Norwich are one of the favourites for promotion again this season and face a Wigan team that are tipped to be relegated by many. However, Norwich lost their first match 1-0 against a Cardiff team that had 10 men for much of the match. Norwich’s match saw a lowly 0.24xG for both teams combined, however Wigan’s game involved 4.63xG but not a single goal. Cardiff did not allow Norwich to play their best football whereas Wigan will be more focussed on their own game which could open this match up for more goals.
Norwich City v Wigan Athletic Bet Builder Tips
Both Teams to Score
Wigan were lucky not to concede against Preston, they gave away chance after chance, conceding 2.03xG. However, they were also brilliant in attack. They created 2.6xG, hit 20 shots with 5 on target and played open flowing football. They play against a Norwich team missing their defensive talisman of Grant Hanley which will see them weakened in defence. Wigan manager Leam Richardson said he was very happy with the way Wigan played and they should carry this attacking attitude into this Norwich match. Dean Smith said he was disappointed with Norwich’s play within the final third and it is something they will have to work on this week. After disappointing fans last week they will be desperate to turn up at home and show they can create goals again.
Norwich created just 0.19xG against a Cardiff team who hardly attempted to attack and focused completely on stopping Norwich scoring. While Norwich showed a real weakness against teams that sit back, Wigan are more likely to press forwards and leave spaces for Norwich to play in, where their best players will then show how good they are. This game has all the makings of an open high-scoring game and with both teams wanting to attack and score goals I would expect both teams to score.
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Prediction: Both Teams to Score
Teemu Pukki to have 1+ Shots On Target
As already mentioned, Wigan were very open at the back against Preston and allowed plenty of chances. Wigan were weak centrally and allowed so many Preston through balls, 50% of key passes made by Preston against Wigan were through balls. Norwich were very weak statistically when attacking centrally against Cardiff, they created less than 0.01 xG from central areas but this was mainly due to Cardiff’s narrow defensive formation. The only real time Norwich looked dangerous was when Cardiff had committed men forwards and they could attack the spaces left.
Against a Wigan team that will push there will be plenty of this space for Norwich to attack and Wigan’s weakness of through balls will open up opportunities for Teemu Pukki. Pukki averaged 0.66 shots on target per 90 last year in the Premier League and averaged 1.55 shots on target per 90 minutes in his last season in the Championship. Norwich were also fouled more than any other team in the first match of the championship so as Norwich’s penalty taker, this opens up more opportunities for Pukki to hit a shot on target.
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Prediction: Teemu Pukki to have 1+ Shots On Target
Josh Sargent to have 1+ Shots On Target
Norwich signed Josh Sargent last summer from Werder Bremen hoping he could fire in the goals needed to keep them in the Premier League but he never really hit the ground running. Dean Smith has shown a lot of faith in him since he came to the club and Sargent’s confidence appears to be growing. Sargent has started playing at right wing for Norwich rather than as the out and out striker he can also play as but that striker’s instinct sees him find himself in great goal scoring opportunities still.
Sargent is pacy and has the ability to get in behind the Wigan defence but also gets in the box when crosses come in from the opposite side of the pitch. Wigan struggled at defending crosses against Preston, of the 7 crosses they faced only 2 were met by a Wigan defender. For Norwich, one of their strongest players in Milot Rashica plays on the left wing and creates chances for crosses. Against a Wigan team that are weak at defending crosses there will be plenty of opportunities for Sargent to come inside from the right wing and get chances from crosses.
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Prediction: Josh Sargent to have 1+ Shots On Target
Tendayi Darikwa to be Shown a Card
Although neither team committed a lot of fouls in their opening matches, they were both fouled 16 times, the most of any team in the first matches of the season. Wigan’s right back Tendayi Darikwa was carded in Wigan’s last game against Preston and only one player received more yellow cards than him in League One last season. As well as the 13 yellow cards he received, he committed 33 fouls last season and will be up against one of the best dribblers in the league in Milot Rashica in this match.
Even in a struggling Norwich team he was in the top 35% of attacking midfielders and wingers for carries into the final third and top 20% for progressive carrying distance last season. Now in an easier league against weaker opponents, he will have further chances to dribble with the ball and will cause Darikwa issues. Rashica was one of Norwich’s most fouled players last season so Darikwa will be one of the favourites to be booked in this match.
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Prediction: Tendayi Darikwa to be Shown a Card
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Predicted Line-ups
Norwich City predicted XI (4-5-1) : Krul; Aarons, Omobamidele, Tomkinson, Giannoulis; Lungi Sorensen, McLean, Cantwell, Sargent, Rashica; Pukki
Wigan Athletic XI (4-5-1) : Amos; Darikwa, Kerr, Tilt, Bennett; Power, Naylor; Lang, Keane, McClean; Magennis
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *
How to watch Norwich City v Wigan Athletic in the Championship
📅 When is Norwich City v Wigan Athletic? / Saturday, 6th August 2022, 12:30PM
🏟 Where is Norwich City v Wigan Athletic? / Carrow Road (Norwich)
📺 What TV channel is Norwich City v Wigan Athletic on? / Sky Sports Main Event
🟨 …And who is the referee for Norwich City v Wigan Athletic? / M.Donohue 🏴
