Norwich v Southampton predictions: Dean Smith's first match could be tight clash

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Norwich City v Southampton in the Premier League

When to bet

3pm Saturday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 5-2 BoyleSports

Team news

Norwich
Christoph Zimmermann and Sam Byram remain sidelined. Billy Gilmour and Todd Cantwell are pushing for recalls.

Southampton
Jack Stephens is Southampton's only absentee

Match preview

Dean Smith's last game in charge of Aston Villa was a 1-0 defeat to Southampton and his first game as Norwich's manager just a couple of weeks later could be equally tight.

Smith's Carrow Road debut is against opponents he will have analysed well and there is an opportunity to be competitive as City look to build on the hope created by a 2-1 success at Brentford before the international break.

The possible return of previously out-of-favour duo Todd Cantwell and Billy Gilmour could also give the Canaries a much-needed boost, although Norwich are not only bottom of the league table, but also dead last in shots and shots-on-target rankings.

Their expected-goals figure of 9.3 tells its own story and it won't be easy breaking down a Saints side with three clean sheets in four. Those shutouts all resulted in 1-0 wins but Southampton have only twice scored more than one goal in a league game so are passed over in the match betting.

Key stat

Six of Southampton's last eight league games have gone under 1.5 goals.

Inside info

Norwich City

Penalty taker Teemu Pukki
Free-kick wizard Mathias Normann
Set-piece aerial threat Andrew Omobamidele
Card magnet Mathias Normann

Southampton

Penalty taker James Ward-Prowse
Free-kick wizardJames Ward-Prowse
Set-piece aerial threat Jan Bednarek
Card magnetOriol Romeu

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