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Norwich v CHELSEA: Preview

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venue: Carrow Road

Date: Wednesday, 26 December

Kick-off: 15.00 GMT

 

Funny old game isn’t it?

Before we played Leeds and Villa, and Norwich had played West Brom, we probably would have come into this game expecting very little. Norwich were on an unbeaten run, we certainly weren’t – and it’s the dreaded Christmas period.  Suddenly, we embarrass a poor Villa side, West Brom take 3 points off the canaries, and we go into today’s game as favourites.

Game on then!

 

MANAGERS’ VIEWS

Ahead of today’s game, Norwich manager Chris Hughton says “They have great attacking options. We experienced that at their place a couple of months ago.  Victor Moses is starting to show his real quality now. Fernando Torres is hitting very good form.  The fact they kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa as well shows the quality and depth they have throughout the squad.  David Luiz playing in midfield is a role everybody felt was a role he could do and he showed some real quality.  They are fairly formidable. They are placed very well in the league with a game in hand. They are still in the Capital One Cup with a great chance to progress (to the final).

At the moment Chelsea are on a high and he [Benitez] will be judged on that.  He will perhaps look at the two teams above them at the moment and think ‘will they go through the season without dropping points?  That is very difficult. Swansea showed against Manchester United that everybody is fighting. If they (Chelsea) put a good run together then everything is possible.”

Chelsea’s interim manager meanwhile……still hasn’t said anything worth writing about.

 

 

SQUAD NEWS

For Norwich, John Ruddy (thigh), Andrew Surman (knee) and Ryan Bennett (knee) are out and the club are assessing the fitness of Grant Holt (hamstring) ad Steven Whittaker (hip) is given as a doubt.

For Chelsea, Oriol Romeu and John Terry (both knee) remain out. Ryan Bertrand (groin) is doubtful but John Mikel Obi is back in contention after completing a three-game ban.

 

 

TEAM NEWS

NORWICH (Possible line-up): Bunn; Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido; Johnson, Tettey; Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Pilkington; Holt.

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Coles; Luiz, Mikel; Moses, Mata, Hazard; Torres.

 

 

LAST SEASON

Norwich 0-0 Chelsea (21st January 2012)

 

 

PREDICTION

We might be unbeaten in our last eight games against Norwich in all competitions but whilst the Canaries have lost just one of their last five Boxing Day fixtures, and we’re unbeaten in our last seven on Boxing Day, those stats hide the fact it’s not exactly a feast on St Stephen’s for us, given we’ve only won six from the last 18, and four of the last five have been draws.

Anyone with their money on more than a point? Me neither.

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