Free tips Championship: Brentford v Norwich City prediction (5.30pm, Saturday)

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH CITY PREDICTIONS, BETTING TIPS & MATCH PREVIEW

Saturday 31st December 17:30, Griffin Park.

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH CITY PREDICTIONS

WINNER :

Norwich at 8/5 with bet365

ANYTIME GOALSCORER:

Cameron Jerome at 17/10 with Coral

Brentford are set to host Norwich City this New Year’s Eve in a mid-table battle, with neither side having enjoyed a victory in their past couple of matches. Norwich lost for the 10th time this season when they visited Reading on Boxing Day, while Brentford coach Dean Smith will have been equally disappointed to have drawn 2-2 at home to struggling Cardiff City, requiring a brace from substitute Sullay Kaikai to avoid an even more embarrassing result.

Smith will also be frustrated to still be without the injured Callum Elder, Alan Judge, Rico Henry and Lewis Macleod, although Alan McCormack is on the mend after a groin injury and some are predicting that he’ll be able to return for this one.

Meanwhile, Norwich coach Alan Neil will be without the injured Louis Thompson and their suspended captain Jonathan Howson, but Matt Jarvis is tipped to make his long-awaited return as he has been recovering his fitness over the past few weeks. Graham Dorrans may also be out of this one, having injured his knee in Norwich’s 3-1 defeat at Reading.

Although that defeat to 3rd-placed Reading was Norwich’s fifth consecutive away defeat, there were some encouraging signs for Alex Neil to take away from the match. Until Howson’s handball in the 68th minute, they were very much in with a chance and the scores stood at 1-1. Yet with a man disadvantage and with their opponents scoring via the resulting spot kick, Norwich ended up losing.

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH CITY WINNER ODDS

Against Brentford, however, Norwich might stand a better chance. They secured their biggest win of the whole season when they hosted Brentford at the beginning of the season, claiming a 5-0 victory that day thanks to goals from Jacob Murphy, Graham Dorrans, Robert Brady, Nélson Oliveira and Alex Pritchard.

They are priced at 8/5 betting odds by bet365 to complete the double over Brentford and the fact that Dean Smith’s side have lost three of their past five home matches makes this an intriguing tip. Brentford’s home form has been especially poor and their only victory at Griffin Park in the past three months was against fourth-bottom Burton Albion, meaning that the three points are there for the taking for the under-pressure Alex Neil.

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH CITY ANYTIME SCORER ODDS

Joint-top Norwich goalscorer Cameron Jerome is the man most likely to come up with the goods for Neil, with Coral’s 17/10 odds making him their favourite to get on the scoresheet. His coach showed his faith in the pacey forward on Boxing Day by turning to him ahead of Oliveira when Norwich were in need of a way back into the Reading game, so he is one player to keep an eye on.

BRENTFORD VS NORWICH CITY VERDICTS

Norwich have, therefore, got a good chance to get back to winning ways in this match, spurred on by their encouraging performance against Reading, the potential return of Matt Jarvis, Cameron Jerome’s team-leading six goals and Brentford’s poor home form.

Compare betting odds on Brentford v Norwich City here