Norwich City v Brentford: Bees to cling to play-off ambitions at Carrow Road

Norwich City and Brentford began their respective campaigns with top six ambitions but indifferent form means those hopes hang by a thread for both clubs.

The hosts have won just once in the nine league games since their East Anglian Derby victory at Portman Road in mid-October, dropping in that time from sixth to 16th.

Brentford themselves have only won one in six, that victory coming against West London rivals Fulham, although they have only dropped one place to 13th during that period.

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However, the two sides can at least take encouragement from the fact that if they get the three points on Friday, then they are guaranteed to gain ground on the play-off places as Aston Villa and Sheffield United face each other the following evening.

Brentford have won four of their last nine meetings between these teams and are 39/20 (2.95) with Betsafe for another triumph, or 51/20 (3.55) to draw for the 11th time this season.

Norwich were 3-1 victors over Sheffield Wednesday in their last home encounter and are 67/50 (2.34) to secure successive home wins for the first time since September.

The hosts have improved defensively this year, but have scored just 21 times in 22 games and are a tempting 13/4 (4.25) to fail to find the net.

On the other hand, Brentford play enterprising football but have dropped a staggering 21 points from winning positions and a fourth 2-2 draw of the campaign is 9/1 (10.0).

Carrow Road has seen just 22 Championship goals this season, with the net bulging less frequently only at Preston North End's Deepdale and Birmingham City's St Andrews, so it could pay to back a low-scoring affair; the 123/100 (2.23) on offer for under 2.5 Goals implying a probability of 44.8%, which is 12.2% lower than past trends suggest.

However, our best bet is the double chance of a draw or Brentford win at 57/100 (1.57), as the Bees have been trailing and the Canaries winning for just 22% of their combined 3,960 minutes of Championship football, so it could pay dividens to back the visitors to avoid defeat.