West Bromwich Albion host Norwich City in a Championship clash that has huge implications on the race for promotion as eight sides vie for the remaining two play-off spots. Neither side enter the game in great form yet the chaotic nature of the Championship leaves them both in with a final shot at redemption, victory here giving them an opportunity to sneak into the top six on the final day. For the other, it’s another season in the second tier.
This is a game that deserves a stats pack and that is exactly what we have provided below so you can build your own West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City bet builder without having to do the work. If you need some guidance on how to use the data and increase your chances of picking a winning bet builder, check out our Stats Pack Guide.
WEST BROM VS NORWICH PREDICTED LINEUPS
Carlos Corberan made a big call for their midweek trip to Sheffield United, replacing creator John Swift with box-to-box midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman and the latter’s energy is likely to be utilised again to help set West Brom’s pressing trap to get on top of a Norwich City side lacking confidence and bodies in defensive areas. Dara O’Shea, Grady Diangana, Daryl Dike and Matt Phillips remain absent but Semi Ajayi and Karlan Grant are likely to remain involved.
David Wagner is enduring selection issues himself, losing Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Kenny McLean and Dimitris Giannoulis to injury while Sam McCallum was sent off last time out. It means midfielder Jakob Sorensen will likely line up alongside 20-year-old Andrew Omobamidele at centre-back while the right-footed Sam Byram will be tasked with filling in at left-back.
WEST BROM VS NORWICH TEAM STATS
West Brom’s underperformance for goals scored and conceded largely links back to the start of the season when Steve Bruce couldn’t get a tune from his new recruits. Things have settled down under Carlos Corberan with expectations closer to being met.
The Baggies rank high in a number of areas, sitting in the top six for most shots for and against while no side has had more corner kicks this season. They also one of the best disciplined sides in the league with only Hull City receiving fewer yellow cards per game.
Norwich City’s issues aren’t to do with underperformance, their official numbers very much in line with their underlying numbers. They are ranked 8th in the league xG per 90 and rank high for number of shots and shot on target for. Their issues are defensively, ranking 13th for xG against and also finding themselves in the bottom half for shots on target conceded.
Only West Brom take more corners per game on average than the Canaries and yellow is seen regularly on more than just their shirts – both Norwich and their opposition receive over 2 cards per game on average. Stats that should go very nicely for your Norwich City bet builder.
KARLAN GRANT, BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE, JOSH SARGENT, GABRIEL SARA SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET STATS
For your West Brom vs Norwich bet builder, Karlan Grant and Brandon Thomas-Asante shots have to be considered. Injuries have given the pair more opportunity to start games and they are doing their utmost to make the most of it. Grant has taken 12 shots in his last 312 minutes of action and managed a shot on target in each of his last four games. Thomas-Asante, meanwhile, is leading the line and has had a shot on target in five of his last six starts.
It’s little surprise that most of Norwich’s shots at goal are coming from a collection of exciting talent from across the Atlantic. Striker Josh Sargent has played a variety of forward roles recently but his shot tally continues to increase, managing two or more shots at goal in nine of his last 11 league matches. Gabriel Sara is playing as one of Norwich’s two deeper midfielders but that should only increase his odds for your Norwich vs West Brom bet builder, the Brazilian having three or more efforts on goal in seven of his last 11 league starts and having a shot on target in six.
KARLAN GRANT, BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE, JOSH SARGENT, GABRIEL SARA GOALS AND ASSISTS STATS
The Baggies have struggled for reliability in attack this season with Thomas-Asante and Dike joint top goalscorers with just seven – only Huddersfield Town have a top goalscorer with fewer goals scored. With Dike injured, Thomas-Asante has an opportunity to step up now. Karlan Grant has three goals to his name but has not scored a league goal since late August.
Norwich are used to a heavy reliance on an intelligent forward and Josh Sargent is certainly stepping up in the absence of Teemu Pukki, who will leave the club at the end of the season. The American has 12 goals to his name. Gabriel Sara has proven himself capable support with 11 goal contributions from various midfield roles.
SEMI AJAYI, ERIK PIETERS, ANDREW OMOBAMIDELE, JAKOB SORENSEN PASSING STATS
West Brom are likely to play out from the back and draw the opposition on so Semi Ajayi and Erik Pieters may see plenty of the ball here, especially if they fall behind. However, it is likely that Corberan will set his team up to sit off and set pressing traps for a Norwich side that like to build out from the back, so I’d avoid backing passing numbers in your West Brom bet builder.
Norwich like the football at their feet, averaging 56.5% possession across the campaign, the fourth highest average in the division. Despite that dominance, they have allowed Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City more of the ball recently, owing to defensive changes and low confidence. Jakob Sorensen may be worth a look here for your Norwich City bet builder – he is a central midfielder by trade but is currently filling in at centre-back.
WEST BROM CARDS AND FOULS STATS
West Brom’s defence don’t mind giving away a foul and they will have their work cut out against a Norwich side that like to run with the ball. Erik Pieters has conceded a foul in six of his last eight appearances, Darnell Furlong in six of his last seven and Semi Ajayi in five of his last seven. Elsewhere, Taylor Gardner-Hickman could be a useful addition to your West Brom vs Norwich City bet builder – he is committing over a foul per 90 minutes played and has committed five fouls in his last two appearances.
It’s little surprise that Norwich draw 2.18 cards per game from their opposition given the number of players in their side that like to dribble. Onel Hernandez has become an important figure again recently and has been fouled at least twice in three of his last five matches while Josh Sargent has stood up for himself in attack, drawing a foul in eight of his last nine matches.
Key matchups:
Darnell Furlong v Onel Hernandez
Erik Pieters v Josh Sargent
Taylor Gardner-Hickman v Gabriel Sara
NORWICH CARDS AND FOULS STATS
Norwich aren’t afraid to pick up a yellow card and that is certainly the case for defenders Max Aarons and Andrew Omobamidele who have picked up 17 between them. They could be in for another tough afternoon with Brandon Thomas-Asante and Karlan Grant nearby. It’s actually Marcelino Nunez and Onel Hernandez who commit the most fouls, making over 1.5 per game and should be the men you look towards including in your Norwich bet builder.
West Brom tend to build most of their play down the flanks, which shows with both full-backs and two wide options sitting atop of their most fouled list. Brandon Thomas-Asante is their biggest nuisance, the ex-Salford City man fouled in five of his last seven outings and he will fancy his chances of causing more havoc with Norwich lacking an experienced operator. Darnell Furlong has been fouled in his last four outings.
Key matchups:
Andrew Omobamidele v Brandon Thomas-Asante
Max Aarons v Karlan Grant
Onel Hernandez v Darnell Furlong
WEST BROM VS NORWICH BET BUILDER TIPS AND PICKS OF THE PACK
There’s a fair few selections that catch the eye from the stats, and here’s a West Bromvs Norwich bet builder picked based on the information above. And don’t forget to check out our free bets page.
West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City
28th April
kick off 17:30 Karlan Grant 1+ shots on target
Grant has had 1 shot on target in last four matches.
Norwich concede 3.68 shots on target against.
Okay Yokuslu to commit 1+ foulsYokuslu averages 1.18 fouls p/90.
He has committed 1 or more fouls in each of of his last 5 games (3 fouls in 2 of them).
Norwich City over 1.5 cardsNorwich average 2.05 cards for per game.
Bobby Madley averages 4.75 cards per game.
Over 3.5 CardsBobby Madley averages 4.75 cards per game.
Norwich average 2.05 cards for and 2.18 cards against, a combined 4.23.
West Brom average 1.7 cards for and 1.91 cards against, a combined 3.61.
