Premier League - Match Preview: Norwich City v Sunderland
Bradley Johnson celebrates putting Norwich ahead
Chris Hughton will be hoping his side’s strong home form will help them return to winning ways in Saturday's encounter with fellow relegation strugglers Sunderland.
The Canaries suffered a sixth consecutive away defeat in the top flight when they were beaten 4-2 by Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, after they had clawed back a three-goal deficit to trail by a single goal before Sam Gallagher’s stoppage-time strike ended their fightback.
That defeat leaves them four points above the relegation zone, and Sunderland, although Gus Poyet's men have three matches in hand over Saturday’s opponents.
Hughton can take confidence in his club's record at Carrow Road record, where they remain unbeaten in 2014. A six-match run in all competitions has seen them win twice and draw four and they have just conceded just two goals during that streak.
For the defeat on the south coast the former Newcastle United manager made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Stoke City earlier this month, with record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel and captain Sebastian Bassong dropping to the bench.
He is likely to make changes again, but the match is expected to come too soon for Michael Turner (hamstring), Jonas Gutierrez (calf) and Elliott Bennett (knee). Centre-back Turner has been sidelined since New Year's day, while midfielder Gutierrez has played just twice since his loan move from Newcastle, but the duo came through 45 minutes of the Under-21s' victory against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday as they close in on a first-team return.
Winger Bennett has not played since August but returned to training this week, while Leroy Fer (hamstring) will remain sidelined for a few more weeks.
Poyet insisted he was remaining calm after watching his side drop points in a goalless draw with fellow relegation contenders Crystal Palace on Saturday. But the Uruguayan will have plenty of cause for concern if his side fail to win for a fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League match.
Sunderland's last top-flight win came at arch-rivals Newcastle United, but that 3-0 success was back on 1 February and they have scored just once in their three Barclays Premier League matches since then.
The visitors have also suffered a League Cup final defeat to Manchester City and an FA Cup quarter-final loss to Hull City since that emphatic win against Alan Pardew's men, so they could do with stopping the rot this weekend.
Poyet will be unable to call upon goalkeeper Keiren Westwood once again.
Norwich City (from): Bunn, Nash, Ruddy, Bassong, R Bennett, Garrido, Martin, Olsson, Whittaker, Hoolahan, Howson, Fox, Johnson, Pilkington, Redmond, Snodgrass, Tettey, Becchio, Elmander, Hooper, Van Wolfswinkel.
Sunderland (from): Mannone, Ustari, Alonso, Bardsley, Brown, Celustka, Cuellar, Diakita, Dossena, O'Shea, Vergini, Roberge, Ba, Bridcutt, Cabral, Cattermole, Colback, Gardner, Giaccherini, Johnson, Ki, Larsson, Mavrias, Vaughan, Borini, Fletcher, Moberg-Karlsson, Scocco
Match Appointments
Referee: Phil Dowd. Assistants: H Lennard, D Eaton. Fourth Official: M Atkinson.
That defeat leaves them four points above the relegation zone, and Sunderland, although Gus Poyet's men have three matches in hand over Saturday’s opponents.
Hughton can take confidence in his club's record at Carrow Road record, where they remain unbeaten in 2014. A six-match run in all competitions has seen them win twice and draw four and they have just conceded just two goals during that streak.
For the defeat on the south coast the former Newcastle United manager made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Stoke City earlier this month, with record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel and captain Sebastian Bassong dropping to the bench.
He is likely to make changes again, but the match is expected to come too soon for Michael Turner (hamstring), Jonas Gutierrez (calf) and Elliott Bennett (knee). Centre-back Turner has been sidelined since New Year's day, while midfielder Gutierrez has played just twice since his loan move from Newcastle, but the duo came through 45 minutes of the Under-21s' victory against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday as they close in on a first-team return.
Winger Bennett has not played since August but returned to training this week, while Leroy Fer (hamstring) will remain sidelined for a few more weeks.
Poyet insisted he was remaining calm after watching his side drop points in a goalless draw with fellow relegation contenders Crystal Palace on Saturday. But the Uruguayan will have plenty of cause for concern if his side fail to win for a fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League match.
Sunderland's last top-flight win came at arch-rivals Newcastle United, but that 3-0 success was back on 1 February and they have scored just once in their three Barclays Premier League matches since then.
The visitors have also suffered a League Cup final defeat to Manchester City and an FA Cup quarter-final loss to Hull City since that emphatic win against Alan Pardew's men, so they could do with stopping the rot this weekend.
Poyet will be unable to call upon goalkeeper Keiren Westwood once again.
Norwich City (from): Bunn, Nash, Ruddy, Bassong, R Bennett, Garrido, Martin, Olsson, Whittaker, Hoolahan, Howson, Fox, Johnson, Pilkington, Redmond, Snodgrass, Tettey, Becchio, Elmander, Hooper, Van Wolfswinkel.
Sunderland (from): Mannone, Ustari, Alonso, Bardsley, Brown, Celustka, Cuellar, Diakita, Dossena, O'Shea, Vergini, Roberge, Ba, Bridcutt, Cabral, Cattermole, Colback, Gardner, Giaccherini, Johnson, Ki, Larsson, Mavrias, Vaughan, Borini, Fletcher, Moberg-Karlsson, Scocco
Match Appointments
Referee: Phil Dowd. Assistants: H Lennard, D Eaton. Fourth Official: M Atkinson.