Preview: Norwich City vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Norwich City could secure promotion to the Premier League against Bournemouth on Saturday night.

A win for the Canaries would see them return to the top flight at the first time of asking, or a point would be enough if Brentford drop points earlier in the day, but the Cherries also need the points in their playoff bid.

Match preview

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Norwich are currently eight points clear of second-placed Watford in the Championship table and 15 points ahead of Swansea City in third; Brentford are two points further behind in fourth but have played a game less.

The Canaries, though, are Premier League-bound and have been for quite some time; led by dynamic duo Emiliano Buendia and Teemu Pukki, they have torn apart the Championship and been a class above every other side.

Daniel Farke's men claimed their 27th league win of the campaign last weekend as a superb free kick from Kieran Dowell proved decisive in a 1-0 victory over Derby County.

The result made it 13 games unbeaten, and they have only conceded five goals during that time. Meanwhile, Norwich have only lost once at Carrow Road this season and that was all the way back in October.

However, Bournemouth are one of just five Championship sides to beat the runaway leaders this season, as Arnaut Danjuma's goal secured a 1-0 victory for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium at the end of September.

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Jonathan Woodgate has said that his side will travel to Norfolk wanting "to stop the party" and carry on their own impressive recent run.

Bournemouth have come into form at just the right time, winning their last five games. A 2-1 victory against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening took them up to fifth – five points clear of seventh-placed Reading with five matches left to play.

That gap could be cut to two points by kickoff at Carrow Road as the Royals face Cardiff City on Friday, meaning the South Coast side will be well aware of how vital a win would be in their own battle to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Bournemouth (66) have actually netted one more goal than Norwich (65) this season but have only kept three clean sheets in their last 11 matches.

Away from home, the Cherries have just one defeat in their last six games. However, a Bournemouth team has not won away at Norwich in four attempts – they last recorded a victory at Carrow Road in 1959.

Team News

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Farke is expected to name an unchanged team for the third game in a row as he looks to cross that promotion line.

Academy graduate Andrew Omobamidele has been hugely impressive since coming in to replace the injured Ben Gibson. The 18-year-old is yet to lose a challenge or even concede a foul in his three first-team starts and has won over 80% of his aerial duels.

Last weekend's goalscorer Dowell will also be keen to impress again, as he looks to nail down the number 10 spot in the Norwich team ahead of Mario Vrancic and Marco Stiepermann.

It seems likely that Woodgate will also stick with the Bournemouth XI that started against Huddersfield.

Junior Stanislas returned from illness to appear as a substitute against the Terriers and will be eager to feature again, but Shane Long missed the trip to west Yorkshire with a groin problem and is unlikely to be available.

Dominic Solanke has four goals in his last six appearances while Philip Billing has four goals in his last five, and both players will be aiming to carry on their hot streaks at Carrow Road.

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Krul; Aarons, Omobamidele, Hanley, Giannoulis; Skipp, McLean; Buendia, Dowell, Cantwell; Pukki

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Smith, Carter-Vickers, Cook, Kelly; Pearson, Lerma; Brooks, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke

We say: Norwich City 1-1 Bournemouth

An in-form Bournemouth side would not have been Norwich's pick of teams to face as they look to get over the line, and we are expecting a tight game at Carrow Road. The Cherries still need the points themselves and are growing in confidence so will not rollover and let the Canaries celebrate.

As they kick off at 8pm, Norwich will know exactly what is required of them to win promotion on Saturday and one point may be enough.