Norwich V Leeds United
Saturday, 27th March – 15:00 GMT
English League One
Matt’s Tip: Norwich to WIN – 2.05 PaddyPower
Alternative: Both Teams to Score – 1.70 WilliamHill
It’s 1st versus 2nd in League One, although there’s a hefty eight point gap separating the two sides in the table, as Norwich City (2.05 PaddyPower, BetFred) take on the leagues glamour boys, Leeds United (3.80 BlueSquare). Revenge will be at the forefront of the Norwich players minds after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Leeds back in October. That was one of just six league defeats Norwich fallen to this season, while they’ll have the chance to reverse the scoreline with the aid of home advantage on Saturday at Carrow Road.
Norwich are the in form side of the two and it certainly shows. Leeds looked untouchable at the start of the season and were a certainty to gain promotion…. Or so it seemed. Some gruelling FA Cup encounters may have dented their momentum along the way, but Leeds are really suffering of late and just aren’t picking up enough points to even keep in touch with a Norwich side which rarely look like dropping points. Just to briefly put it into contrast; Norwich have won five of their last six league games while Leeds have managed just two.
Norwich are ultra consistent, thee Mr. Consistent of League One and, since the turn of the year, Norwich have dropped points on just three occasions in fourteen fixtures. The maths should be pretty simple from here on out, Norwich have won eleven of their last fourteen, storming up the League One table into 1st and have shown no signs of letting up… that was until their 1-1 draw at Swindon which, in fairness, is a tough venue to go to and get a result. At home though, Carrow Road, Norwich have won 12 of their previous 13 home games, seven of which were without conceding… we use the word ‘Ultra consistent‘ once more.
Their opponents, Leeds United, have really gone off the rails in recent months and have seen their promotion hopes severely dented as a direct result. Not only have they managed just two wins in their last ten games, but they’ve got a two match losing streak lurking over them. While, should they fall to their third on Saturday, it will have been their longest run without picking up a single point in the league this season. Granted their last two games have been tough ones against Southampton (1-0) and Millwall (2-0) but they’re the type of crunch encounters which breathe confidence into your players should you win them, those games which spark momentum and life into a squad and yet it’s instead probably done the exact opposite in demoralise the entire Leeds camp. Leeds are struggling for wins, struggling to pick up points even and Simon Grayson is now under immense pressure and heat from fans to bring home some bacon… fast!
This is arguably a ‘Must Win’ encounter for Simon Grayson and Leeds after what can only be described as a disastrous last couple of months. Victory at Norwich would give the dressing room a huge boost but that looks a big ask under their current form. Norwich, however, look a team possessed and are now the certainties to make The Championship cut next season. Will they avenge the 2-1 defeat in the process by beating Leeds on Saturday… We think so! They won’t struggle for creativity at Carrow Road with Wes Hoolhan, whom can chip in with a few himself (11Gls), while Grant Holt and Chris Martin have been lethal up front for the Canaries this season, with the latter boasting 14 league goals and Grant Holt a stunning 22. Dare we say it but Leeds could be overpowered on Saturday, although the former big spenders of the Premier League are more than capable of raising their game for the crunch clashes and could very well do so on Saturday… hopefully to no avail.
