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

At a time when the home side sit in ninth place, the visitors to Carrow Road currently occupy the final spot in the playoffs.

Match preview

As soon as his long-time friend Jurgen Klopp announced that he was going to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, David Wagner would have feared that his Norwich side were in the wrong place at the wrong time on Sunday.

That is how it proved with the Canaries going down 5-2 at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round, yet Wagner would have taken positives from scoring twice at the home of the Premier League leaders.

In sharp contrast in the league, their most recent three defeats have all come by 1-0 scorelines, and Norwich have gone eight league fixtures without scoring more than twice in a single game.

On a positive note, though, recording wins over playoff rivals Hull City and West Bromwich Albion in January have kept the East Anglian outfit competitive in a hotly-contested playoff race.

While the most recent narrow defeat at Leeds United naturally did not help, Norwich remain in the top 10 and head into this fixture having not lost at Carrow Road since November 5.

However, they now face one of the form teams in English football in Coventry, who have put together a 12-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

The Sky Blues' solitary defeat in 16 games came by a 2-1 scoreline at second-placed Ipswich Town on December 2, and there have been few signs of Coventry's resurgence slowing down under Mark Robins.

A total of 17 points have been collected from a possible 21 since December 23, one of two draws being earned courtesy of a late equaliser against Bristol City on Tuesday night.

Coventry have an FA Cup fourth-round replay against Sheffield Wednesday to negotiate next week, as well as a potential last-16 showdown with non-league Maidstone United on the horizon.

Nevertheless, despite their being the real prospect of a quarter-final spot being up for grabs, Robins knows that Coventry must take advantage of a schedule when they do not play a team in the top nine until March.

Norwich City Championship form:

L

L

D

W

W

L

Norwich City form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

L

L

Coventry City Championship form:

W

D

W

W

W

D

Coventry City form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

D

D

Team News

Having tinkered with his Norwich XI last time out, Wagner could revert back to much of the team that started against Leeds on January 24.

Ashley Barnes is an option to come into the side in a creative role, as is Christian Fassnacht ahead of Borja Sainz.

Coventry were dealt an injury blow in the week when Ben Sheaf was forced off against Bristol City.

Victor Torp is most likely to come into the midfield as a straight replacement, while Ellis Simms may get the nod over Matt Godden after his goal in midweek.

Joel Latibeaudiere is an option at right-back or centre-back if Robins chooses to further freshen up his side.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; Nunez, McLean; Rowe, Sara, Sainz; Sargent

Coventry City possible starting lineup:

Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Eccles, Torp; Sakamoto, O'Hare, Palmer; Simms

We say: Norwich City 1-1 Coventry City

With Coventry building a head of steam, there is an argument that the Sky Blues are favourites to prevail. However, Norwich deserve credit for hanging about in the playoff race, and we feel that they will do enough to earn a share of the spoils in a competitive encounter.

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