By the time Norwich City kick-off at 5:30pm on Saturday evening, there’s a very good chance that they’ll be sitting in second place in the Championship table as Leeds United are likely to defeat Bolton Wanderers earlier in the same day.
Daniel Farke‘s side are in the midst of an incredible run of form. Since losing 1-0 at home to Stoke City in early October, the Canaries have won eight and drawn one of their nine league games, with their only defeat in that time coming in a League Cup tie against Bournemouth.
Bristol City’s form has been indifferent all season, hence their mid-table position in the league table, but they are unbeaten in three games, having defeated Ipswich Town and Birmingham City, either side of a draw with Millwall.
In a rather strange quirk, first placed Norwich and 13th placed Bristol City have both conceded 24 league goals this season, but the standout difference between the two sides is that Norwich have been able to score 38 goals (only Aston Villa and West Brom have scored more) whilst The Robins have only found the back of the net 25 times.
Norwich are obviously the clear favourites to win the game, such has been their dominance over the last month, but playing away from home in the Championship is never easy and Leeds fans will be watching the game live on TV, hoping for Farke’s men to slip up.
The Yorkshire-based side are still favourites to win the Championship with Norwich second favourites, and those wishing to potentially back a title winner can look at some excellent English Championship Football Betting Promotions & Free Bets. The odds, as they stand, have Leeds at 2/1, with Norwich out at 7/2.
That seems relatively fair, given how well both teams have done so far. Norwich, of course, didn’t start as well as Leeds, hence the reduction in price. If both sides continue their recent form, you’d expect the odds for both to shorten significantly, perhaps even as soon as after the Christmas break, if the pair enter the new year unscathed.
In terms of betting on likely goalscorers, Norwich will be backing on Teemu Pukki to continue his excellent form in front of goal. The Finnish star has found the back of the net 12 times in the league this season, including an injury-time winner against Bolton last time out, which makes him the third highest scorer in the Championship this season.
The Robins have found goals hard to come by, but they’ll be hoping that either Famara Diedhiou or Andreas Weimann to add to their five league goals this season in front of what they’ll hope to be a raucous crowd at Ashton Gate.
It won’t just be Leeds fans hoping that Norwich slip up in this potentially tricky away tie though. The Canaries sit just six points above both Sheffield United and Derby County and if they win their games, against West Brom and Nottingham Forest, respectively, then a loss for the Canaries will see that gap reduce to just three points.
The promotion race in the Championship will, as ever, go right down to the wire but the longer Norwich can maintain their excellent form, the more chance they have of getting back into the Premier League, a place where everybody connected with the club thinks they belong.
For Bristol City, a win will not only move them closer to a playoff place but will fill them with confidence going into the busy festive period.
