Derby County vs Norwich Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 08/04/2021, 07:16  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 08/04/2021 at 09:07 in Championship Prediction

Derby County will be hosting Norwich City in the teams’ next Championship match, both heading here on contrasting runs. Derby have 43 points, in 18th place, while Norwich have 87 points and are atop the Championship standings. A 2-0 win over Luton Town sparked talk of revival at Derby but Wayne Rooney’s side was brought back down to earth in a 3-1 loss to Reading.  The hosts are eight points above relegation zone, and with one win in their last nine matches and have played four games more than Rotherham in 22nd. Four clean sheets in their last 15 matches point to what has really been ailing the team. In Derby’s last 11 Championship matches, they’ve won only nine points from the 33 available. They have six wins only in 20 home matches in the Championship but have been doing well lately in the league at home, losing once and winning five of the last eight. They’ve scored two or more goals in four of the last six home matches and failed to score completely in only one of eight. Wayne Rooney will have to do without Lee Gregory in this game, with the forward out with a hamstring injury. His absence will be felt, having scored twice in the last four matches. Also, out of this game will be Martyn Waghorn (hamstring), Jordon Ibe (hamstring), Krystian Bielik (ACL) and Curtis Davies (Achilles).

Norwich lost 1-0 at home in the reverse fixture in October, making it five straight winless outings against Derby but they head to this game a different side. They are coming from a 7-0 win over Huddersfield Town, bouncing back from two straight draws. The draws never threatened to jeopardize their automatic promotion chances and Norwich remain eight points clear at the top. Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia, Norwich’s best attacking duo was on show in the game and doesn’t seem to be slowing down as the journey back to the Premier League looks ever real. They are now unbeaten in 12 Championship matches and head here with six clean sheets in the last 10, while having scored two or more goals in eight of the 12. In only one of the last 15 Championship matches have they conceded more than one goal, the 2-0 loss to Swansea in February. In their last away game, Norwich drew 1-1 with Preston North End but are unbeaten in six away matches, with five wins. In their 20 away matches in the Championship, Norwich have 13 wins. Christoph Zimmermann (hamstring), Adam Idah (hernia), Ben Gibson (ankle), Michael McGovern (knee) and Sam Byram (hamstring) are all ruled out of this game.