Stoke vs Norwich Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 16/03/2024, 02:53  by Daniel Ngulu in Championship Predictions

Stoke City will hope to take another big leap in their survival quest when they host Norwich City in the Championship. The two sides sit on opposite ends going to this game, Stoke 19th and Norwich City sixth. A 2-1 away win at Preston lifted Stoke City to 41 points, three above the relegation zo0ne. They will do themselves a massive favor if they can beat Norwich, with the survival race heating up in a crowded bottom half. The win over Preston was their second in three matches but only their 11th in 37 league games. Seven defeats in their last 10 matches will not inspire a lot of confidence going into this game. Having won two of three home games might however lift spirits in a campaign that has so far been disappointing. Despite recent gains, their form at home remains an area of improvement. Stoke City have managed just two wins in 12 home matches in all competitions. They even failed to score in seven of their last 12 home matches.

Norwich will enter this game targeting three points to aid in their top six push. There are 27 points still to play for but Norwich are 21 points behind the automatic promotion spots. It will only be logical for them to target the promotion playoffs, the reason three points here are crucial. The importance of a win here is emphasized further by the fact just a point separates them from the eighth placed side. Having dominated this fixture, Norwich will go into this game very confident. They won the reverse fixture 1-0, courtesy of Jack Stacey’s lone strike. That was their sixth unbeaten meeting with Stoke City. Norwich have won four of those six matches. It also helps that they are coming from a massive win in their last game, having thrashed Rotherham United 5-0. With that win, they recovered from a 3-1 loss away to Middlesbrough in the earlier game. Norwich have one loss and five wins in their last eight matches. Six times in their last nine matches, they scored more than a goal. However, there will have to be some improvement away from home, Norwich having failed to win in five straight away games.