Norwich City vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.
Carrow RoadAttendance26,848.
Watch Norwich vs Blackburn live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm on Saturday; kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Thursday 25 April 2019 18:44, UK
Championship leaders Norwich will look to secure the point needed for promotion to the Premier League when they host Blackburn on Saturday night.
The Canaries saw midfielder Emi Buendia return to the starting XI following a three-match suspension for the 2-2 draw with Stoke on Easter Monday.
Mario Vrancic is pressing for a starting place after the midfielder again came off the bench and impressed, helping to set up a second-half goal for Teemu Pukki. Midfielder Tom Trybull had been carrying a knee issue, but was able to start at Stoke before being replaced by Vrancic just before the hour.
Blackburn should have Republic of Ireland defender Darragh Lenihan available as he looks to shake off a bout of illness ahead of the trip to Carrow Road. Richard Smallwood (calf) will be assessed after the midfielder missed the home win over Bolton on Easter Monday.
Fellow midfielder Lewis Travis suffered a dead leg during the first half of that match and had to be substituted, but is expected to be available. On-loan midfielder Harrison Reed has returned to parent club Southampton for treatment on an ankle injury, while forward Dominic Samuel (knee) and midfielder Ben Gladwin (knee) remain out.
Norwich have won four of their last five league games against Blackburn (W4 D1 L0) since losing 0-2 in the Premier League in April 2012.
Blackburn haven't won away at Norwich in a league match since August 1999 under Brian Kidd, drawing four and losing one since then.
A win for Norwich would see them earn as many as 90 points in a league season for only the third time, also doing so in 2003-04 (94 points) and 2009-10 (95), winning their respective leagues in both seasons.
Blackburn haven't won five consecutive league matches since December 2017, when they were in League One.
Teemu Pukki has scored 28 Championship goals for Norwich this season; the last player to score 30 in a single Championship season was Glenn Murray in 2012-13 for Crystal Palace.
Bradley Dack has been involved in five goals in his last seven league appearances for Blackburn (3 goals, 2 assists).
Norwich have drawn their last four and appear to be limping over the line a little. They are as good as promoted but they won't want to relinquish the title now to Sheffield United.
Blackburn are ending the season in excellent form. It has been a great campaign for them on their return to the Championship and a top-half finish is still on the cards. But this should be a home win and a big celebration at Carrow Road.
David Prutton predicts: 2-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
