Team News
Barnsley should have half of their midfield missing against Southampton back for the long trip to Carrow Road. Anderson De Silva and Diego Leon are fit again to return to the squad after missing two and one games respectively. This could see Mounir El Haimour dropped with Maceo Rigters moving up to partner Jon Macken up front with Jamie Cureton returning to the Canaries. Hugo Colace remains sidelined but his absence is offset by the excellent form of Bobby Hassell.
There may be a vacancy in defence as captain Stephen Foster is struggling with a hernia problem. Fozzie is set for surgery next week and it is 50-50 whether he plays through the pain tomorrow. If he misses out Rob Kozluk should step into the breach after recovering from his fractured cheekbone. He will wear a face mask for protection.
Likely Line-Up:
Heinz Muller
Marciano Van Homoet
Dennis Souza
Darren Moore
Stephen Foster ©/ Rob Kozluk
Bobby Hassell
Anderson De Silva
Jamal Campbell-Ryce
Jon Macken
Maceo Rigters
Head to Head
Barnsley won on their of their first four visits to Norwich, but sadly they haven't won there since- a run that stretches to nearly 72 years and 14 matches. Only seven of those have been defeats however so a draw may not be out of the question tomorrow. The Reds have though lost on their last three visits to Carrow Road, including a 5-1 hammering in the 2006-2007 season. Last year's 1-0 reverse in February was marred by a cruciate knee injury to Brazilian midfielder Anderson which kept the influential star out of the team for the rest of the season.
The Reds are currently on a wretched home and away run against Norwich and haven't tasted victory over the Canaries in the last eight games. Last season Barnsley were on a run of 14 home games without defeat in all competitions when Norwich arrived in January and secured a 3-1 win.
This season The Reds were 12 yards away from ending the wretched run but Jon Macken's missed penalty - the first time a Barnsley player had missed a penalty in 32 attempts- meant the game finished goal-less.
Norwich were even the team that ended Barnsley's 21 year stay in the top two tiers of English football when a 2-0 win at Oakwell in April 2002 relegated The Reds to Division Two (now League One)
Barnsley 0-0 Norwich Match Report 27/9/08
Barnsley 1-3 Norwich Match Report 12/1/08
Barnsley 1-3 Norwich Match Report 3/3/07
Last six Norwich v Barnsley Results:
27/9/08 Barnsley 0-0 Norwich (Championship)
23/2/08 Norwich 1-0 Barnsley (Championship)
12/1/08 Barnsley 1-3 Norwich (Championship)
3/3/07 Barnsley 1-3 Norwich (Championship)
26/8/06 Norwich 5-1 Barnsley (Championship)
13/4/02 Barnsley 0-2 Norwich (Division One)
Overall Record:
Norwich Wins: 14
Barnsley Wins: 9
Draws: 5
Norwich Goals: 48
Barnsley Goals: 36
At Norwich:
Norwich Wins: 8
Barnsley Wins: 3
Draws: 7
Norwich Goals: 24
Barnsley Goals: 14
This Season
If Norwich's good home form against Barnsley wasn't enough, the sacking of Glenn Roeder at Carrow Road on Wednesday means a home win is pretty much nailed on! Roeder's 15month reign ended amid hostile scenes after Charlton knocked Norwich out of the FA Cup in midweek- Charlton's first victory in 19 games. It continued Norwich's poor run of form which now stands at two wins in 11 matches and has dropped the falling Canaries to the brink of the relegation zone- they are outside only on goal difference. Norwich have won only seven league matches this season but they include a 5-2 thumping over league leaders Wolves and a 1-0 win over play-off hopefuls Sheffield United.
Barnsley will be desperate to bounce back from a hugely disappointing 1-0 home to defeat to Southampton last weekend which ended a three match unbeaten run and scuppered hopes of making a play for the top half of the table. Barnsley have only finished in the top half of a division three times since finishing second in Division One and earning promotion to the Premier League in 1997 and unless wins are claimed at home and points claimed on the road, that statistic doesn't look like changing any time soon.
Last Six Results:
Norwich:
13/1/09 Norwich 0-1 Charlton (FA Cup)
10/1/09 Sheffield United 1-0 Norwich (Championship)
3/1/09 Charlton 1-1 Norwich (FA Cup)
28/12/08 Norwich 2-3 Nottingham Forest (Championship)
26/12/08 Crystal Palace 3-1 Norwich (Championship)
20/12/08 Norwich 1-0 Charlton (Championship)
W:1 D:1 L:4 F:5 A:9 GD:-4 Points:3
Barnsley:
10/1/09 Barnsley 0-1 Southampton (Championship)
3/1/09 West Ham 3-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)
28/12/08 Barnsley 1-1 Preston (Championship)
26/12/08 Burnley 1-2 Barnsley (Championship)
20/12/08 Barnsley 2-0 Plymouth (Championship)
13/12/08 Wolves 2-0 Barnsley (Championship)
W:2 D:1 L:3 F:5 A:8 GD:-3 Points:7
Norwich lie 21st in the Coca-Cola Championship with 26 points from 27 games.
Barnsley lie 16th in the Coca-Cola Championship with 32 points from 27 games.
Norwich could go as high as 18th with victory whilst Barnsley could go as high as 12th with victory.
Mad Sites:
www.norwichcity-mad.co.ukwww.barnsley-mad.co.ukOfficial Sites:
www.canaries.co.ukwww.barnsleyfc.co.ukOther Fixtures:
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Birmingham v Cardiff, 15:00
Bristol City v Wolverhampton, 17:20
Coventry v Blackpool, 15:00
Crystal Palace v Ipswich, 15:00
Derby v QPR, 15:00
Nottm Forest v Plymouth, 15:00
Preston v Burnley, 12:45
Sheff Wed v Charlton, 15:00
Southampton v Doncaster, 15:00
Swansea v Reading, 15:00
Watford v Sheff Utd, 15:00