Norwich vs. Brentford Predictions: Back Williams to pick up a booking

Rock-bottom Norwich City host a free-falling Brentford in East Anglia on Saturday afternoon (3pm) in a huge six-pointer in the frenzied fight for Premier League survival. Below we’ve plucked out two tips for the crunch clash…

There’s no escaping the fact that this match-up is colossal. Neither team can afford to lose again, something which has become all too frequent in recent weeks.

Norwich are stuck to the foot of the table and five points adrift of safety following a run of three straight defeats - four in all competitions. In truth, the confidence-crushed Canaries were hopeless in their last outing against the Saints - allowing their opponents 27 shots - but back on home turf Dean Smith will hope his side can rediscover their early 2022 form against a Brentford side enduring their own torrid run.

One point from their last eight games is a shambolic return for Thomas Frank’s buzzless Bees who have subsequently dropped down to 15th, three points above the drop zone, while it’s worth noting that they’ve played more games than all the teams around them. 

Norwich are 2/1 to win and complete the season double over Brentford, who themselves are priced at 83/50 to finally bring their rotten run to an end with a first win in 10 games in all competitions. A draw looks to be the standout bet at 11/5, but more on that shortly…

Our first pick comes in the card market where you can find Brandon Williams priced at 13/5 to get his name stamped in the ref’s black book once again on Saturday, with the full-back expected to return after it was confirmed that he's available after missing the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool.

Williams has accrued a sizeable eight yellows so far this season, including seven in the Premier League: the joint seventh highest.

The on-loan Man Utd defender has been a frequent offender in recent weeks, registering a yellow card in four of his last five matches in all competitions, including his last two outings against Liverpool and Southampton. On top of that, Williams has committed at least one foul in seven of his last eight league games.

Saturday’s allocated official Anthony Taylor has dished out 13 yellows in his last four games alone, and a total of 70 yellows in his 18 Premier League games so far this term - the third most of his colleagues - while no ref has dished out more reds than his four. 

If you include domestic, european, and international games the Lancashire referee has shown 121 yellows in 29 games this season - averaging 4.1 per game - and six reds!

So, if you put two and two together then Taylor brandishing a card in the direction of Williams looks a decent price at 13/5.

Alternatively, you can back Williams to be sent off at 40/1 with William Hill.

Given the importance of not losing this game coupled with the fact that wins have eluded both teams of late, it’s the draw that stands out at 11/5 with Paddy Power.

To spice things up a little we’ve opted for the draw and both teams to score at 18/5 with BetVictor.

Yes, neither side have exactly set the world alight in terms of goals scored recently, however their respective backlines have been porous.

Norwich have kept one clean sheet in their last 13 matches, conceding nine goals in their last three, while it’s a similar theme over at Brentford who have one shut-out in 14 games.

It could therefore well be a game for the strikers, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the likes of Ivan Toney and Teemu Pukki in the goalscorer markets - both have six goals apiece - who will each expect to cause problems for the respective jittery backlines.