Match Pack: Norwich vs Saints
Saints start the New Year in Norwich, as Russell Martin's side look to extend their 17-match unbeaten run. Get set for the showdown with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Norwich vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Carrow Road
Monday 1st January 2024, 3pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Darren England
Assistants: Stuart Burt, Dan Cook
Fourth official: John Busby.
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Saints will be in their red and white home kit for the trip to Norfolk.
HOW TO WATCH?
Whether you have a Seasonal Video Pass or you’re buying match-by-match (£10), you’ll be able to stream video coverage of the game from anywhere in the world (including the UK).
You can also listen to the game from anywhere in the world when you buy an Audio Pass.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Having gained significant ground on second-placed Ipswich over the festive period, Saints will want to keep the pressure on as 2024 begins.
Now three points behind the Tractor Boys and on the longest unbeaten run in the top four divisions, Russell Martin's side will look to carry their momentum into the New Year.
Norwich, however, have taken 10 points from their last four home games and will be looking to return to winning ways after consecutive defeats over Christmas.
TEAM NEWS
Readying for a fourth game in the space of 10 days, Russell Martin may opt to shuffle his pack once again after making four changes to his starting XI for the win over Plymouth.
Full-back James Bree is unlikely to return having missed the last two games after limping off at QPR a week ago, while Flynn Downes faces a race against time to recover from the illness that ruled him out on Friday night.
THE MANAGERS
David Wagner: To follow.
Russell Martin: "We now have another test on Monday, which will be tough, really tough. They're in a really good place, Norwich.
“It's a tough place to go, but we will go there hopefully with real belief and momentum to keep being the team we want to be wherever we go."
TOP SCORERS
Norwich
Goals:
Jonathan Rowe 11
Adam Idah 6
Gabriel Sara 5
Assists:
Gabriel Sara 8
Giannoulis, McLean 3
Rowe, Barnes, Stacey, Fisher 2
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 12
Ché Adams 6
Sam Edozie 5
Assists:
Adam Armstrong 9
Kamaldeen Sulemana 3
Adams, Edozie, Walker-Peters, Downes, Manning 2
ONES TO WATCH
Gabriel Sara: The Brazilian is Norwich's creator-in-chief and sits top of their assists chart with eight.
Also weighing in with five goals - including a stunning strike in the reverse fixture - Saints will need to be on guard.
Ché Adams: The striker is on a hot streak with two goals in his last two matches, and three in his last five.
Better yet, Adams has also scored in all three of Saints' last encounters with Norwich, including in the 4-4 goal-fest at St Mary's back in August. Whether from the start or from the bench, the Scotland international could prove to be the difference.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 108
Norwich: 34
Draws: 31
Saints: 43
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
August 2023: Saints 4-4 Norwich (Bednarek, A Armstrong 2, Adams)
February 2022: Saints 2-0 Norwich (Adams, Romeu)
November 2021: Norwich 2-1 Saints (Adams)
June 2020: Norwich 0-3 Saints (Ings, S Armstrong, Redmond)
December 2019: Saints 2-1 Norwich (Ings, Bertrand)
DID YOU KNOW?
- Saints have won their last two league games on New Year’s Day, with those wins coming against Arsenal in 2015 (2-0) and Spurs in 2020 (1-0).
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not joining us at Carrow Road? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints travel to take on the Canaries.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
