Norwich City play host to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon looking to end their five-match winless streak in the Championship.
At a time when the Canaries occupy 17th position in the standings, Blackburn have recently progressed into 12th place.
Match preview
When his Norwich side started the campaign with 10 points from four games, David Wagner would have anticipated a sustained promotion charge from a team that struggled in 2022-23.
Instead, the East Anglian outfit have since recorded just seven points from 10 games, losing seven fixtures during that period to lead to criticism of Wagner and his players.
Although the Canaries board may not panic with Norwich still within six points of the playoff spots, Wagner will be aware that their form cannot continue in the long term.
Three defeats in succession have been posted against Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, teams who have quality throughout their team but opponents who Norwich will view as rivals in the promotion race.
On a positive note, Norwich have won four of their seven games at Carrow Road this campaign, while their only two clean sheets in 10 games have been at home to Stoke City and Birmingham City respectively.
Blackburn head into this contest on the back of being eliminated from the EFL Cup at the fourth-round stage courtesy of a 2-0 reverse at Chelsea.
There was frustration on the night as a number of nearly moments did not go Rovers' way, yet Jon Dahl Tomasson may be content to focus solely on trying to earn promotion to the Premier League.
Although Blackburn lost 1-0 to Swansea City in their previous Championship fixture, three consecutive wins had preceded the setback against the Welsh outfit.
Two of those triumphs came away from home, versus Queens Park Rangers and Millwall respectively, and Tomasson's side possess the fourth-best attacking record on their travels in the second tier.
Team News
Goalkeeper George Long is expected to remain between the sticks for Norwich with Angus Gunn likely to be sidelined through injury until after the November international break.
Changes to the Norwich XI appear likely with Borja Sainz pushing for his first Championship start, potentially ahead of Christian Fassnacht.
Marcelino Nunez may also return to the side to take the spot of Adam Forshaw in midfield.
With Hayden Carter suspended for Blackburn, James Hill is in line to switch to the centre of defence, resulting in Callum Brittain reverting to right-back.
Dilan Markanday could come into the team in the final third, while Sammie Szmodics is expected to be recalled after being rested for the Chelsea fixture.
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Long; Fisher, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; McLean, Sara; Sainz, Nunez, Rowe; Hwang
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt; Brittain, Hill, Wharton, Pickering; Rankin-Costello, Tronstad, Szmodics; Markanday, Dolan, Sigurdsson
We say: Norwich City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
With the pressure increasing on Wagner, the German may accept that this is an all or nothing fixture. That may play into the hands of Blackburn, who have the ability to overcome most challenges in this division, yet we feel that Norwich will edge this contest with a late goal.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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