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Norwich logo
Premier League
Nov 7, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Swansea logo

1-0

Howson (70')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Norwich City vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole previews the Premier League clash between Norwich City and Swansea City at Carrow Road.

Two teams in need of a win will meet at Carrow Road this weekend, as Norwich City take on Premier League rivals Swansea City.

The Canaries have gone six games without claiming a victory, while the Swans have picked up maximum points just once since the beginning of September.


Norwich

Alex Neil manager of Norwich City gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Norwich City at St James' Park on October 18, 2015© Getty Images

Having picked up just two wins from their opening 11 Premier League games, it is already looking like Norwich are going to be in for a tough season.

The Canaries showed promising signs in the early weeks of the campaign, with both of those victories coming in their first five games, but they have not tasted success since a 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth in mid-September.

They have not won any of their six games since, with the last four all ending in defeats, including a 6-2 hammering at Newcastle United three weeks ago.

Alex Neil's side were most recently in action last weekend against Manchester City and they looked to have salvaged a point when Cameron Jerome capitalised on a mistake from Joe Hart to drag his team level with seven minutes remaining.

However, Norwich's hopes of an unlikely draw at the Etihad were crushed as Russel Martin handled a goalbound shot from Raheem Sterling and was sent to the stands, with Yaya Toure stepping up to dispatch the penalty and seal a 2-1 win for the Citizens.

Recent form: LLLDL


Swansea

Garry Monk manager of Swansea City looks on ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Swansea, Wales.© Getty Images

Swansea have also been struggling to find any momentum in recent weeks and they have suffered four defeats in their previous seven league outings.

Such a poor run of form for Garry Monk's side looked unlikely at the end of August, when they earned a 2-1 win over Manchester United, to continue what had been a very bright start to the season.

That was followed by a winless run of five games in the top flight and a League Cup exit to Hull City, before they bounced back by claiming all three points in a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.

However, it proved to be only a temporary return to form, as last weekend they slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.

Monk's side had produced a good first-half display, but when Olivier Giroud scored shortly after the break the momentum swung firmly in the Gunners' favour, with Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell adding further goals to wrap up the points.

Aside from losing the match, it was also the fifth game out of the last eight in which Swansea have not scored, with Bafetimbi Gomis seeing his long run without a goal continue.

Recent form: LDLWL


Team News

Petr Cech of Arsenal brings down Bafetimbi Gomis of Swansea City during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on October 31, 2015© Getty Images

Norwich will be without the suspended Martin, who was sent off last weekend, so Steven Whittaker is likely to return to the defence.

Andre Wisdom is also ruled out with a knee problem, while Matt Jarvis coul miss out after being forced off with an injury at the Etihad.

Swansea, meanwhile, have no injury worries or suspensions to contend with, but Monk could still make changes after last weekend's defeat to the Gunners.

Jack Cork may be one of those who returns to the starting lineup, but Gomis should keep his place despite not scoring for eight games,

Norwich possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Whittaker, Bennett, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Mulumbu, Howson; Hoolahan; Jerome

Swansea possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Naughton, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor; Cork, Shelvey; Montero, Sigurdsson, Ayew; Gomis


Head To Head

These teams last met in the Premier League two seasons ago, with Swansea romping to a 3-0 win at home, after the reverse fixture at Carrow Road ended in a 1-1 draw.

However, it is Norwich who have the better head-to-head record in the top flight, and the Canaries have won three of the last six games played between the teams.


Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:



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We say: Norwich 1-1 Swansea

With both teams suffering from a lack of form, it could be a tight and cagey affair at Carrow Road. They have also struggled to keep clean sheets in recent weeks, although Swansea have had more problems finding the net than their counterparts. Due to the pressure of the occasion, we think that the match will end all square, leaving each club with a point to take into the international break.


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Olivier Giroud (C) of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Per Mertesacker (L) and Mesut Ozil (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on October 31, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


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