This Sunday brings us the final round of matches in the Championship and we kick the action off with the lunchtime clash between Aston Villa and Norwich City with both teams wanting all three points on final day - it’s Aston Villa’s final home match of the season, while Norwich City will want to ensure they lift the title with a win here.
Aston Villa spoiled Leeds United’s party last Sunday when they held the Yorkshire club to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road which ended Leeds’s automatic promotion ambitions, and today’s hosts will no doubt be keen to play the part of spoilers again when they face league leaders, Norwich City.
Villa have embarked upon a fantastic run of form of late as the west midlands club are unbeaten in their last 12 matches, which includes no fewer than 10 victories and they are nicely placed in the play-off pack prior to the last day of the season.
Aston Villa have won their last five matches on the trot, and goals have also flowed at Villa Park too as 16 of their 22 home matches have resulted in over 2.5 goals.
Norwich City finally secured automatic promotion from the Championship last weekend when they registered a 2-1 home win against Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road as The Canaries crossed the finish line in triumphant style.
Following a nervous run of four draws on the trot with Reading, Wigan Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City, Norwich finally got the three points that they craved and will now turn their attention to winning the Championship league title ahead of 2nd placed Sheffield United who trail The Canaries by three points prior to final day.
Norwich City bring a six-match unbeaten run with them to the west midlands having recorded recent wins at Bolton Wanderers, Millwall, Rotherham United and Middlesbrough, and having scored a total of 40 goals on the road this season, it’s perhaps no surprise there’s been a lot of over 2.5 goals results on their travels.
13 of Norwich City’s 22 away matches have resulted in over 2.5 goals, and the stage looks set for another goal-fest at Villa Park on Sunday.
This clash also sets up a straight shoot-out between Aston Villa’s Tammy Abraham (25 goals) and Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki (28 goals) for the Championship Golden Boot.