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Norwich logo
Championship
Aug 16, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

3-0

Johnson (32'), Grabban (59'), Tettey (61')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Norwich City vs. Watford

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between recently-relegated Norwich and Watford at Carrow Road.

Norwich City have endured a rocky start to life back in the Championship, but they will be keen to focus on matters on the pitch once again when they host Watford at Carrow Road this Saturday.

Despite many tipping newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers to do well this season, their 1-0 victory over the recently-relegated Canaries last Sunday was something of a shock.

To make matters worse for Neil Adams's side, Martin Olsson was sent off in the defeat and has subsequently been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for an alleged push on referee Simon Hooper.

There were unsavoury scenes in the stands too as two Norwich fans have been identified and suspended as a result of alleged racist behaviour at Molineux.

Add to that the continued speculation over a number of the club's players and it certainly hasn't been a quiet week for Adams to deal with.

However, he will be keen to draw a line under those events this weekend as his side feature at Carrow Road in a competitive match for the first time this season.

Having not had a League Cup match during the week, the hosts have no new injury concerns for Saturday, but will be without the suspended Olsson.

Watford, on the other hand, got off to a flying start last weekend, brushing aside Bolton Wanderers with a 3-0 victory at Vicarage Road.

As a result, they come into this match sitting pretty in second place after the first round of fixtures, and hopes are high that they can make a stronger push for the playoffs this season.

Troy Deeney and the returning Matej Vydra were both on the scoresheet last weekend, and that duo will be key for the Hornets this season should the club hang on to the former.

Victory over Stevenage in midweek made it four goals scored and none conceded in their opening two matches, although the defence is likely to face a much sterner test at Carrow Road.

Manager Giuseppe Sannino is reportedly close to bringing in one or two new faces in the coming days, while he will also have Keith Andrews back for selection in the league after he sat out against his parent club last weekend.

Mathias Ranegie, Ikechi Anya and Craig Cathcart are all injury worries, but Sean Murray is available having come on as a late sub in midweek.

Recent form

Norwich: DLWWDL

Watford: DDLDWW

Possible starting lineups

Norwich: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Garrido; Bennett, Johnson, Hoolahan, Surman; Grabban, Redmond

Watford: Gomes; Tamas, Ekstrand, Angella; Paredes, Abdi, Tozser, Pudil; McGugan; Deeney, Vydra

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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