Hull vs Norwich Prediction: Canaries to endure more awayday pain

Hull City and Norwich City will look to put disappointing 1-1 draws in the FA Cup third round behind them at the MKM Stadium on Friday night (KO, 20:00), as they face off in the opening fixture of the Championship weekend.

The Tigers were unable to overcome a managerless Birmingham City side at the same venue last Saturday, while Norwich were held at home by League One strugglers Bristol Rovers on the same day.

Both sides face FA Cup replays in midweek but first, Norwich must make the long trip to East Yorkshire as they bid to do the double over their opponents, having beaten them 2-1 at Carrow Road in the first round of fixtures last August.

Team News

Hull have issues in the striker department following the knee injury sustained by on-loan Manchester City forward Liam Delap. The 20-year-old has scored seven goals this season but now faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

The Tigers did sign a striker at the start of the transfer window in veteran Billy Sharp, but the 37-year-old hasn't started a game since October 22 and is likely to be used from the bench again on Friday.

Scott Twine looks the likeliest to replace Delap, having scored from the bench in their last league game against Sheffield Wednesday, but boss Liam Rosenior could also hand a start to Fabio Carvalho, who joined on loan from Liverpool on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, right-back Cyrus Christie is looking at five weeks out after injuring a tendon in his hamstring, joining Jaden Philogene in the treatment room, while Adama Traore (Mali) and Jean Michael Seri (Ivory Coast) are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with their countries.

On the other side, Hwang Ui-Jo has returned to Nottingham Forest after having his season-long loan cut short by Norwich.

The South Korean striker started the Canaries' last league match against Southampton, so he is likely to be replaced by Josh Sargent, who stepped up his comeback from injury by playing the first half of last weekend's draw against Bristol Rovers. Adam Idah is also in contention to start in attack.

Match Odds

Hull are favourites at 19/20 to win on Friday with Norwich - unsurprisingly given they have picked up just 12 points from 13 games on the road this term - priced at 23/10 for the victory, and the draw at 5/2.

Both teams found the net in the reverse fixture and it's 4/7 for it to happen again this week, while over 2.5 goals can be found at 8/13.

Hull to win and over 2.5 goals @ 8/5

Hull's form since the start of the campaign saw boss Liam Rosenior rewarded with a new three-year contract in December, and they look well-placed to fight for the play-offs until the final furlongs of the season.

The Tigers have proven a tough nut to crack at the MKM Stadium, losing just three times in 13 games at home, and they've won five of their last seven league games there.

Norwich, meanwhile, have been pretty woeful away from Carrow Road. David Wagner's side have only picked up 12 points from their 13 away games in the Championship, with only five clubs posting a worse record.

The Canaries have lost their last two on the road and last tasted success away on December 3, so their hosts on Friday should be licking their lips at the opportunity to collect all three points this week.

Goals could also be in the offing as there have been at least three goals scored in four of Hull's last five Championship home games, while ten of Norwich's 13 away matches have seen the over 2.5 goals bet land.

Over 42.5 booking points @ 6/5

According to the EFL website, only four Championship clubs have picked up more yellow cards than Hull this season. The Tigers have received 61 yellows, as well as one red card, which was later rescinded.

Norwich, meanwhile, are mid-table for yellows with 54 - joint 12th with Plymouth Argyle.

The pair have also been involved in some spiky games lately. Norwich's last game in the league - a 1-1 draw with Southampton - saw five of their players cautioned. On Betfred, this amounts to 50 booking points, with a yellow worth ten points and a red worth 25 points.

The Canaries' last away game was even more prickly, as nine yellows and one red between them and Millwall resulted in 115 booking points.

Four of Hull's last five games against Championship opposition, meanwhile, have seen at least 50 booking points awarded, and the corresponding fixture between these sides in August saw that number hit in the first half alone, with 20 more in the second.

It should be another hard-fought contest on Friday with both clubs desperate to prove their play-off credentials.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.