Norwich take a five-game losing run to a Valley side nobody has beaten in the league
Norwich are the favourites at The Valley, and on paper that makes sense: they have the better squad and the better underlying numbers. The results tell a different story. Philippe Clement’s side have lost five league games in a row, the last two 1-0 at home to Southampton and Portsmouth without scoring, and they sit 21st with nine points. Charlton have not won in eight league games, but they have not lost at home all season either: five games, two wins, three draws and only two goals conceded.
Predicted lineups: Charlton vs Norwich
Charlton are without Collins Sichenje and Rob Apter, both long-term knee injuries, while striker Matty Godden and midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah are close to returning. Norwich have some good news: goalkeeper Vladan Kovačević could be back after missing two games with concussion, and Anthony Musaba is expected to return after illness. Captain Kenny McLean (ankle) and Mirko Topić (ACL) are still out, top scorer Mohamed Touré had shoulder surgery and is not expected back until January, and Papa Amadou Diallo, Ali Ahmed and Gabe Forsyth are also missing. After two blank afternoons, Clement may freshen up his attack. These are predicted line-ups.
Charlton Team News & Preview
Charlton did not play well at Vicarage Road. Kjerrumgaard put Watford ahead just before the hour, Zemura added a second in stoppage time, and Jones admitted afterwards that his side had not passed or defended well enough. That extended their winless league run to eight games, five of them draws.
At home it is a different picture. Charlton have beaten Derby and Preston and drawn with QPR, Portsmouth and Bristol City, conceding twice in those five games. Jones sets them up in a back three, they are comfortable without the ball, averaging just 42% possession, and they make games scrappy. Tyreece Campbell, with four league goals, is the main threat, and centre-back Lloyd Jones is their best-rated player.
What works for or against Charlton
- Unbeaten at home: two wins and three draws.
- Only two goals conceded in five home league games.
- Eight league games without a win.
- Score only 0.9 goals per game.
Norwich Team News & Preview
The 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth was Norwich’s fifth league defeat in a row and their eighth in 11 games. A dull first half was decided early in the second by a penalty after Jacob Wright fouled Abu Kamara, and although Pelle Mattsson hit the woodwork late on, Norwich have now scored once in their last three league games. Clement said he was „very disappointed, very frustrated“, and some fans turned their anger on sporting director Ben Knapper.
Away from Carrow Road they have won only once, 3-1 at Sheffield United, and lost at Millwall, Stoke, Middlesbrough and Swansea. The absence of Touré, their five-goal top scorer, has made a big difference to an attack that was scoring freely in August and September.
What works for or against Norwich
- Five league defeats in a row.
- One goal in their last three league games.
- Touré and McLean are both missing.
- Their 16.5 expected goals are well above Charlton's 11.2.
Charlton vs Norwich Odds
Match Result
Double Chance
Handicap
Over/Under
Both Teams to Score
Half-Time/Full-Time
Charlton vs. Norwich Stats Comparison
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Charlton vs. Norwich Form Guide
Charlton Form, Stats & Data
Charlton’s numbers are those of a side that struggles to create, about one expected goal per game and only three shots on target. Their home record has been built on defending, not on attacking quality, which is why I expect another tight afternoon.
Norwich Form, Stats & Data
Norwich create more than Charlton, 1.5 expected goals and five shots on target per game, but they also concede plenty, nearly two goals a match. Without Touré, those chances are not being turned into goals.
Charlton vs Norwich: Prediction & Betting Tip
I do not trust Norwich to win this. They have lost five in a row, have stopped scoring and are travelling to a ground where nobody has beaten Charlton in the league this season. Norwich’s last clean sheet came back in March, ironically in a 1-0 win at this ground. Charlton are far from free-flowing, but they are hard to break down at The Valley and they only need to avoid defeat for this bet to land.
The strongest argument against is that Norwich’s underlying numbers are better than their results. They create more chances than Charlton, and a team with that much attacking talent will not stay this blunt for ever. Charlton have also drawn five of their eight winless games, so they rarely win either. That is exactly why I prefer the double chance to a straight home win.
My bet is Double Chance: Charlton or Draw at 1.68 with Winz. I expect a 1-1.