Norwich v Aston Villa predictions: Visitors could profit from patient approach

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Norwich v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 7.45pm Tuesday

Best bet

Draw-Aston Villa double result
1pt 9-2 general

Team news

Norwich
Brandon Williams returns after being ineligible for the game against parent club Manchester United. Mathias Normann and Ben Gibson could be fit but Grant Hanley is likely to join Christoph Zimmermann, Andrew Omobamidele and Milot Rashica on the sidelines.

Aston Villa
Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore are out but Emi Buendia and Danny Ings could return to the starting 11.

Match preview

Aston Villa stood firm until the final quarter of Saturday's game at Liverpool, the leading goalscorers in the Premier League, so they should fancy their chances against the top flight's weakest attacking unit at Carrow Road.

Liverpool needed a 67th-minute Mohamed Salah penalty to spoil Steven Gerrard's return to Anfield and Norwich, managed by Dean Smith, Gerrard's predecessor at Villa Park, have scored just eight goals in 16 league matches this season.

Villa's five fixtures since Smith's departure have yielded wins over Brighton, Crystal Palace and Leicester as well as narrow defeats to title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City.

However, their former boss Smith has also made a positive start to his career at Norwich, who are still in touch at the bottom of the table despite taking only two points from their first ten matches.

A lack of cutting edge is holding back last season's Championship winners, however. They gave Manchester United a good contest on Saturday, when both teams ended the game with five shots on target and United were grateful for a 75th-minute Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a couple of smart saves from David de Gea.

A goalless first half looks a big runner at Carrow Road given that both teams have struggled to score early goals but the draw-Villa double result is a more tempting bet.

Norwich skipper Grant Hanley suffered a shoulder injury against United so Smith may have to line up with another depleted defensive unit and Villa have been level at half-time in four of their six league wins this season.

Key stat

These teams have scored just ten first-half goals in 32 Premier League matches this season.

Inside info

Norwich

Penalty taker Teemu Pukki
Free-kick wizard Billy Gilmour
Aerial threats Ben Gibson
Card magnets Max Aarons, Pierre Lees-Melou

Aston Villa

Penalty taker Anwar El Ghazi/Danny Ings
Free-kick wizardEmi Buendia
Set-piece aerial threatEzri Konsa
Card magnetJohn McGinn

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