Sunderland v Norwich: Black Cats to win a low-scoring encounter

 

A huge game for both sides this weekend as they aim to relieve some pressure by taking maximum points from this clash. Jonno Turner looks at the best bets from this  relegation six-pointer...

 

With just nine games remaining in the Premier League calendar, these are tense times for the sides down the bottom of the table - not least Sunderland and Norwich, who  meet at the Stadium of Light on Sunday lunch time sitting in 15th and 16th place in the division, respectively.

 

Neither of these sides are safe yet - and both managers will be desperate to take maximum points from this clash in order to put some much needed space between  themselves and the relegation zone.

 

Home boss Martin O'Neill sees his side go into this one in miserable form - without a win in six outings, and no clean sheets from their last five, which could have  knocked confidence in the Mackems camp.

 

The hosts are once again without captain Lee Cattermole, but Danny Rose and James McClean are back in contention - and they could be massive pluses to Sunderland, if  deemed fit.

 

Norwich boss Chris Hughton is once again without John Ruddy between the sticks, who is expected to remain absent until the end of the month, and Anthony Pilkington is  also likely to miss out on this clash, after feeling his hamstring.

 

The Canaries are in a nightmare run of form - and have recorded just one win in 10 games - and will be desperate to arrest that slump quickly, as a loss here could do  serious damage to their survival hopes.

 

 

Under 2.5 goals

 

For all of Sunderland's recent woes, their defensive record on their own patch is not too shabby - and four clean sheets from their last seven Premier League outings  at the Stadium of Light suggests that O'Neill's side stand a good chance of holding out their guests.

 

Titus Bramble and John O'Shea have formed a formidable partnership in the heart of the backline, and they will be looking to nullify the physical threat of Norwich  forward Grant Holt, who has only managed one goal since the turn of the year.

 

But it's not just Holt who has been struggling to find his scoring boots.

 

The Canaries have been suffering a widespread barren spell in front of goal - and no notches in their last three away from Carrow Road will hardly have their hosts  shaking in their boots ahead of this clash.

 

On that evidence, I don't think there will be a flood of goals in this tie, which makes Under 2.5 goals an attractive proposition at 1.89.

 

That bet would have succeeded in two of Sunderland's last three on their own patch, and in five of Norwich's last seven - and with a tight game in prospect, I reckon  that could be worth a back.

 

 

First Scorer

 

As expected, 11 goal Steven Fletcher is out on his own odds-wise to notch the first mark of the game, and at 5.2 he is the shortest by some way having scored the  first goal of the game on more occasions than any other Premier League player this campaign - but there is also real value in the rest of the market.

 

Fletcher's strike partner Danny Graham is a slightly more generous 7.2 to break the deadlock for the hosts, but I fancy five-goal midfielder Craig Gardner as  a decent shout to get on the scoresheet first - and at 14.5 he is real value to do so.

 

He has been deployed at right back in recent weeks, but with Rose set to slot back in, chances are he will be deployed in more attacking areas - and, if so, will be  keen to get himself back on the scoresheet.

 

The ex-Villa man is well capable of striking one, and is dangerous from set pieces, too - and, having scored as many goals as Norwich top scorer Holt this season, he  is clearly in a rich vein of scoring form this campaign.

 

For the visitors, Holt is just 8.4, whereas Kei Kamara, who is expected to start alongside the ex-Rochdale man after notching one in his first four games  since moving to Norfolk from MLS side Sporting KC in January, is priced at a more generous 12.5.

 

 

Bookings

 

Sunderland have been served up nine yellow cards in their last five outings, and with this tie something of a relegation six-pointer, I expect it to be another hard- fought encounter.

 

O'Neill will have certainly fired up his charges with comments in the media this week - stating that the Mackems 'lack true real ability' - and that bombshell was  obviously designed as a challenge to his players, who, the boss admits, simply 'must win' this game.

 

Norwich are no saints themselves - with 14 cautions from their last five - and with Chris Hoy the man in the middle, I think we could see him add to his 37 bookings  from 18 outings this season.

 

 

Summary

 

For all the talk of crisis in the North East, the hosts' form in front of their own fans isn't actually too bad - they have lost just one of their last four league  games.

 

Five goals scored against West Ham and Fulham will have boosted the home side, and they have shown that they have real quality in the final third, which I think that  could make the difference in this clash.

 

Norwich on the other hand, have shipped 13 goals in their last five away from Carrow Road, and I think that there is little chance of a clean sheet for them here -  which will leave them with an uphill battle, as they are hardly firing at the other end either.

 

Indeed, Norwich have conceded four or more goals in six league games this season, and that is more than any other side in the division.

 

I fancy Sunderland to come out on top in this one at 2.12 - or if you're really daring, the 4.0 available on Sunderland to win -1 might take your  fancy.

 

Recommended Bets

Under 2.5 goals @ 1.89

Craig Gardner to score first @ 14.5

Sunderland to win -1 @ 4.0

 

Bet HERE

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