Bristol City vs Norwich Prediction: Robins can break into top six

Bristol City rescued a late point at Sheffield United in midweek to keep themselves in the hunt for the play-offs, and they currently sit just two points off the top six as they prepare to face Norwich at Ashton Gate (20,00, Sky Sports+). 

The Canaries threw away a two-goal lead at home to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek which surely ends any lingering chances they had of securing a play-off place at the end of the campaign. Below you can find my Bristol City vs Norwich predictions for this Friday night clash. 

Football Odds

Team News

Liam Manning will have to decide whether Mark Sykes’ late equaliser against the Blades is enough to earn him a spot in the starting line-up, with Max Bird a contender to drop out. Anis Mehmeti and Nahki Wells will also both be pushing to get back into his plans having come off the bench while Cam Pring could offer natural balance on the left. 

Ayman Benarous and Luke McNally are out for the season with ACL injuries, with Ross McCrorie and Josh Campbell-Slowey also sidelined. Sinclair Armstrong will be the one to drop out of Manning’s XI if changes are made in the final third. 

Norwich’s injury issues are well-documented but Josh Sargent will return to the XI here having started on the bench on Tuesday. Angus Gunn, Ben Chrisene, Gabriel Forsyth, George Long, Lewis Dobbin, Marcelino Nunez, Liam Gubbs and Matej Jurasek are all out as Johannes Hoff Thorup counts the cost of his walking wounded. 

Borja Sainz scored his first goal since November and will hope to get back on track for the Golden Boot, while Ante Crnac also found the net and will start alongside Sainz and Sargent. 

Bristol City vs Norwich Odds

Bristol City are priced up as the favourites to win this game at 11/10, giving them an implied win probability of 47%. The Robins have won nine of their 18 home league games at Ashton Gate this term, while Norwich have just four away victories and can be backed at 5/2. A draw is available at 12/5 if you fancy Bristol City to share the spoils for the third-consecutive match. 

Over 2.5 goal has come in during 49% of Norwich’s games this season, and can be backed at 10/11 while BTTS is 8/11. Wells is the favourite to score first at 5/1 having scored seven in the league so far. 

Bristol City to win @ 11/10

Got to back the home side to win this one. They got a creditable draw at Sheffield United last time out, plus if they win here they will go fifth in the league and into those treasured play-off positions. Bristol City have flirted with the top six over the past few years, but they’ve never made their move. 

Under Manning, they are looking slightly improved compared to the team that has been tied to Preston North End in mid-table over the last few campaigns. But they need to win these type of games if they are to actually finish in those play-off spots.

Although I love Sargent and Sainz, Norwich just have too many injuries and are too defensively frail to get something in my eyes. The midweek collapse concerns me, and I can’t help but feel they will lose again in this one. 

Bet Builder - Sargent to score, Bristol City to win, Kellen Fisher to get carded @ 33/1

I’ll put together a small Bet Builder for this Friday night fixture as well. I think Bristol City will win as I’ve stated, but I also can’t help but back Sargent to score. I backed him to find the net against Wednesday and he failed to do so having come off the bench, but he has still scored eight in his last nine. 

He should be able to find the net given he will start, while I’ll also add Kellen Fisher to get carded to boost us up to 33/1. He has picked up eight yellows already this season and will be tested against the likes of Mehmeti, Wells or Armstrong. 

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