Norwich City play host to Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon looking for the win which may be enough to move the Canaries back into the Championship playoff spots.
At a time when the home side occupy ninth position in the standings, Cardiff are down in 21st spot, albeit after posting back-to-back wins.
Match preview
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Norwich have continued to endure ups and down since the appointment of David Wagner, the club still sitting below the top six.
Nevertheless, Wagner has delivered 13 points from seven matches, a much-improved return on what the Canaries were producing under his predecessor Dean Smith.
Although it can be claimed that Norwich have enjoyed a favourable fixture list of late, seven points from matches versus Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City is more than acceptable at this stage of the season.
That run represents the first time since before the World Cup that Norwich have gone three games without suffering defeat, and you have to go back until the start of October when they last went four matches without a setback.
The East Anglian side sit just three points adrift of fourth spot, putting Wagner and his team in a position where they can make significant progress with another three points at Carrow Road.
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While another fixture against a team in the bottom half of the table will be welcomed, Cardiff are in their best moment since the beginning of October.
Sabri Lamouchi has delivered two victories in succession, the Bluebirds beating Birmingham on away territory before a dramatic 1-0 triumph over Reading last time out.
The Welsh outfit remain just four points clear of the relegation zone, but they had endured a 12-match winless streak before success in the recent double-header.
Despite scoring goals still being an issue, Cardiff have conceded more than once in a game on just one occasion in their last 11 league encounters.
Team News
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While Teemu Pukki may make a return to the Norwich squad, Josh Sargent remains absent with an ankle injury.
Nevertheless, Wagner is expected to name an unchanged starting lineup with Arsenal loanee Marquinhos likely to remain on the substitutes' bench.
Lamouchi must decide whether to use a back three or four, with both systems leading to victories of late.
The former appears most likely with either Joe Ralls or Andy Rinomhota being selected in the centre of the pitch.
Callum Robinson will hope to replace either Kion Etete or Sory Kaba in attack.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis; Sara, McLean; Dowell, Nunez, Hernandez; Idah
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Romeo, Ng, McGuinness, Kipre, O'Dowda; Rinomhota, Sawyers, Wintle; Etete, Kaba
We say: Norwich City 2-1 Cardiff City
Despite the difference in league positions, this should prove to be a competitive fixture with Cardiff having seemingly turned a corner under Lamouchi. Nevertheless, so have Norwich under Wagner, and we feel that the Canaries will edge this contest by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
