The long awaited return to Premier League action for Norwich City is soon over, as Daniel Farke aims to try provide a fairlytale end to a far from ordinary season. The restart is far from the normal, but the Canaries bad luck with injuries has remained consistent.
Almost three months on from Norwich City’s 1-0 defeat away at Bramall Lane, the Canaries return to their living room aiming to make it back-to-back home wins for the first time this season. Victory over Leicester City on February 28th seeming a long distant memory for many, but a result that gives Norwich the slimmest hopes of survival.
Southampton arrive having won the reverse fixture 2-1 at St Mary’s back in early December, after the Saints began their revival from their startling 9-0 home defeat to Leicester. Two poorly defended set-pieces in the first-half cancelling out Teemu Pukki’s second-half finish.
The Saints last victory on the road was at Crystal Palace in late January, however, they have amassed 20 of their 34 points on the road.
Team News
With Daniel Farke annoucing in his new look press conference this afternoon that Christoph Zimmerman, Grant Hanley, and Sam Byram will all be missing for the rest of the season, the task of survival looks even more difficult. Marco Stiepermann will also be missing after testing positive for Covid-19 last week, but has since returned to training after twice testing negative since.
Grant Hanley spoke to Norwich’s official programme stating “The more players you have fit, the more players you have fighting for that starting line-up. That healthy competition in the squad is good for us and helps us improve”.
The lack of options in defence has been boosted by the return of Timm Klose, but his last league start came on the 1st January 2019, so Daniel Farke is reserved in utilising the Swiss defender too much.
Moussa Djenepo is the only confirmed absentee, with Shane Long also unlikely to feature despite returning to team training. Eliminating two potential attacking threats to the Canaries back-line.
Ralph Hassenhüttl told Southampton’s official website “With Moussa’s (Djenepo) suspension, he’s the only player I’m missing at the moment. Everyone else is in training”.
Head-to-Head
Norwich wins: 40
Draw: 38
Southampton wins: 50
Things to Consider
If Norwich are to pick-up three vital home points, they must nulify the likes of Danny Ings and former player Nathan Redmond, both of which were having excellent campaigns prior to the suspension of football. Emi Buendia could play a crucial role in this game in creating the attacking spark, but relies on those infront of him finding the net. With many fans calling for Josip Drmic to get a place in the starting line-up, following his goals in the FA Cup, the Swiss also netted in the recent friendly against Tottenham.
However, as seen with the return of the Bundesliga, the home advantage often loses it’s influence. It is vital that Norwich don’t lose that advantage, by utilising Carrow Road and the remaining home fixtures to allow themselves have a chance of remaining in the top-flight.
Prediction
If Norwich fail to pick-up the three points, any slim chances of survival will be dashed almost completely. With two home wins in their last three, and the Southampton camp being affected with the stripping of Pierre-Emile Højberg’s position of captaincy, this may play into City’s favour.
Norwich 2-1 Southampton
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