Following the planned break from the league and the excitement of the FA Cup last weekend, it is the bread and butter this weekend as Palace head into a run of games where points should be available if they play to their potential.
DATE
9th February 2022
KICK OFF
7.45pm
VENUE
Carrow Road, Norwich NR1 3JE
LAST TIME
The last trip for Palace to Carrow Road was back in January 2020 when goals from Todd Cantwell and Connor Wickham ensured the spoils were shared.
WHO SCORED MAN OF THE MATCH – Emiliano Buendia (9.6)
OFFICIALS
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Marc Perry. Fourth official: Andre Marriner. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Richard West
TEAM NEWS
PALACE – Wilfried Zaha has returned from international duty and should be available for selection. James Tomkins is not far off a return while James McArthur is close to being available for selection. Cheikhou Kouyate has yet to return from Cameroon after helping his Senegal win the AFCON.
NORWICH – Tim Krul, Josh Sargent and Jakob Sorensen are unlikely to be available due to injury while Lukas Ripp and Andrew Omobamidele could be ready to make a return.
DISCIPLINARY
RED CARDS – Wilfried Zaha (1), Ben Gibson (1)
YELLOW CARDS (5+) – Joel Ward (6), Conor Gallagher (5), Max Aarons (5)
FORM GUIDE
Last FIVE meetings between the two sides;
- 28/12/21 Palace 3-0 Norwich
- 01/01/20 Norwich 1-1 Palace
- 28/09/19 Palace 2-0 Norwich
- 09/04/16 Palace 1-0 Norwich
- 08/08/15 Norwich 1-3 Palace
Last FIVE results for Palace:
- 05/02/22 Palace 2-0 Hartlepool
- 23/01/22 Palace 1-3 Liverpool
- 14/01/22 Brighton 1-1 Palace
- 08/01/22 Millwall 1-2 Palace
- 01/01/22 Palace 2-3 West Ham
Last FIVE results for Norwich;
- 05/02/22 Wolves 0-1 Norwich
- 21/01/22 Watford 0-3 Norwich
- 15/01/22 Norwich 2-1 Everton
- 12/01/22 West Ham 2-0 Norwich
- 09/01/22 Charlton 0-1 Norwich
RECORD AGAINST NORWICH
- Played 115
- Won 50
- Drawn 21
- Lost 44
FORM PLAYERS ACCORDING TO WHO SCORED
- Conor Gallagher 7.36
- James McArthur 6.94
- Mathias Normann 6.87
- Grant Hanley 6.79
ONE TO WATCH
MILOT RASHICA
FORMER CLUBS – Kurda, Vushtrria, Vitesse, Werder Bremen
The Kosovo international previously appeared for Albania at youth level as well as two full appearances but switched to Kosovo in 2016. The winger made his name at Vitesse before a move to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga and while he has made 16 appearances for Norwich, he has yet to score in English football.
KEY CLASH
MICHAEL OLISE v BRANDON WILLIAMS
After a very good performance in the FA Cup, Olise will be keen to continue that form into the league and will be a real outlet for the Eagles once again. He will likely be up against the loanee from United who is keen to make the step up at Old Trafford and is at Norwich to try and show what he can do.
PRE-MATCH FACTS
- Norwich have only won 2 of the past 20 league meetings. Both victories were 1-0 at Carrow Road, in 2007 and 2013
- Palace are unbeaten in 6 league matches against Norwich
- However, Palace’s solitary victory in their last 6 league away games against Norwich came on the opening weekend of the 2015-16 season
- Palace have earned 47 league wins in this fixture, more than against any other side
- Norwich are vying to win 3 successive league games for the first time since December 2012
- Norwich’s league form this season has been 10 winless matches followed by 2 victories, then 8 winless matches followed by back-to-back wins
- They have only won 1 of their past 28 midweek league matches, a 4-2 home victory against Watford in May 2016. Nonetheless, the Canaries were relegated that day
- Teemu Pukki has not scored in the league in 2022. The Finland international scored 5 of Norwich’s 8 league goals this season before the turn of the year
- Palace have won only 1 of their 10 league away fixtures this season, 2-0 at Manchester City in October.
- The Eagles’ 3-0 victory against Norwich on 28 December is their solitary win in 6 league matches
- Michael Olise has both scored and assisted in 3 of his last 5 appearances in all competitions
PRE-MATCH STATS
- GOALS – Gallagher (7 – 11th in PL)
- ASSISTS – Edouard/ Gallagher/ Olise (3)
- PASSES – Guehi (1346 – 9th in PL)
- TACKLES – Mitchell (63 – 2nd in PL)
- TOUCHES – Guehi (1576 – 11th in PL)
- SHOTS – Benteke (39)
- SAVES – Guaita (55 – 13th in PL)
DID YOU KNOW?
Although known to have been formed in 1902, following the First World War between 1914 and 1918, football in England was suspended leaving Norwich in massive debts. In 1917 the club went into voluntary liquidation, before being re-formed in 1919 after the great war ended.
PREDICTION
The Eagles could be boosted by the return of Zaha which could well add a different element to the game, but both sides head into the fixture after progressing into the fifth round of the FA Cup. This is about getting points on the board and the hosts have been in good form of late and Palace will need to be extremely wary but we think they will just have enough to travel home with all three points.
FINAL SCORE: 2-1 win for Palace
BETTING ODDS
- Home – 12/5
- Draw – 9/4
- Away – 23/20
- Both teams to score – 4/5
RESOURCES