Preview: Swansea City vs. Norwich City – prediction, team news, lineups

Norwich City and Swansea City square off in the Championship on Friday night looking to strengthen their bid for automatic promotion.

While the leaders currently hold a five-point advantage over their hosts, Swansea possess a game in hand on the Canaries ahead of the fixture at the Liberty Stadium.

Match preview

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Having suffered just one defeat in 12 Championship matches, it is difficult to criticise the progression of Daniel Farke‘s side with any real justification.

Nevertheless, the Canaries are currently enduring their least productive period since the early weeks of the season, recording just three wins in seven outings.

Norwich have also been restricted to six goals during that period, something which will undoubtedly be of concern to Farke ahead of an important phase of the campaign.

On the plus side, just one goal has been conceded in five league fixtures, but Farke is aware that teams will begin to eat into their advantage if they do not improve at the other end of the pitch.

Norwich have failed to score in their last three contests in all competitions, their last goal coming in the 76th minute of their meeting with Bristol City on January 20.

Opponents Swansea have endured issues in attack for much of the season, a problem which led to Steve Cooper bringing in several fresh faces during the transfer window.

However, 13 goals have now been scored during their last five matches in all competitions, including three against improving Rotherham United last weekend.

The Welsh outfit have put together a seven-match unbeaten streak in the second tier, keeping within touching distance of the Canaries ahead of their highly-anticipated encounter on Friday.

While Brentford remain a factor in the title race, Cooper will be fully focused on winning the games in front of them, particularly with several fixtures against lower-placed teams scheduled for the next couple of weeks.

Norwich prevailed in the reverse fixture back on November 7, relying on Marco Stiepermann‘s 84th-minute goal to get them over the line at Carrow Road.

Swansea City Championship form: WDWWDW
Swansea City form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Norwich City Championship form: DWWWDD
Norwich City form (all competitions): WWWLDD

Team News

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Cooper will be able to call up Kyle Naughton after the defender completed his one-match suspension.

However, the Swansea boss could stick with the same team which started against Rotherham, leaving new arrivals Jordan Morris and Morgan Whittaker to occupy places on the substitutes’ bench.

Norwich will again be without Emiliano Buendia, who serves the second of his two-game ban for his red card against Middlesbrough.

Kenny McLean, Kieran Dowell and Onel Hernandez are all pushing for recalls to the side after their late outings at Millwall on Tuesday.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Cabango, Bennett, Guehi; Roberts, Grimes, Hourihane, Bidwell; Dhanda; Lowe, Ayew

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis; Rupp, Skipp; Hernandez, Vrancic, Cantwell; Pukki

We say: Swansea City 1-1 Norwich City

Having missed out on opportunities to extend their lead at the top, Norwich are now under pressure to avoid defeat against one of their biggest rivals. However, that scenario could bring the best out of Farke’s squad, and we expect an entertaining draw to be played out in South Wales.