Brentford and Norwich City meet on Saturday, and if both teams have aspirations of promotion, they must begin winning now. Both clubs are within touching distance of the promotion playoff places.
Brentford sit three points off the final playoff spot, while Norwich are nine points away.
Brentford come into Saturday's fixture winners in five of their last six matches. The Bees have given up just two goals in those five games, and the last three wins have seen Brentford keep clean sheets. These two sides met on December 22 with Brentford winning 2-1 away from home. The club's form has been outstanding, and the team has posted the seventh best home points total in the Championship. The Bees have lost just once at home this term.
Brentford average 1.5 goals per game and have tallied 42 strikes this term. The team's goal total has them tied for fourth most goals in the Championship. Ollie Watkins and Lasse Vibe have tallied seven goals apiece this term. Defensively, Brentford have given up goals to opponents. Although the team has three straight clean sheets in its last three wins, Brentford have allowed teams to get through their defence at times. The Bees have given up 35 goals, which gives them just a +7-goal differential.
Norwich are coming off of a loss to Sheffield United. The defeat ended a four-match unbeaten run. Until their loss to the Blades, Norwich looked like a possible team that could slip into the playoff places. Now nine points back, Norwich need to find consistency once more. James Maddison and Nelson Oliveira lead the Canaries in goals with seven each. The 21-year-old Maddison is attracting attention from England's biggest clubs, and could find his way to a Premier League side in the summer.
Norwich signed Tottenham Hotspur youngster Marcus Edwards this week until the end of the season. At just 19, Edwards has failed to make the breakthrough at Spurs. He has now been given a short-term loan chance to develop at Carrow Road. Labeled as a "mini Messi", Edwards will get playing time at Norwich, and could make his debut on Saturday.
Norwich are undefeated in their last three road games as the Canaries won two and drew one away from home. The team doesn't score a lot of goals on the road, and has tallied just 13 on their travels in 2017-18. In 14 away games, Norwich have lost six times.
At home Brentford are +9 in the goals department. The Bees have scored 24 times and have conceded just 15.
The Bees go into the fixture as favourites, but Norwich could put together a solid performance and sneak a draw. If Brentford can get all three points, the Bees possibility of gaining a playoff place will increase. Based on form and the teams' previous meeting, Brentford should just get past Norwich on Saturday.