At Norwich, match facts, video and optimistic prediction

I wrote a post about the Reading match, then forgot to hit publish. It basically said that it was a match we had to win, for confidence. It also praised the supporters ... okay, I didn't write that part and I only mention it to wind one or two up.

We're basically headed to the play-offs and you all know my views on that and well, we just have to hope that what Steve Bruce has done twice before, he can do again. It's going to be a very interesting end of season.

But that isn't to say the play-offs is where we will end up. Technically, we can still finish second but it would be a little too optimistic, even for me, to think that was going to happen. No, right now I'm planning a trip to Wembley. And I don't think that is too optimistic.

But we can't stroll into the play-offs. We've got to go in to them with confidence and that includes today.

Match facts from the BBC

  • Norwich have won each of their last two home league matches against Villa without conceding a goal, winning 2-0 in 2015-16 and 1-0 last season.
  • Villa have won seven of their last nine matches against Norwich in all competitions, including a 4-2 home win back in late August, when Conor Hourihane's hat-trick earned their first league win of the season.
  • Norwich's James Maddison has created more goalscoring chances than any other Championship player this season (103), of which seven have resulted in goals.
  • After going on a seven-match unbeaten run, the Canaries have lost three of their last five league games.
  • Former Norwich centre-half Steve Bruce has ended up on the losing side in each of his last five league trips to Carrow Road, since winning 1-0 with Birmingham in March 2002.

Pre-match interview

Prediction

You don't want to know my three year prediction, so lets just focus on today. I'm going for an away win because it just feels like a good time to pick up three points. I know, mad isn't it. But what I mean is, if we pick up three points and others don't, then there will be that sense of it is possible.

But that can be wiped away today. Lets hope it isn't.