Luton vs Norwich prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-12-25 19:45.
Luton Town will host Norwich City for a crunch Boxing Day Championship fixture after freezing temperatures saw the Hatters’ last match at Kenilworth Road postponed. It has been a hard time for Luton manager Rob Edwards recently, who declared his team needs to "learn" after their last contest ended in a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. That stretched an already dire run to just one win from their last seven Championship games (D3, L3) and resulted in his side slipping further down the bottom half of the Championship standings.
To make matters worse, home has not been where the heart is for Luton, with no side recording fewer league wins on their own turf (two) so far this season. But with the eggnog flowing, the Hatters faithful might sense an opportunity, as their side beat Norwich 1-0 in the reverse fixture back in October. They may need to rediscover that defensive resilience here to repeat the dose, as Luton have not returned a multiple goal haul in any of their last eight league outings!
Dean Smith also isn’t feeling the festive cheer after the Norwich boss stated that some fans who attended their recent 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers have been "waiting" for the opportunity to criticise. A little flak is perhaps deserved when considering his side have taken just three league wins from their last 12 matches (D3, L6) and sat nine points off second place going into this round.
With their automatic promotion hopes fading, Norwich might not welcome a Boxing Day fixture after failing to win on this day in their last four attempts (D1, L3). But when accounting for their opposition's dismal home record and the fact they have lost just two of their last nine league away trips (W5, D2), Smith may anticipate a resurgent travelling performance from his men.
Key battle: Luton’s Carlton Morris faces off against Norwich 'keeper Angus Gunn with the forward victorious in each of their three previous meetings, including when he scored the winner in his side’s 1-0 victory over the Canaries earlier this campaign.
Hot stat: Only seven of Luton’s Championship games this season have witnessed at least three total goals – the joint-fewest in the league prior to Boxing Day.