Football – England – Championship
Saturday 27th September 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Under-siege Blackpool face a tough test this afternoon when they come up against second placed Norwich City despite holding home advantage at their Bloomfield Road ground in today’s Championship clash.
Blackpool, together with Fulham, are still without a Championship win in this new season having lost six of their eight matches so far and just two draws which has yielded just two points from a possible 24. Amidst rumours that the owners have been interviewing other managers behind Jose Riga’s back (such as Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett), it seems that Riga is on borrowed time and another defeat today could result in him losing his job.
On home turf, Blackpool have lost three of their four matches to date with defeats to Blackburn, new-boys Brentford and Watford, but they did hold Wolves to a 0-0 draw. their overall home record reads a disappointing 0-1-3 2/5, and confidence must be pretty fragile at the moment.
Visitors Norwich City found themselves two goals down in quick fashion last weekend against Birmingham City at Carrow Road, but two former Blues players, Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond combined for The Canaries to share the points in a 2-2 draw.
These are the kind of results which really boosts a team’s confidence, and while they only got a point in the end, it will have felt like a win particularly being two goals down. It was perhaps a bit of a reality check for Neil Adams’ side as they sit second from top in the Championship, and I’m sure he’ll be setting down expectations for this afternoon’s match in preparation.
Norwich started in disappointing fashion away from home at Wolves in a 0-1 defeat, but since then they’ve really kicked on with three consecutive away wins at Ipswich Town 1-0 in the east anglia derby, Cardiff City 4-2 and Brentford 3-0 giving them an overall away record so far of 3-0-1 8/3.
While the scene is an unsettled one at Bloomfield Road at the moment with the manager’s position seemingly up for grabs, Norwich are full of confidence and I expect them to take the points here in what could be a 2-1 win for The Canaries.
Pick: Norwich City straight win @ 1.73 Coral
