NORWICH CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 5th April 2014, 3:00pm
Carrow Road

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 59th league and cup meeting between the two clubs. The Baggies currently lead the way in the victory stakes with 24 wins compared to the Canaries' 19.

The Baggies' last game on this date came in 2010 when a last minute Chris Brunt goal earned Albion a 1-1 draw away at Watford. The club's last win on April 5 came in 1997 when they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in a League Division One encounter at Bramall Lane.

The Canaries' last game on April 5 came in 2004 when they ran out 5-3 winners in an eight goal thriller at Burnley.

Albion have won five of their last eight league games against Norwich but the Canaries have won three of the last four.

The Baggies have won just two out of their last 22 league and cup games.

Jonas Olsson will make his 200th Albion appearance if he plays a part in the game.

Albion's last six games: Cardiff City (H) 3-3; Hull City (A) 0-2; Swansea City (A) 2-1; Manchester United (H) 0-3; Fulham (H) 1-1; Chelsea (H) 1-1.

City's last six games: Swansea City (A) 0-3; Sunderland (H) 2-0; Southampton (A) 2-4; Stoke City (H) 1-1; Aston Villa (A) 1-4; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 1-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Pepe Mel is boosted by the return of a number of players ahead of the game at Carrow Road.

Jonas Olsson returns following his two match suspension whilst Victor Anichebe is available again after shrugging off his hamstring problem. Claudio Yacob and Billy Jones have returned to training following their recent injuries and could also figure in the game.

Captain Chris Brunt remains out although he could return in time for next week's game against Spurs.

Squad from: Foster, Myhill, Reid, Jones, Ridgewell, McAuley, Olsson, Dawson, Morrison, Sinclair, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Yacob, Gera, Sessegnon, Anichebe, Vydra, Berahino, Bifouma, O'Neil, D Daniels, Amalfitano, Lugano, Roofe,

Norwich City

Centre-half Michael Turner returns to the Canaries squad for the first time since New Year's Day following his hamstring injury whilst Elliott Bennett could also return following a lengthy lay-off after the winger appeared for the under-21s on Thursday.

Joseph Yobo faces a late test on his calf problem but Canaries boss Chris Hughton remains confident the Nigerian defender will be available.

Midfielder Leroy Fer (hamstring) is out.

Squad from: Ruddy, Martin, Bassong, Turner, Olsson, Tettey, Howson, Snodgrass, Redmond, Elmander, van Wolfswinkel, Bunn, R Bennett, Pilkington, Hooper, Gutierrez, Johnson, Hoolahan, Becchio, Whittaker, Yobo.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Pepe Mel:

“The most important thing is the football. What the fans want to know is who is going to play and how we’re going to play. What we’re going to try and do is play like we did during the first half-an-hour against Cardiff. But with Norwich it’s almost as if it is two different teams, two versions, - the team that plays at home and the team that plays away. We’re actually going to be facing the better version of Norwich. Norwich at home are a very strong team and it’s going to be a very difficult game.”

www.wba.co.uk

City boss Chris Hughton:

“They’re a team that’s fighting with us to keep a good position in this league, and they’ve got some very good players so we can’t afford to underestimate them. We are at home, so whichever way that we do it it’s three points that we want and need. It’s at Carrow Road so we haven’t got to worry too much about the opposition.

“The Club has done great in their preparations for these games, but of course the really important thing is that we as a team give the supporters enough for them to get behind us.”

www.canaries.co.uk

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 2/1, Norwich City Win: 5/4, Draw: 11/5.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anichebe 7/1, Vydra 7/1, Thievy 15/2, Berahino 8/1, Sessegnon 8/1, Dorrans 12/1, Morrison 12/1, Roofe 14/1, Sinclair 14/1, Gera 16/1, Amalfitano 16/1, Mulumbu 20/1, Dawson 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Lugano 25/1, Yacob 25/1, D Daniels 33/1, Jones 33/1, Olsson 33/1, Reid 33/1.

Norwich City: Hooper 11/2, van Wolfswinkel 7/1, Elmander 7/1, Becchio 15/2, Snodgrass 15/2, Hoolahan 9/1, Redmond 9/1, Fer 11/1, Pilkington 12/1, Howson 12/1, Johnson 16/1, E Bennett 16/1, Tettey 20/1, Gutierrez 25/1, R Bennett 25/1, Martin 33/1, Bassong 33/1, Whittaker 33/1, Olsson 33/1, Turner 33/1.

REFEREE

Mark Clattenburg (County Durham)

Clattenburg has refereed two Albion games so far this season - the 2-0 defeat at home to Norwich in December and the 4-3 loss at Aston Villa in January.

The County Durham official has so far taken charge of two Norwich games during 2013/14 - the aforementioned 2-0 win over Albion in December and the 2-1 defeat at Cardiff City in February.

Clattenburg has issued 118 yellow and two red cards in his 35 games so far this season.

A full run-down of Clattenburg's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion have sold out of their complete allocation of tickets for the game.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny intervals, 15°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT CARROW ROAD

Norwich City 4-0 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 12th May 2013, 3:00pm

Norwich City: Ruddy; R Martin, Bassong, R Bennett, Garrido; Snodgrass (E Bennett 77), Johnson, Howson, Pilkington; Hoolahan (Tettey 77), Holt (Becchio 86). Subs not used: Bunn (gk), Whittaker, Jackson, Barnett.

Goalscorers: Snodgrass 25, Holt 62, McAuley 65 (own goal), Howson 90

Booked: Hoolahan 71 (foul)

Albion: Foster; Reid (Jones HT), McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Yacob, Morrison, Mulumbu; Rosenberg (Brunt HT), Long, Lukaku (Odemwingie 80). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Tamas, Ridgewell, Dorrans.

Booked: Olsson 48 (foul)

Attendance: 26,837

Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

Norwich confirmed their Barclays Premier League survival with an emphatic victory over West Brom at Carrow Road. Robert Snodgrass gave the Canaries a half-time lead before a Ben Foster howler gifted Grant Holt the second and former Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley's own goal prompted Delia Smith to dance with delight. The Baggies were woeful and Jonny Howson scored a spectacular late fourth as Chris Hughton's men claimed a third win in 20 Premier League games to make certain of their top-flight status ahead of next week's final day trip to Manchester City. FA Cup winners Wigan, who play Arsenal on Tuesday, meet Aston Villa on the final day of the season, meaning at least one of the sides below Norwich will drop points this term. Unlike their hosts, West Brom had little to play for, with eighth or ninth place their only possible finishing position.

Steve Clarke made five changes for the visitors, while Hughton made a solitary, but significant change following the defeat to Villa. John Ruddy, back in goal for the first time since November following a thigh injury, was the quieter of the England goalkeepers early on, but Norwich did not test Foster despite a lively start. Wes Hoolahan's movement was a particular nuisance for the Baggies and the industry of Snodgrass was troublesome, too. Snodgrass created an opportunity for the Canaries as the ball broke for Anthony Pilkington, who fired a left-footed shot Foster could only parry away. A corner followed which the visitors failed to adequately clear before going behind. Holt crossed, Ryan Bennett won a header down towards Hoolahan, whose attempt to turn the ball in was saved by Foster. The ball ricocheted into the left side of the area and Snodgrass swept a left-footed effort into the roof of the net for his seventh of the season. Norwich's attempts to build on their advantage floundered as they frequently relinquished possession, but fortunately for the hosts, Albion were lacklustre and appeared to have adopted the attitude of some of their fans, who brought beach balls and other holiday inflatables to Norfolk. Hoolahan tried to provide a spark for City and saw his dipping shot from 30 yards tipped over by Foster. Snodgrass' set-piece resulted in a melee and the ball hit Jonas Olsson on the arm, but referee Howard Webb adjudged it was ball-to-hand contact and rejected penalty appeals.

Clarke reacted to his side's insipid first-half showing by introducing Billy Jones for Reid and fit-again captain Chris Brunt for Markus Rosenberg, but it made little difference early on. Olsson survived another handball appeal when Pilkington failed to connect with Holt's knockdown from a Russell Martin free-kick before the Baggies defender hauled down Holt and was booked. Snodgrass then hesitated when through on goal and Olsson recovered to nick the ball.Foster spilled a Bradley Johnson cross and Holt could not quite get over a header from a Snodgrass cross as Norwich kept up the pressure. The hosts had the second their play deserved after 62 minutes - and it was a gift from Foster. The goalkeeper met Hoolahan's prod forward with a mis-kick which allowed Holt to walk the ball in, igniting chants of "We are staying up". Delight turned to jubilation when Norwich had their third as McAuley, under pressure from Bennett, turned a Snodgrass set-piece into his own net. Foster saved a Pilkington shot which appeared destined for the bottom corner before Holt was given an ovation as he made way of three minutes from time. There was still time for a fourth as Howson cut in from the right, received a return pass from Holt's replacement Luciano Becchio, and found the top corner.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

None

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Mark Barham, Leon Barnett, Geoff Barnsley, Trevor Benjamin, Ron Bradley, Paul Crichton, David Cross, Fernando Derveld, Robert Earnshaw, Jimmy Edwards, Ken Foggo, Ruel Fox, Asa Hartford, John Hartson, Gerry Howshall, Andy Johnson, Lee Marshall, Paul Peschisolido, Mike Phelan, Colin Suggett, Andy Townsend, Steve Walford and Brian Whitehouse.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS NORWICH CITY