Norwich vs Birmingham prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-20 19:45.
Actor and Norwich fan Hugh Jackman recently jokingly suggested that heâd like to try out for the team, even if only to score against Ryan Reynoldsâ Wrexham outfit, but there was little to âMarvelâ about their attacking play during Saturdayâs 0-0 Championship draw with Wigan. After mustering just one shot on target, they missed out on the chance to return to the top-six, leaving manager David Wagner to admit that there were ânot a lotâ of positives from the game.
After conceding first in each of their last three home league games (W1, L2), Wagner will be hoping for a better start and to avoid having to make another half-time double substitution, as he did at Wigan. If he does, alarm bells will be ringing as the Canaries havenât lost a home H2H against Birmingham since March 2002 (W7, D2).
The visitors were victims of a ânew manager bounceâ as they went down to Neil Warnockâs Huddersfield (L 2-1) on Saturday, a result which left the Blues seven points ahead of the relegation zone. Two straight defeats after consecutive victories must be worrying for manager John Eustace, who wants to see his side âget back on the straight and narrow,â after the weekendâs disappointment.
However, with no victory in nine H2Hs anywhere (D1, L8), this is a tough place for Birmingham to try to get back to winning ways, particularly as theyâve only won one of their last five league away fixtures (D1, L3), conceding an ominous average of three goals per game during the last four of those outings.
Players to watch: If the visitors concede three again, look out for Josh Sargent, Norwichâs top scorer in the league this term with 11 goals, as the last two of those were his sideâs third of the game. However, Troy Deeney could inspire Birmingham to start well as his last four Championship strikes came before the 35th minute.
Hot stat: Birmingham are unbeaten in league matches in which they led at half-time this term (W8, D1).