The Championship‘s weekend fixtures kick off with Bristol City hosting Norwich at Ashton Gate.
Our tipster, and EFL guru, James O’Rourke, is all over this one, and he’s got four picks in mind. Let’s get into James’ Bristol City v Norwich betting tips.
Bristol City v Norwich Bet Builder tips
Both teams to score, yes
Jason Knight to commit 2+ fouls
Borja Sainz to have 1+ shots on target
Kenny McLean to commit 1+ fouls
- A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
WHEN: Friday, 14th of March, 8pm
WHERE: Ashton Gate, Bristol
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Both teams to score, yes
There could easily be something of an open feel to this game.
One would suspect Norwich need the win here knowing a defeat could easily see their gap to the play-off potentially extend to ten points by the end of the weekend. The home side, however, are only a few points behind the top-six, but being at home, they’ll naturally play to win.
Liam Manning’s side may be on a six-match unbeaten streak, but they’ve retained only two clean sheets in their previous 12 encounters.
On the other hand, The Robins also failed to score twice in this period. It is a straight 50-50 split for Bristol City between winning and not winning their Championship home fixtures. Therefore, they can be a little inconsistent, though four of their last six played here ended with each team scoring.
Norwich top the Championship charts when it comes to most matches featuring both teams scoring. Only Leeds have recorded more league goals than they have, so they’re clearly a good bet for scoring goals.
What will concern them more than anything is knowing they’ve kept more clean sheets than only Plymouth at this level.
Jason Knight to commit 2+ fouls
Bristol City currently have three players in their squad who have started every league match this season.
Two of those are Max O’Leary and Zak Vyner, with the other being combative midfielder Jason Knight. To have started each and every match from central midfield is some going, and it highlights that he clearly has a particular role to play in the side. The Republic of Ireland international can chip in with the occasional goal (three in the league this season), but it is out of possession where he comes into his own.
The recently turned 24-year-old is ranked second in the squad in terms of number of fouls committed in league action. Interestingly, he is also the most fouled player as well, which again reflects the all-action style of his game.
There have been 11 clashes for both club and country this season when Knight has made two or more fouls. Three of those came within his last six appearances for Manning’s side.
With Norwich a dangerous attacking team, he will likely be called upon in defensive situations to either make a foul or two or perhaps be forced into doing so.
Borja Sainz to have 1+ shots on target
Borja Sainz ended a just over two-month wait for a goal when opening the scoring in Norwich’s 2-3 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
Sainz went 13 without a goal and also served a lengthy suspension, which further prolonged his frustration, but that is now a thing of the past. Having netted again, the Spaniard could really kick on now. Prior to that lengthy goalless sequence, he had started the season by scoring 16 goals in 20 matches in all competitions. When he is hot, he is hot in front of goal.
We’ve already touched upon the lack of recent clean sheets from Bristol City, and naturally, Sainz is high on the agenda for a likely Norwich goalscorer, along with Josh Sargent.
This is a match The Canaries really need to be looking to win, so getting their top men on the ball in the final third presents them with the best chance to do so. Sainz has had a shot on target in 23 of his 34 appearances for the club this season, so he is always prepared to have a go.
Kenny McLean to commit 1+ fouls
Scotland international Kenny McLean recently had a four-match absence from the team, then returned as a sub versus Oxford and started the last game against Sheff Wed.
His importance to the team cannot be questioned, and his manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, has practically said so. McLean is super tidy in possession and will happily receive the ball under pressure. This cannot always go to plan, which makes him a contender to make a foul.
Despite playing as the midfield anchor, he doesn’t actually have a huge amount of fouls committed to his name. However, he is quite streaky in terms of when he does.
Earlier this season, he went 11 straight games for club and country when he fouled an opponent. As mentioned, he has been out of the side recently due to illness, but he has committed a foul in four of his last seven appearances.
Bristol City are a clever team on the ball and can really frustrate the opposition, like they did to Sheffield United on Tuesday, so frustrations could easily boil from the Norwich midfield, especially.
Norwich v Oxford Bet Builder tips
Josh Sargent to have 2+ shots on target
Borja Sainz to be fouled 2+ times
Borja Sainz to score or assist
Ciaron Brown to commit 1+ fouls
- A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 9/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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