Norwich vs West Brom: No Long to make no difference to Baggies
Published:West Brom have never beaten Norwich in the Premier League and even though Shane Long is a doubt for the trip to Carrow Road, this run can be ended.
To be fair to West Brom, this is only the second season that the pair have played in the Premier League at the same time, but they did only manage one point back in 2004/05.
West Brom may have lost their opening three games this season, but two of these defeats have come against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Long scored in both of these defeats, but a calf injury is seriously threatening his visit to Carrow Road, where he scored last season for Reading.
Better news for Roy Hodgson is that Peter Odemwingie should pass a fitness test on an injured ankle to replace Long.
West Brom’s odds are 9/5 to beat Norwich and Odemwingie is 9/2 to open the scoring.
Norwich are without suspended goalkeeper John Ruddy, but summer signing James Vaughan should have be ready to make his debut in attack.
However, the fact that West Brom went the whole of last season without keeping an away Premier League clean sheet will give them confidence, as will their performance against Chelsea, where they were slightly unfortunate not to take any points.
Like West Brom, Norwich are still waiting for their first victory of the season and are 6/4 to collect a home win, while the draw can be backed at 23/10.
Although this is not a result that will particularly please either manager, who will see the game as winnable.
One thing that may help Norwich to a first victory this season is avoiding conceding penalties or getting players sent off, which has certainly hindered them on more than one occasion already during the opening three games of the campaign.
