Preview: Bristol City vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams neck and neck in the Championship table meet on Saturday afternoon as Bristol City host Norwich City.

Both clubs have four wins, two draws and two defeats from their opening eight games and are only separated in the table on goal difference.

Match preview

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Bristol City, in sixth, lost 1-0 to fellow promotion chasers Bournemouth on Wednesday as Arnaut Danjuma came off the bench to win the match for the Cherries.

It is now four games without a win for Dean Holden 's side, who started the season with four consecutive victories.

Yet they were far from outplayed at the Vitality Stadium, with Danjuma's goal a real moment of quality in a tight contest.

Holden was frustrated after the game as he felt that his side deserved more on the South Coast, with Antoine Semenyo hitting the side netting early on and Famara Diedhiou striking the post.

While the Robins are struggling for form, Norwich in seventh are really hitting their stride, with a respectable 1-1 draw against Brentford on Tuesday following three straight wins.

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They left it late against the Bees though, substitute Kenny McLean finding an equaliser in the 87th-minute with the help of a big deflection.

After a tricky start back in the Championship, Daniel Farke 's side are beginning to show why many people had them down to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

Despite being linked with moves away, players such as Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell and Emi Buendia have all stayed put and are now settled in the side once more.

The statistics show a team really finding their groove - Norwich rank first in the Championship for average shots per game, possession and pass success rate. Despite this, they are yet to win a game this season by more than one goal.

The Canaries have not lost to Bristol City since February 2009, with the Robins failing to win any of the last eight meetings between the two sides.

Bristol City Championship form: WWDLDL

Norwich City Championship form: LLWWWD

Team News

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Dean Holden has a limited number of options to choose from as the injuries continue to mount up at Ashton Gate.

It has been confirmed that Andreas Weimann will spend the rest of the season on the sidelines after tearing his ACL, while Alfie Mawson, Steven Sessegnon, Liam Walsh, Joe Williams and Nathan Baker are all also out.

Nahki Wells and Chris Martin could come in to start after the Robins missed the pair's presence in the attacking third against Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Kenny McLean made himself a contender to start for Norwich by scoring as a substitute in midweek.

Daniel Farke's main selection dilemma comes at left-back, as Xavi Quintilla pulled up in the warm-up against Brentford and could miss Saturday's game too.

Despite having no previous experience in the position, Jacob Sorensen took Quintilla's place in the side and excelled, so could play again. The other option would be to move Max Aarons across to the left, allowing Bali Mumba to start on the right.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Vyner, Kalas, Moore; Hunt, Paterson, Bakinson, O'Dowda, Rowe; Martin, Wells

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Sorensen; Rupp, Skipp; Buendia, Cantwell, Placheta; Pukki

We say: Bristol City 1-2 Norwich City

Bristol City are going through a really tough patch at the moment, made worse by their injury crisis, but Norwich are unlikely to show them any sympathy. The Canaries have not blown any teams away this season but grind out results and should do so again at Ashton Gate.

Top betting tip

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