Norwich-Coventry : Preview


By CovSid67
February 27 2009

Head-To-Head, Recent Form, Team News, and the Latest Betting Odds, ahead of Saturday's Norwich-Coventry clash.

Head-To-Head: Coventry have beaten Norwich 46 times (43 in the league), drawn 31 times (28 in the league), and lost to Norwich on 27 occasions (24 in the league). The two sides have met thirteen times since Coventry City dropped down a division, with Coventry winning four times, drawing five times, and also losing four times. Coventry haven't won at Carrow Road since the 1999/2000 season, winning 3-1 in an F.A. Cup fixture, and haven't won an away league fixture against them since 1988/89.

This Season: In the reverse fixture at the Ricoh earlier this season, an Elliott Ward penalty and a Leon McKenzie goal against his old club saw Coventry run out  as 2-0 winners.

Recent Form: Coventry have drawn four of their last five away fixtures in all competitions, and but for a couple of late errors, would have won three of their last five away games! Norwich have won six, drawn five, and lost six of their home fixtures this season, though have only managed one win in their last five home games (A 4-0 drubbing of Barnsley).They have conceded more Championship goals (53) than any other side, with the exception of rock-bottom Charlton (55). Despite a disappointing season, they have managed to put eight goals past top-of-the-table Wolves in two games! Over the last eight Championship fixtures, Coventry are in seventh place in the current form table (W4, D2, L2), with Norwich in 19th place (W1, D4, L3).

Team News: Leon McKenzie is missing against his former side (And probably the next 30 sides Coventry play), while another Norwich old-boy, David Bell, is hoping to shake off an ankle problem, and could replace Freddie Eastwood. Ben Turner has slight hamstring knack, so Scott Dann could partner Elliott Ward at the centre of the defence (As competition for places versus Chelsea hots up!). With Andy Marshall not having lost against Norwich in six fixtures since he left the club, bringing him in, and resting Westwood, seems like a decent idea too! Beuzelin could replace Doyle or Gunnarsson. Only Adam Drury and Dejan Stefanovic (Lucky not to be sent off in the reverse fixture) are expect to be missing for Norwich, with Alan Gow expected to be fit, and Jamie Cureton (Who seems to have a nasty habit of scoring against Coventry!) hopes to play his 100th match for the club.

Opinion: Coventry City have not allowed the cup fixtures to side-track them in their attempt to climb up the Championship table, and need to continue this against third from bottom-of-the-table Norwich, rather than, as so often is the case, treating the fixture as a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show'. Victory over Norwich would almost ensure there will be no relegation fears for this season, allowing Coventry City to focus on the big one - beating Chelsea!

Norwich On Coventry: '[Coventry have] won some big matches, derby matches. They're very confident. Ian and I were at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday night and they thoroughly deserved their victory. It was 1-0 but we thought they were the better team. They took their chance and defended well, there was a good goalkeeping performance from Kieran Westwood, they look a solid defensive unit and they have some experience in the side with Clinton Morrison up front alongside Leon Best - Norwich boss Bryan Gunn.

Betting Odds: Despite Coventry's recent decent form, the bookies still favour a home win, with Ladbrokes making Norwich 7/5 for the win, with Coventry at 15/8, and 23/10 the draw. Norwich are 7/4 to be relegated (And have also recently dismissed claims they could be about to go into administration), and 100/1 to be promoted! Chris Killen is 6/1 favourite for first goal scorer for Norwich, with Freddie Eastwood top of the pile for Coventry at 13/2 with Bet365, while Cureton, and man-of-the-moment Leon Best, are 6/1 with Ladbrokes. Dan Fox is 25/1.

Trivia: Bryan Gunn used to baby-sit Alex Ferguson's children!

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Norwich-Coventry : Preview
Discussion started by Covcitytilidie , 27/02/2009 13:11
Covcitytilidie
27/02/2009 13:11
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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guest
28/02/2009 12:19
hit a bit of form have them canaries,,draw for me.

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CCFC Sid / CovSid67
28/02/2009 13:21
I'd possibly take the draw! We're in form, but they've got a new boss, and a decent home record against us.

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guest
28/02/2009 17:32
w/p(Sm152) we were shoite(Sm23)

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CCFC Sid / CovSid67
28/02/2009 19:45
Cheers fella! Bit of a shocker for your lot, wasn't it? That said, it was a strange day all round for results!

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guest
04/03/2009 18:36
another funny night last night but we got result.(Sm128)

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