Previous to being beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace last weekend, Norwich City had put a nice little run together. They had taken 7 points from their previous 3 matches, which included a vital 3-2 win over Newcastle. After Saturday's defeat, the Canaries now sit in 17th place on 31 points, which is 4 above today's opponents (although they have played a game more than their rivals). Norwich City's recent home record reads a mixed-looking W5, D5, L5.

When hosting teams placed in the bottom 6, Norwich's record reads a reasonable-looking W5, D1, L4, and they can be can be backed at around 2.45. Here you have the option to keep an element of the draw on your side and Alex Neil’s side can be backed on the -0.0/0.5 handicap at around 2.10 which looks to offer some value.

The recent head-to-head record at Carrow Road certainly favours the home side, and reads Norwich 3 Wins, 0 Draws, and Sunderland 0 Wins. 

The draw can be backed at around 3.30 and despite Sunderland's recent form is priced too low.

Sunderland lost 2-0 to table toppers Leicester last weekend and they have now not won in 6 Premier League matches. Currently they sit in 18th place on 27 points. Sunderland's recent away record reads a very poor-looking W2, D4, L9.

When visiting sides placed in the bottom 6, Sam Allardyce's boast a fairly resilient-looking W2, D4, L4, and here the Black Cats can be backed at around 3.30, which offers no great value.

Goal Stats

When considering the goal line and looking at the general stats it points towards overs. When looking at the last 15 home and away games for both teams, then in the 30 matches, 16 have seen 3 or more goals, 7 matches have seen 2 goals, and 7 matches have seen 1 goal or less. My ratings suggest some value in over 2.0/2.5 goals which can be backed at around 1.93.

This will be an incredibly tense affair and here my ratings suggest value in both the match and goal lines. When considering the goal line, 9 of Sunderland's 16 away games this season have contained 4 or more goals, and when looking at Norwich City's recent home matches, the last 6 home games have contained 24 goals. Here there looks to be some decent risk v reward in backing over 2.0/2.5 goals.

Team News

Timm Klose was strechered off for Norwich in their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out and Alex Neil will be hoping he is fit to start on Saturday. Alexander Tettey is the only player definitely ruled out for Norwich. Russell Martin remains a doubt after missing their last game.

Sam Allardyce has a fully fit squad to choose from ahead of this must-win clash.

Prediction

For my trade I am turning to the match line where the home side look to offer value. When looking at Norwich's home record this season, only 2 defeats have come to sides in the bottom half of the table. Here they are coming up against a Sunderland side who have only won twice away this season. It should be pointed out that Sunderland have drawn 3 of their last 4 away matches. However, this is the best I can see Sunderland achieving and there looks to be some good risk v reward in backing Norwich on the handicap. So my recommended trade for this game is Norwich City -0.0/0.5 at around 2.10.