Derby vs Norwich predictions: Reliable Rams the value call

– Derby have won their opening three Championship home games
– Norwich have lost four of their last five Championship away matches to nil
– Recommended bet: Derby draw no bet

Derby have made a promising start to life in the Championship following last season’s promotion from League One, taking nine points from their opening six matches.

The Rams have won all three of their league assignments at Pride Park, grinding out wins to nil over Middlesbrough, Bristol City and Cardiff.

Home form is going to be essential for Derby as they bid to become an established Championship outfit and they look more reliable than Norwich, who are a work in progress under new manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.

The Canaries made the Championship play-offs last season but they have taken only eight points from their first six matches the campaign.

A 4-1 rout of Watford at Carrow Road last weekend reads especially well but Norwich have scored only once in three away games, suffering losses to nil at newly-promoted Oxford and Swansea.

The Canaries struggled on their Championship travels last season, winning only six of their 23 away games despite finishing sixth, and that is an area they must address if they are to again break into the play-off places.

Derby remain without defenders Jake Rooney and Kane Wilson as well as midfielders David Ozoh and Liam Thompson, but striker Tom Barkhuizen could be in line to make a return.

For Norwich, Ashley Barnes, Christian Fassnacht, Jacob Sorensen and Anis Ben Slimane are all sidelined.

Elsewhere, substitute Onel Hernandez lasted only eight minutes in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Watford before having to be replaced and he is an injury doubt.

Derby have won all three of their Championship home games this season, while they won their final six League One matches at Pride Park last term.

Both teams have scored in only one of Derby’s last five Championship clashes.

Norwich have won only seven of their last 26 away games in the Championship.

The Canaries have lost four of their last five Championship away matches without scoring, including this season’s trips to Oxford and Swansea.

Four of Norwich’s six Championship matches this season have gone under 2.5 goals.

Norwich have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight of their last 10 Championship meetings with Derby, while four of the last five meetings between these two sides have featured two or fewer goals.

Home form was vital in Derby gaining promotion from League One last season as they won 15 of their 23 games at Pride Park and it looks like it could play another key role in their attempt to sustain themselves as a Championship club.

Paul Warne’s side have won all three home league games so far this season, recording 1-0 wins over Middlesbrough and Cardiff, either side of a more convincing 3-0 success over Bristol City.

The Rams may have to raise their game against Norwich but they should be buoyed by the fact that the Canaries have already endured defeat on away trips to Oxford, one of Derby’s League One rivals from last season, and Swansea.

Norwich won only six of their 23 away games last season, too, and they have enough to prove on their travels, especially as they are still coming to terms with the methods of new manager Thorup. 

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