Aston Villa v Norwich City: Will Lambert pay penalty for leaving Carrow Road?
Paul Lambert could have been a Norwich legend, but the manner of his departure in the summer has somewhat tainted his wonderful three-year spell at the club. The Scot took the Canaries from the depths of League One straight to the dazzling lights of the Premier League in as many seasons and kept them up without a fuss.
Norwich finished 12th last season and everyone was looking for an improved performance this season. Unfortunately Lambert had other ideas and left for Villa Park. The move angered many fans of the Canaries as they felt the Scot was taking a backward step, and looking at the start they have made they could be right.
The Canaries recorded their first league win of the season last weekend against Arsenal and currently sit one point and two places above Lambert's Villa, but will former Birmingham boss Chris Hughton make it two wins on the bounce or will Lambert prove he was right to leave Carrow Road when the two sides clash this weekend?
Villa have a great record at home to Norwich, having only lost three times to them in their history, but they were forced to work for their victory last season - coming back from a goal down to win 3-2. The Canaries won the return fixture 2-0, but their last win at Villa Park came in November 1992 when they ran out 3-2 winners.
The hosts have not been great at Villa Park for more than a year. In fact since beating Norwich on Bonfire Night last season they have only won five times in front of their own fans.
Lambert will know the opponents inside out and he will be confident of getting the win, but the visitors will also be in high spirits after recording their first clean sheet of the season and picking up their first three points.
Who will emerge victorious?
Aston Villa v Norwich City; Kick Off 12.45pm October 27 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Lambert is set to take at least a point from this fixture.
Home: 12; Draw: 14; Away: 4. TBA 4.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
