Canaries to right some wrongs after stormy afternoon in Shepherd's Bush

Yesterday at 09:02 AM

City look to secure back-to-back home wins in just three days in the Sky Bet Championship as they host QPR for their second encounter in just a five-game spell at Carrow Road on Sunday lunchtime.

The Canaries fell to a convincing 3-0 defeat at Loftus Road three weeks ago, and it turned out to be a game that caused just as many issues afterwards as it did during. Kenny McLean received his second four-match suspension of the season (this time for violent conduct) and Angus Gunn was fined £4500 for misconduct.

City won once, drew once, and lost twice in the following four games. They currently sit 12th in the table with 29 points out of a possible 69.

As for QPR – they have only won five of their 23 matches since the beginning of the 2024-25 season. Three of those wins came in their last five games and they have only lost once in their last seven – a 3-0 away defeat to Swansea City on Boxing Day.

QPR are currently 17th in the table, four points behind City, and six points off of the relegation zone. The R's also have scored the third-least amount of goals in the league with 23 and the second-most amount of draws in the Championship this season with ten.

Going back to that comprehensive defeat three weeks ago, it was a game where the Canaries looked devoid of ideas and attacking intent. However, when you compare that to their four games since – where they have only won once – that result was perhaps not an anomaly for Norwich, and if QPR are set up similarly, it could be another reality check for Johannes Hoff Thorup and his side.

But this fixture is one where Norwich have quite a few fond memories since their first meeting with QPR back in 1910, having been victorious in 52 of the 113 games between the two. That defeat three weeks ago is also the Canaries’ sole defeat in the last 10 meetings with the R's – of which they have won five and drawn the other four.

In the dugout for QPR is another young manager, Marti Cifuentes, who has had rather mixed fortunes in his spell as manager of the R's. Since he was brought in, in October of 2023, the 42-year-old has managed 59 games, won 20, drawn 19, and lost 20 – so a draw on Sunday would be rather satisfying in a mathematical sense.

But a win for Norwich would mean they have eight wins, draws, and defeats after 24 matches. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

And Cifuentes' form against Norwich continues that trend – three played, one win, one draw, and one defeat. But that must change on Sunday. Can his QPR side pick up their second lot of three points against the Canaries in 22 days?

PREDICTED LINEUPS:

Norwich City (4-3-3): Gunn; Fisher, Duffy, Doyle, Chrisene; Slimane, Nunez, Marcondes; Schwartau, Crnac, Sainz

City have three injury absentees, though midfielders Gabriel Forsyth and Liam Gibbs, as well as forward Josh Sargent, are not expected to be absent beyond January.

Anis Ben Slimane, Marcelino Nunez and Emiliano Marcondes started against Millwall and may retain their places in a midfield three, although Kenny McLean is available again after serving his four-game suspension.

Striker Ante Crnacis likely to feature given Sargent will not appear, and could be flanked by wide players Oscar Schwartau and Borja Sainz.

Queens Park Rangers(4-2-3-1): Nardi; Dunne, Fox, Morrison, Paal; Field, Varane; Andersen, Morgan, Saito; Kolli

Midfielder Karamoko Dembele has been ruled out of action until March, so perhaps Sam Field and Jonathan Varane will play in a double pivot.

Winger Paul Smyth and striker Zan Celar could return from injury in January, but with both unavailable for selection on Sunday, Cifuentes is likely to start Lucas Andersen, Kieran Morgan and Koki Saito behind forward Rayan Kolli, who scored a brace in the 3-0 win three weeks ago.

Centre-backs Morgan Fox and Liam Morrison will almost certainly start as Steve Cook will not make his comeback from a foot injury until February.

But how do you think the Canaries will fare on Sunday afternoon at Carrow Road?

Are they destined to come up short against the London side once again, and fall to their second defeat against them in 22 days?

Or can Thorup get his side back-to-back wins in the Championship for the first time since 30th November?

Let us know your thoughts in our comment section below or, on our X (formerly Twitter) page @MFW_NCFC.