Norwich entertain Sunderland on Saturday lunch time and both clubs go into the game looking for nothing less than three points as they both fight to escape the drop.
Norwich win and they go seven points clear meaning they will hold a massive advantage going into the last handful of games. If Sunderland can pull off a win the gap will be just one point with a game in hand.
It’s all to play for, the game is massive.
Vital Quotes:
Sam Allardyce: ‘I still think at this late stage of the season, it’s rare when you are in this position that you score more than one, so clean sheets are still a lot of my big focus with the players.
‘The more clean sheets they keep between now and the end of the season, the better chance they give themselves to survive because one goal will win them three points.
‘If they want any explanation why I keep going on about that, look at Leicester – five clean sheets on the trot extending their lead in the Premier League.
‘Other teams who have got better players, who play what everybody would call more entertaining football, if you like, it doesn’t really matter to Leicester because they are the ones who are producing the results.’
Norwich City Team News:
Norwich are likely to be without Timm Klose after he jarred his knee in last weekend`s defeat at Crystal Palace.
Sebastien Bassong is expected to deputise in central defence.
Player to watch: Dieumerci Mbokani
Striker on loan from Dynamo Kiev, he has only got five goals for the season but is well capable of giving the Sunderland defence a headache.
Sunderland Team News:
Sunderland striker Duncan Watmore is an option for Sam Allardyce after returning to training following an ankle ligament injury which has kept him out since the beginning of February.
Allardyce otherwise has no fresh selection problems
Player to watch: Jermaine Defoe
Its goals that Sunderland need now so if there ever was the right time for the striker to step up to the plate then this is it.
Scored a lot of important goals in his time, on Saturday we need him to do it again.
Match Facts & Stats
Norwich City have lost none of their last five Premier League meetings with Sunderland (W3 D2 L0).
There has been a red card in three of the last four Premier League meetings between these sides.
Norwich have won only five of their last 19 Premier League matches at Carrow Road (W5 D5 L9).
Sunderland have won just three of their last 27 Premier League away matches (W3 D9 L15).
The Black Cats have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League away games.
Ref Watch:
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant Referees: Scott Ledger, Steve Child.
Fourth Official: Neil Swarbrick.
Match Prediction:
Think the game has draw written all over it …. 1-1.
Next Fixtures:
Apr 24 2016 2:05PM : Arsenal (H)
Apr 30 2016 3:00PM : Stoke City (a)
May 7 2016 3:00PM : Chelsea (H)
May 11 2016 7:45PM : Everton (H)
May 15 2016 3:00PM : Watford (a)
