Norwich defender Ryan Bennett is a doubt after straining a thigh muscle in training so new signing Joseph Yobo could make his Canaries debut. Wes Hoolahan returns to the squad after his on-off transfer saga, but Michael Turner and Jonny Howson remain out. Manchester City will be without the injured Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Samir Nasri and Javi Garcia. James Milner is fit after a groin injury, and Edin Dzeko and Joleon Lescott have overcome ankle problems. Manchester Citys 7-0 thrashing of Norwich saw one of the most inept performances witnessed in the Premier League. With four home wins already behind them, that victory heralded the start of Manchester Citys fabulous goal glut at home with 29 coming in the next seven matches. They would have beaten any team that day, but there was still no excusing Norwichs surrender. It smacked of a team that thought it was beaten before a ball was kicked - a team haunted by the two hammerings dished out by the same opponents in 2011-12. Following Mondays defeat by Chelsea, Manuel Pellegrini knows City cant afford another defeat here. If they slip up, big questions will start to be asked with huge cup ties against Chelsea and Barcelona looming. This wont be the same Norwich side that went AWOL in the autumn. Manager Chris Hughton and his players are now fighting for their survival. Results havent gone their way, with just one win in 11 games in all competitions, but theyve pushed Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle all the way at home this season. Injuries havent helped the Canaries. The defence has been error strewn. But theres still enough ability in the Norwich squad to stay up if they can provide a spark to ignite their campaign. Manchester City got off to a storming start at Carrow Road last season with two Edin Dzeko goals in the opening four minutes. Norwich will surely have learned their lesson and will make it tighter. They must press City high up the pitch and stop their fluent passing movements before they start to flow. Time is tight for Norwich. Any point at this stage would be vital; they have Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their final four games. Effectively they could have 10 games to save their season. But I cant see even Delia Smith being able to cook up a miracle as she famously once tried to do in this fixture. Head-to-head Manchester Citys 7-0 win over Norwich at the Etihad Stadium on 2 November is the Premier Leagues biggest victory so far this season. It is Norwichs heaviest top-flight defeat. Manchester City have scored 27 goals against the Canaries in their last six league meetings, an average of 4.5 goals per game. Norwichs only home win in six previous Premier League meetings with Manchester City came in the divisions inaugural season of 1992-93. Mark Robins and Lee Power scored in a 2-1 win. Norwich Norwich have won just one of their last nine league games (W1, D4, L4). The Canaries have failed to score more than once during those nine matches and have drawn a blank on four occasions. Norwichs return of 24 point from 24 games is their joint-third worst ever in the top flight. Its their second worse in the Premier League; they had 17 in 2004-05 and were eventually relegated. Only Crystal Palace (10) have scored fewer goals in front of their own fans than Chris Hughtons side (11). Norwich have taken just five points (W1, D2) from 12 matches against clubs in the top half of the table. Their sole victory came at home to Southampton in August. Manchester City Defeat for Manchester City against Chelsea ended their eight-match league winning streak. It was their first loss in 21 in all competitions. The last time City failed to follow up a Premier League defeat with victory in the next game was in February 2011. It is 12 months since they last went two league games without a win. Manuel Pellegrinis side have scored a league-high 26 away goals. They have scored 18 goals in their last six away matches, three goals per game on average. City have only the sixth-best record against bottom half clubs (W9, D1, L2) following defeats at both Cardiff and Sunderland and their draw at Stoke. Edin Dzeko has scored three goals in his last four games, including in his last two away league matches.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 11:45:21 +0000