggling to concede less than 2 goals per game recently. Even when it looks like they are going to get a clean sheet, they still manage to concede 2 goals as they did against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Blackburn have twice earned 1-1 draws away from home this season, but they also conceded 6 goals in 2 games at Aston Villa and Newcastle and it does look like a game where we will see goals.
The 'Both Teams to Score' market is giving prices of 1.73, but I can see it going 'Over 2.5 Goals' as recent statistics point to it happening.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Norwich City 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95
