MY ACCOUNT
– Luton are unbeaten in seven matches at home
– Norwich have won their last two games away from home in the Championship
– Recommended bet: Draw and both teams to score
Luton Town will fancy their chances of adding to the pressure on Dean Smith’s shoulders when they welcome Norwich City to Kenilworth Road on Boxing Day.
The former Aston Villa coach was booed down the tunnel last time out as Norwich lost 2-0 to Blackburn.
Even though his team is still among the play-off places, the pressure is on as they head to Luton, who are still looking for their first win under Rob Edwards.
Team news
Luton defender Amari’i Bell will serve a one-match ban on Boxing Day and play no part in Monday’s contest, so Dan Potts is in line to return to the back three.
Unless he loses any of his players in training in the coming days, Edwards will hope to stick with the rest of the XI that started their 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough last time out.
Norwich boss Smith has further selection headaches to deal with, with Sam Byram, Aaron Ramsey and Todd Cantwell all unavailable for Monday’s contest.
Liam Gibbs and Marcelino Nunez are fighting to start in midfield, with Gabriel Sara in danger of being dropped after a poor display against Blackburn.
The stats
Neither side come into this fixture in good form, with Luton winning only one of their last seven games in the Championship.
They have now dropped to 15th in the league table as a result, but they will still feel confident they can pick up a result.
The Hatters have not lost at home since the start of September, a run of seven matches, although they have only won two of those games.
Norwich will travel to Luton in good spirits, though, having won two on the spin away from Carrow Road.
None of the last 16 Football League meetings between the pair have ended in a draw, with both sides winning eight games since successive 2-2 draws in the top flight in 1988.
Prediction
While this fixture tends to go one way, we expect a close game on Boxing Day, and it is difficult to back either side with any conviction.
Since Nathan Jones left to join Southampton in November, Luton have failed to register a win, and Edwards may need to wait to enjoy his first victory.
Smith’s Norwich side have at least shown some improvement on their travels, but the manner of their defeat to Blackburn will worry the club’s supporters.
Despite the lack of form, both sides have been consistently finding the back of the net.
Luton have scored in eight of their last 10 games at Kenilworth Road, while Norwich have only failed to score in two of their Championship games away from home this season.
A draw and both teams to score at 11/4 with LiveScore Bet seems the best way to go, as both teams try to start the Christmas period with a positive result.
