BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Southampton v Norwich City Venue: St Marys Stadium Date: Saturday, 15 March TEAM NEWS Southamptons Jack Cork is out because of an ankle injury, while Victor Wanyama is a doubt after suffering a blow to the leg he fractured earlier in the season. Dejan Lovren was ill earlier in the week but is expected to play. Norwich manager Chris Hughton can select from an unchanged squad. Jonas Gutierrez and Michael Turner have both returned to training but remain unavailable along with another injured pair, Leroy Fer and Elliott Bennett. MATCH PREVIEW We all surely are aware of Norwichs end to this season, when they face Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their final four fixtures. Its an extremely difficult end to the campaign, especially when you consider that the Canaries have already lost to all four teams, conceding 16 goals and scoring just three in the process. So the next few weeks are vital if the Norfolk club are to avoid finishing in the bottom three in May, starting with this trip to Southampton. Chris Hughtons side are currently four points above the relegation zone, and their four fixtures after this one are all against teams in the bottom seven at the moment. Nathan Redmond scored the winner when these sides met at Carrow Road in August; it was his first, and so far only, goal for Norwich. The teenager has been impressive whenever Ive seen him, as have the Saints crop of academy graduates. Defender Luke Shaw made his England debut earlier this month, and I wouldnt be too surprised if Roy Hodgson is at St Marys this weekend as he continues to assess who to take to Brazil in the summer. Southamptons last three victories have all come away, and Norwich may be encouraged by the fact their hosts on Saturday have conceded at least two goals in six of their last eight home league matches. However, Norwich have lost their last four on their travels and have failed to score more than one goal in any of their last 14 league matches. The last time they did so was in the 2-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion in December, their last away win. It ended 1-1 in last seasons fixture, which I also commentated on for Match of the Day. Rickie Lambert scored for the Saints, Robert Snodgrass for the Canaries, and bearing in mind the above facts Id be interested in the odds on a repeat result, with the same scorers. MARK LAWRENSONS PREDICTION - Football Analyst Norwichs away form is poor and they are one of the teams I am most worried about at the bottom of the Premier League. For me, Fulham and Cardiff are in the deepest trouble but the Canaries are too brittle for my liking. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head ->Nathan Redmonds goal in the reverse fixture on 31 August gave Norwich their first league win of the season and ended Southamptons unbeaten start to the campaign. ->Norwichs only top-flight win at Southampton in the last 10 attempts came on New Years Day 20 years ago when Chris Sutton scored the decisive goal. ->Five of the last seven meetings in all competitions between Southampton and Norwich have ended as a draw (one win each). Southampton ->The Saints have only won one of their last eight home matches in the Premier League: 1-0 against West Brom in January (W1, D3, L4). They were unbeaten in their first six games of the season at St Marys. ->All but eight of their 42 points this season have come against sides in the bottom half of the table. ->They are 14 points and seven places better off than at the same stage last season. ->Mauricio Pochettinos side have relinquished 15 points from winning positions this season - the joint worst record in the division along with Saturdays opponents Norwich. ->Norwich are the only team Southampton have failed to score against in the league since Pochettino took over as manager. Norwich City ->Norwich are unbeaten at home in 2014 but they have lost their last four Premier League away matches and are winless in the last six. ->The Canaries have not scored more than once in a league fixture in 14 attempts since winning 2-0 at West Brom three months ago. ->They have only scored eight goals in that period and their overall tally of 22 goals is better only than that of Crystal Palace (19 goals). ->They are winless in 14 Premier League away matches in March since a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest in 1993 (D2, L12). ->Record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel has now played 1015 minutes in the Premier League and managed only four shots on target. His only goal came on the opening day of the season. Source: BBC Sport
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:03:42 +0000
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