Norwich v Hull: Table-toppers can see off Tigers' challenge

Norwich v Hull
Wednesday March 13, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports

Norwich stay top of the tree

Emi Buendia's stunning strike earned Norwich victory over Swansea on Friday to keep their two point advantage at the Championship summit intact. The league leaders had been second-best for the majority of the first-half, but improved after the interval to claim maximum points when the Argentine forward fired home from 15 yards.

Buendia's goal was City's only on-target effort as top goalscorer Teemu Pukki struggled for opportunities. At the other end, goalkeeper Tim Krul was forced into several first-half saves to keep Norwich level and head coach Daniel Farke was quick to admit his side were second-best, saying: "It was a complicated game as Swansea were fantastic. They are by far the best team we have played in recent months".

Farke named the same starting XI for the fourth consecutive game, as Kenny McLean held off the challenge of the fit-again Moritz Leitner in midfield. The only alterations in the Norwich squad came on the bench as Todd Cantwell returned in place of Alex Tettey and the experience of Michael McGovern came in for young keeper Aston Oxborough.

Hull suffer damaging defeat

Hull's play-off aspirations received a blow on Saturday as the Tigers conceded two late goals to go down 3-0 to Nottingham Forest at a sold out City Ground. The result leaves Nigel Adkins' outfit five points adrift of the top-six as we enter the final furlong of the campaign and the Hull boss bemoaned his side's lack of a final-third threat.

Tigers' goalkeeper David Marshall was by far the busiest as Forest bossed possession and chances, lacking composure in front of goal until the final 20 minutes. Hull's main threat came through Kamil Grosicki, but the closest he came was a tame near-post shot that produced a comfortable save, one of only three on-target attempts.

Adkins named an unchanged Hull side at the weekend, resisting the urge to recall the fit-again Fraizer Campbell. Chris Martin started in attack, whilst Jordy de Wijs and Eric Lichaj recovered from injury scares to start in defence, while captain Markus Henriksen continued in midfield alongside Jackson Irvine. Campbell is expected to return to the starting XI here.

Canaries backed to deliver at Carrow Road

These two teams played out a goalless draw back in late November and the KCOM Stadium and recent meetings have tended to be tight, competitive affairs. Norwich have W2-D3-L1 when welcoming Hull to Carrow Road over the past 15 years with the last five of those fixtures featuring fewer than three goals.

Norwich have been chalked up 1.61 favourites to secure an eighth Championship win in 10 outings (W7-D1-L1). The Norfolk giants have W11-D1-L1 when welcoming teams from outside the top-six this season, scoring at least three goals in seven of those 13 tussles. Daniel Farke's charges also average the most attempts at goal from inside the penalty area.

Hull remarkable resurgence over a 10-week spell during the depths of winter has been extinguished and the Tigers have tended to toil on their travels this term. Nigel Adkins' men have been beaten in each of their last four road trips and have W3-D3-L9 in games as guests when excluding the bottom-four in the division.

Goals set to flow

With Norwich so prolific at Carrow Road, it's unsurprising to see Over 2.5 Goals available at just 1.66 quotes. It's proven a profitable formula in 12/18 (67%) matches here with nine encounters (50%) even producing four or more goals. Indeed, the average goals per-game figure stands at a huge 3.61 whilst Expected Goals (xG) per-game sits at a hunky 2.89.

Hull have delivered goal-heavy games in 12 of their last 17 league outings, whilst 11/18 (61%) matches away from their Humberside base have also beaten the Over 2.5 Goals line. The Tigers' away days have averaged 3.11 goals per-game with the xG standing at a hefty 3.02, suggesting goals could well be on the agenda this midweek.

With both Norwich to win and Over 2.5 Goals a little too skinny at singular prices pre-match, we can combine the two and back both selections at Betfair Sportsbook's for a generous 6/5 shout.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Norwich to win and Over 2.5 Goals @ 6/5 in Norwich v Hull