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Championship
Apr 6, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Sheffield Wednesday logo

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Johnson (33', 45')
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Preview: Norwich City vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole looks ahead to Monday's Championship encounter between title-chasing Norwich City and mid-table Sheffield Wednesday at Carrow Road.

Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday will go head to head at Carrow Road on Monday as the hosts look to make it two wins from two over the Easter weekend.

The Canaries have plenty left to fight for as the thrilling Championship title race rumbles on and they could move to the top of the standings with three points against a Wednesday side floating in mid-table.



Norwich City

Manager Alex Neil of Norwich looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City at Amex Stadium on April 3, 2015© Getty Images

Every match from now until the end of the season could prove to be a vital one for Norwich as they continue to battle for an immediate return to the Premier League.

A group of four teams are separated by just two points at the top of the table now and, with two of them facing each other in Monday's early kickoff when Watford host leaders Middlesbrough, the Canaries have a chance to strengthen their own position considerably against the Owls.

Alex Neil has done a superb job since taking over at Carrow Road, with Norwich having won 11 and lost just two of their 16 matches under his tenure so far, including an ongoing five-match unbeaten streak that includes taking points off rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest.

They also have the luxury of a fairly kind run-in compared to the teams around them, with only Middlesbrough left to face in the top half after Monday's game against the 12th-placed Owls.

A 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Good Friday was not their most convincing performance of the season, but it set them up for a maximum points haul over an Easter weekend that is likely to play a major role in the title race.

They will be expecting to complete the double-header at home to Wednesday, although their form at Carrow Road has been a little suspect at times this season. They have won four of their last six in front of their own fans, but have fared better on the road so far, amassing more away points than any other team in the division.

However, they have enough goals throughout their team to beat any side on their day and have managed to find the back of the net in 18 of their last 20 home outings. Indeed, no team has scored more home goals than them in the Championship this season.

That could prove to be important in such a tight battle at the top of the table, and Neil is sure to be encouraging his side to improve their goal difference whenever possible. They are currently only bettered by Bournemouth in that regard, but Watford and Middlesbrough are not far behind.

Recent form: LWDDWW



Sheffield Wednesday

Stevie May of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday at The Den on February 24, 2015© Getty Images

If it is goals that Norwich want, Sheffield Wednesday aren't exactly their ideal opponents, though.

The Owls haven't been the most thrilling team to watch this season, with no team outside the bottom three scoring fewer and only leaders Middlesbrough boasting a better defensive record.

Stuart Gray has picked up results, though, and his side are on course for a top-half finish and a substantial improvement on their points tally from last season.

A draw with local rivals Huddersfield Town in their second consecutive Yorkshire derby on Saturday took them beyond their mark of 53 for the previous campaign, and they still have six matches left to further improve on that.

It is not an easy run-in for Wednesday, however, and they could end up having a major say on the title race, with three of the top four still left to play this season. Indeed, only one of their remaining six games comes against a team currently below them in the table.

Consistency has been something of an issue in recent weeks, with back-to-back wins only being managed once since the turn of the year, but they have at least been picking up regular points during a run of just two defeats in their last eight games.

They almost got consecutive victories last time out having taken the lead against Huddersfield in the 86th minute, but Ishmael Miller's strike three minutes later ensured that the spoils would be shared at Hillsborough.

That was their 10th home draw of the season and, like Norwich, they have enjoyed better times on the road this term. They have picked up 10 more points on their travels than they have managed at home, and only three teams in the entire league have amassed more on the road.

They have won three of their last four away games, but haven't beaten a top-eight team on their travels since August and still have visits to Bournemouth and Watford to come after this trip.

Recent form: LWDLWD



Team News

Lewis Grabban of Norwich City celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Norwich City and Ipswich Town at Carrow Road on March 1, 2015© Getty Images

Norwich got through the Good Friday win over Brighton without any new injury concerns, but Elliott Bennett and Lewis Grabban are both likely to miss the match against Wednesday.

Elliott is back in full training following a hamstring injury but his return may be withheld until the weekend, while Grabban should be back from an ankle injury before the end of the season.

Bradley Johnson got his 11th league goal of the campaign in that win at The Amex and will start again here, while Cameron Jerome - who scored five goals in his first four league games against the Owls but hasn't scored in his last three - is expected to lead the line.

Neil could keep changes to a minimum, but Nathan Redmond is knocking on the door and could be in line for a recall after being praised by his boss last time out.

Gray, meanwhile, must decide whether to start Sergio Bus following his maiden Wednesday goal at the weekend, while Jeremy Helan is also pushing for a recall despite struggling with an injury in recent weeks.

Will Keane is also a doubt, while Atdhe Nuhiu or Caolan Lavery could be sacrificed if Gray opts to switch to a 4-5-1 formation away to one of the league's highest scorers.

Norwich possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey, Dorrans, Howson, Redmond, Johnson; Jerome

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Vermijl, Lees, Zayatte, Mattock; Isgrove, McGugan, Lee, Hutchinson, Helan; Nuhiu



Head To Head

It is Sheffield Wednesday who have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning eight and losing none of the last 10 meetings between the two sides. That includes four straight defeats at Carrow Road for Norwich, who last beat the Owls in 2002.

They did end a run of eight consecutive losses in the reverse fixture back in October, however, as Wednesday held the Canaries to a goalless draw at Hillsborough - the only 0-0 stalemate between the two sides in the last 20 years.


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We say: Norwich 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

There have been six goals later than the 85th minute in Wednesday's last two games, so Norwich may need to be patient in this one. However, their need for the victory is greater than that of Wednesday, and they should have the firepower to break the Owls down in front of their own fans. Wednesday's away record is good, but they have generally struggled against the top teams on the road.



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Atdhe Nuhiu of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday at Etihad Stadium on January 4, 2015
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