Preview: Norwich – Town

By Aston
April 21 2007

STB brings you team news, manager previews, betting odds and officials ahead of Towns game against Norwich City on Sunday (KO noon).

Norwich look set to be with out a number of key players: Andy Hughes, Darren Huckerby, Dion

Dublin and Lee Croft all took knocks against Burnley Tuesday night. Youssef Safri, Luke Chadwick, Simon Lappin, Gary Doherty, Chris Brown and Peter Thorne are all set to miss out.

 

Norwich manager Peter Grant: “All the boys that came off the other night are very doubtful, you've got Hucks, you've got Dion and you've got Crofty. From what I've seen since the Burnley match they are very doubtful but life goes on like that and I see it as an opportunity for another player. There's no use moping about it. We'll be ready for it.

 

“Sometimes it is an injury to one of your key players that prompts the emergence of somebody else. You only have to look at how Chrissy Martin came to the fore after (Robert) Earnshaw's injury.

 

“For our boys now it is their chance, it is up to them to go and grab it. I made my debut for Celtic against Rangers and my debut for Scotland was against England. You don't get too many better debuts than that.

 

“That's the way our boys will be looking at it. At the end of the day when your chance comes along then you've got to be ready for it. I would have no qualms about putting any of the boys in.”

 

Town are without Jason De Vos who has recently underwent surgery on a fractured bone in his foot, Owen Garvan and Lewis Price are both doubts.

 

Town assistant manager Bryan Klug: Klug said: “It will always be a heated atmosphere. From both clubs’ perspective, the derby match is always a big deal.

 

“In many ways it is an ideal game at this time of the year. Both clubs will be disappointed to be in the position they are but we are where we are, so we want to finish the season on a high and this is an ideal game to have.

 

“We are still chasing that consistency and, over the past nine games, it has been better. Sometimes very good, but at other times it could have been better and we need to improve on that.

 

“Players need to be cool and we have a lot of young players who will learn from this. It is a good test for them.

 

“Norwich will have a few of their young ones involved too.”

 

Should Town beat Norwich tomorrow it will be the first time since 1992/1993 that they have completed the double over Norwich. They will also top the East Anglian Mini-League consisting of: Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester, Southend and Luton.

 

Betting Odds (found using Sportsnetwork Odds Checker):

Norwich: 7/5

Draw: 47/20

Town: 21/10

 

Referee: S J Tanner

Assistants: G J Lewis and S W Tincknell

Fourth Official: G J Sutton

 

Sources: Pink Un and EADT

 

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