With Norwich winning for just the third time this calender year on Saturday, spirits around Carrow Road grew and optimism was rife. Three impeccably taken goals, a good team performance and Neil Adams got his tactics spot-on. It will – no doubt – be pointed out that Watford were down to 10 men for 87 minutes, but as our 1-0 defeat away to Hull last year proved, playing against 10 men isn’t always as straight forwards as some expect.
After Ekstrand’s sending off in the third minute for an elbow on Redmond, it became a massive test of Norwich’s cutting edge and patience. City lacked the former but had bundles of the latter last year, often to the club’s demise. When more direct football was required – the 0-0 against Cardiff stands out – Norwich were content to pass it around the back four and made no advancement up the pitch.
However, this was not the case against Watford. It was as possession-based as a 11 v 10 match is expected to be, but with moments of excellence. Bradley Johnson’s delicate dink, Lewis Grabban’s luxurious lob and Alex Tettey’s rifled drive. Shooting in general was something Norwich were not proficient at last season, yet they seem to have improved on that showing.
So, onto tomorrow night’s match: Blackburn. A return to the exciting Tuesday night kick-off under the floodlights, a rocking Carrow Road and – hopefully – an entertaining display. Adams is likely to stick with the side that comfortably beat Watford, but a more prominent display from Leroy Fer can be expected after he made a brief appearance at the weekend. Unfortunately, an unchanged team means the same backline, with many voicing their discontent at the continued selection of Steven Whittaker at right back. Instead, Russell Martin should return to his more proficient role, but with a clean sheet in the 3-0 win, it is unlikely to change. Leroy Fer is included in the squad despite Sky Sports insisting he’s having a medical at QPR tonight, but Jonny Howson and Gary Hooper are still unavailable due to injury. Martin Olsson could return unless his charge of improper conduct is upheld and enforced before Tuesday night’s match.
Predicted line up
Blackburn
The Lancashire side boast one of the most prolific strike-forces in the league. Jordan Rhodes – who nearly every transfer window appears to be linked with Norwich – and Rudy Gestede have already proved to be sharp shooters this season. Rovers currently sit in 5th place with four points from their opening two matches, and are likely to name the same side that defeated Blackpool 2-1 on Saturday. Last season, Blackburn finished just two points outside the play-offs in 8th place and they look to finally have found stability since their relegation from the Premier League two years ago.
Verdict
Hopefully, Norwich will be able to ride their wave of momentum and grind out a win in a tough test, but Blackburn’s front line is something to be feared. There will be goals; Norwich and Blackburn are similar in the fact that they both host a weak defence yet have strong goal-scoring ability and there have been eight goals in total in the past two meetings. With the roar of an optimistic Carrow Road crowd behind them, the boys should manage to grab three points.
Prediction: Norwich 2-1 Blackburn
