Well, yes it matters massively to Norwich, as they can still be overtaken should they lose to us and the Blades win at Stoke.
A point would be good enough for the Canarys, but I definitely can’t see them playing for a draw, so they’ll be looking to win which might play into our hands.
Depending which team plays of course, although Dean Smith has already emphasised that we’re not allowed to change things up too much.
So no second string team then although you’d expect a couple of players to be rested.
First is John McGinn and we already know he won’t be playing, as we can’t risk him getting another booking.
I’d also expect Jack Grealish to be subbed quite early if he actually starts. While I wouldn’t expect Norwich to target him specifically, it makes sense to just be careful, as losing him for the play-offs would be a major disadvantage.
Jonathan Kodjia, Kortney Hause and Lovre Kalinic are all fit.
As is Tammy Abraham. I’d expect him to start and be swapped out for Kodjia.
Does Hause walk straight back in? Tough call, that one, as Tuanzebe has done very little wrong.
It’s a shame we can’t have five subs for this game.
So how do I see this game going?
Frankly, I don’t have a clue.
Dean Smith will want the players to win, so we maintain momentum going into the play-offs, but ultimately the players will be thinking that it doesn’t really matter and I can’t see them going all out, as they won’t want to risk injury.
To be honest, apart from the fact that keeping momentum would be nice, this game doesn’t really matter, does it? Certainly, if we weren’t in the play-offs, there’d be very little interest at all apart from the carnival atmosphere you always get for the last game of the season.
I think I’m going to go for a hopeful draw, but wouldn’t be surprised if we lose, as they’ll want it more.
That’s not to say that I don’t think we could beat them if we went all out.
It’s just that we don’t need to.
Did anyone else catch the fact that we haven’t won a final game of the season for the last seven years? That surprised me, although we have been poor for a fair while now.
It would be nice to end that run.
So we fail to beat any of the top four – time to change that! No doubt the pundits will keep reminding us!
I didn’t watch the game but statistically it looks like Norwich deserved the win. The important thing is we will have our best players fit and ready for Baggies. I watched Albion and they seemed to be going through the motions and were deservedly beaten. Silly red card for Kanu although he wouldn’t have started against us anyway. Funny that 3 out of the 4 teams in playoffs lost! My only concern against Albion is that we haven’t beaten a top 4 team so we need to be at our best to reach final.
Don’t need to beat them…2 legs..0-0 at home …score draw away….LOL
Away goals DONT count in the play-offs mate!