Match Pack: Norwich City v Watford

Norwich City's positive start to 2024 has seen the Canaries well and truly throw their name into the hat when it comes to potential play-off candidates.

They are only two points off the final play-off position in ninth, four points and two places better off than the Hornets at present.

David Wagner's team endured a nightmare period from late September to early November, losing eight out of 10 matches, including a 6-2 thrashing against Plymouth Arygle.

However, the side bounced back, with their points total of 11 in 2024 bettered only by four other Championship sides, having lost just once in their last six league outings.

Watford have won eight of their last 11 away league games against Norwich (L3), winning each of the last four in a row while conceding just one goal.

Watford are unbeaten in their last seven league games on the road (W4 D3); they last went on a longer run in a single Championship season in April 2015 (nine games).

Only Millwall (24), Swansea (23), Coventry (21) and Plymouth (19) have lost more points from winning positions in the Championship this season than Norwich (17), two of which came last time out against QPR.

Valérien Ismaël confirmed Vakoun Bayo will be unavaiable for this fixture having been substituted off after just two minutes against Leicester City on Saturday.

"I think we need to wait to see exactly what is the type of injury and how bad it is. We expect Bayo to miss a couple of weeks,” the Head Coach said.

In positive news, Edo Kayembe will return to the matchday squad after a period on the sidelines, although he is not quite ready to start.

Jeremy Ngakia has also ramped up his recovery, with the right-back now back in full training with the first-team squad. He is set to return to action for at least 45 minutes with the Under-21s on the weekend.

For Norwich, top goalscorer Jonathan Rowe is set to miss tomorrow's match with a suspected hamstring injury.

Shane Duffy will also miss out.

Wesley Hoedt, Watford Defender:

"We are entering a very important game because we really need a win, so we need to be up for the fight tomorrow.

"We have lost three in a row now which is obviously definitely not what we want, so it is time for us to bounce back and I think if we can be at our game a little bit more, and bring another 10 per cent to the table, then we can definitely beat Norwich."

David Wagner, Norwich City Head Coach:

"What excites me is it is another big challenge. We know what we like to do, we know how we like to do it and hopefully we can execute at the final level.

"They will have some chances tomorrow, this is not avoidable but we have to make sure there are not a lot and the chances they have, we kill them."

Overall:

Won: 35 Drawn: 29 Lost: 43

Last Six:

November 2023: Watford 3-2 Norwich City (Championship) January 2023: Norwich City 0-1 Watford (Championship) October 2022: Watford 2-1 Norwich City (Championship) January 2022: Watford 0-3 Norwich City (Premier League) September 2021: Norwich City 1-3 Watford (Premier League) April 2021: Norwich City 0-1 Watford (Championship)