Goal.com

 
Played
December 26, 2012 3:00 p.m. GMT
Carrow Road — Norwich, Norfolk
Referee:‬ J. Moss‎
Attendance:‬ 26831‎
 
 
Juan Mata 38′

Norwich City - Chelsea Preview: Canaries looking to end 18-year wait for victory over Blues

Chris Hughton's men suffered defeat for the first time in 11 games and will hope to avenge a 4-1 loss earlier in the season against the rampant west London club

By Ewan Roberts

More On :  Chelsea FC, Norwich City, Norwich City vs Chelsea FC
EPL - Chelsea v Norwich City, Fernando Torres, Javier Garrido and Leon Barnett
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

NORWICH

Bunn
Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido
Snodgrass, Tettey, Johnson, Pilkington
Hoolahan
Holt
CHELSEA

Cech
Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole
Luiz, Ramires
Moses, Mata, Hazard
Torres

Talismanic striker Grant Holt (hamstring) missed Norwich’s defeat against West Brom, but manager Chris Hughton hopes to have him available for Wednesday’s game.

Steven Whittaker (thigh) was withdrawn before the hour mark against the Baggies, so Russell Martin is likely to fill in at right-back.

Norwich are also without Andrew Surman (knee) and John Ruddy (thigh), with Mark Bunn continuing in goal in the latter’s absence. Ryan Bennett (knee) and Harry Kane (ankle) are both doubtful.

Rafa Benitez’s squad is largely injury-free, though he will likely reshuffle his starting XI to combat a busy festive programme.

Liverpool-bound striker Daniel Sturridge (hamstring) is a doubt, but John Obi Mikel has returned from a three-match suspension though may be benched in favour of the impressive David Luiz.

John Terry and Oriol Romeu (both knee) remain sidelined, while Ryan Betrand picked up a knock against Leeds in the Capital One Cup and is therefore a doubt for the Boxing Day clash.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Norwich lost their first match in 11 games against West Brom on Saturday, ending their longest sequence without defeat in the top-flight since March 1987.
  • Only the two Manchester clubs, United (11) and City (10), have scored more goal from set-pieces than Norwich (9).
  • Grant Holt has committed 44 fouls this season, the joint most in the league, while only one player, Everton’s Nikica Jelavic (29), has been caught offside more times than Holt (24).
  • The Canaries have scored three goals from direct free-kicks, the joint-most in the league alongside Chelsea.
  • Norwich have not beaten the Blues since 10 December 1994; in the five meetings between the two sides since then, the Blues have averaged 2.8 goals per game.
  • Chelsea’s 8-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday, which equalled their highest ever league win, was only their second victory in their last nine league games.
  • Branislav Ivanovic (pictured right) is the Premier League’s topscoring defender, with four goals this season (making him the Blues’ joint-third highest scorer in the league).
  • Chelsea have received more yellow cards for diving (4) than any other team in the Premier League.
  • The Blues have scored from the penalty spot five times this season, the most in the league, while Norwich are yet to be awarded a spot-kick.

Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Norwich City 1-3 Chelsea FC
    14.14 %
  • Norwich City 0-3 Chelsea FC
    12.07 %
  • Norwich City 0-8 Chelsea FC
    10.56 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 26 Dec 2012 Norwich City 0 - Chelsea FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 6 Oct 2012 Chelsea FC 4 - Norwich City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 21 Jan 2012 Norwich City 0 - Chelsea FC 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 27 Aug 2011 Chelsea FC 3 - Norwich City 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Norwich City
19 May 2013Manchester City 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
12 May 2013Norwich City 4 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
4 May 2013Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2EPL
27 Apr 2013Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
20 Apr 2013Norwich City 2 - Reading 1EPL
Chelsea FC
19 May 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Everton 1EPL
15 May 2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2EL
11 May 2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
8 May 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
5 May 2013Manchester United 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Norwich City £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £230.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Chelsea £16.67 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
28Mark BunnGoalkeeper
2Russell MartinDefender
5S. BassongDefender
6Michael TurnerDefender
18Javier GarridoDefender
4Bradley JohnsonMidfielder
7Robert SnodgrassMidfielder
12Anthony PilkingtonMidfielder
14Wesley HoolahanMidfielder
27Alexander TetteyMidfielder
9Grant HoltStriker
13Declan RuddGoalkeeper
20Leon BarnettDefender
24Ryan Bennett Defender
8Jonny HowsonMidfielder
17Elliott BennettMidfielder
10Simeon JacksonStriker
5Steve MorisonStriker
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
2Branislav IvanovicDefender
3Ashley ColeDefender
4David LuizDefender
24Gary CahillDefender
28César AzpilicuetaDefender
11OscarMidfielder
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
13Victor MosesMidfielder
9Fernando TorresStriker
10Juan MataStriker
22Ross TurnbullGoalkeeper
19Paulo FerreiraDefender
-Nathan AkeDefender
8Frank LampardMidfielder
17Eden HazardMidfielder
21Marko MarinMidfielder
-Lucas PiazonStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0