Cardiff vs Norwich Predictions & Tips

Norwich City have won the Championship in each of their last two seasons at this level, and should compete for automatic promotion again.
Only relegated Barnsley had a worse home record than Cardiff City among Championship clubs last season.
The Bluebirds should not be expected to make a flying start after acquiring 13 new players during a summer of change.

Déjà vu for Norwich as Championship gets underway

Norwich City have been either promoted from or relegated to the Championship in each of the last four seasons, and with an experienced second-tier boss at the helm in Dean Smith, are expected to compete once more. Their first assignment of 2022-23 looks a kind one, as they face a Cardiff City team which will surely need time to gel after a period of upheaval.

Indeed, Cardiff have signed 13 players in advance of their first full season under Steve Morison, who led them to 18^th after succeeding Mick McCarthy last October. The Bluebirds’ signings of Romaine Sawyers and Jaden Philogene-Bidace may be prudent, but Morison has issues to solve: No Championship team suffered more defeats than their 11 on home soil last season, and only rock-bottom Barnsley managed a worse return than their 25 points from 23 home matches.

Norwich, by contrast, have largely kept their squad together, and the likes of Teemu Pukki and Max Aarons should thrive again at this level. Adding Isaac Hayden and £10million midfielder Gabriel Sara will give them a strong base, and another campaign like 2020-21, when Norwich plundered 75 goals en route to earning 97 points as champions, may well beckon.

Canaries set to soar in second tier once again

Norwich are understandably promotion favourites given the strength of their squad, and with teething problems expected from Cardiff, backing Smith’s side for victory in Wales looks a strong move, particularly given the hosts ended last season with four losses in six outings.

Meanwhile, a 2-0 win for the visitors, which would make it four consecutive wins in head-to-head meetings for Norwich, looks a strong correct score play.