Norwich vs. Burnley Predictions: Two card bets for relegation six pointer

Sunday afternoon brings a clash of titans, battling it out in one of the most hotly anticipated Premier League matches of the last decade. Two behemoths of the division going toe-to-toe not only for bragging rights, but for the upper hand as each side races towards the culmination of the season.

No, it’s not Manchester City vs Liverpool - it’s Norwich City v Burnley, live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Sean Dyche takes his band of merry men to Norfolk to face Dean Smith’s eastern enterprise, with both sides desperate for points in their battle to avoid the dreaded drop.

Sean Dyche takes his band of merry men to Norfolk to face Dean Smith’s eastern enterprise, with both sides desperate for points in their battle to avoid the dreaded drop.

The Clarets will be travelling full of beans too after coming from behind to beat Everton in midweek. Maxwell Cornet’s 85th minute goal - his seventh in 15 starts - was the icing on the cake at Turf Moor, completing the turnaround after Everton had entered half-time 2-1 up thanks to Richarlison’s brace.

The Brazilian’s goals had cancelled out Nathan Collins’ first ever Premier League goal, before Jay Rodriguez bagged the 44th of his career to level the scores. It was Cornet once again though to make the eventual difference, as he has done so many times already in his short Burnley career, adding to points-winning goals against Leicester, Southampton, and Crystal Palace.

The win moved them within a point of the Toffees and potential Premier League safety, and six points clear of their hosts at Carrow Road who face an uphill battle if they are to avoid a second relegation in just three years.

They were able to stem the bleeding of six straight league defeats with a hard-fought point at Brighton last Saturday, as the honeymoon period under Smith came to an end even quicker than Claudio Ranieri’s Watford reign.

This campaign, to put it bluntly, has been miserable. The Canaries have suffered defeat 20 times already this season, and could yet still equal Sunderland and Huddersfield’s joint record of most home losses in a single season (14).

With a squad that simply isn’t good enough and the writing on the wall being coloured in with sharpie, defeat here would mean their fate is all but sealed - leaving them at least eight points to find in seven games.

With the magnitude of this game, it was a surprise to see Burnley’s worst offender at a very generous price to pick up a booking on Sunday.

Brownhill has been a stalwart in Sean Dyche’s side once again this season, and has shown a tenacity that wasn’t there without fans in the ground last season.

The Englishman has nine bookings in 24 starts so far this term, compared to just two in 32 in 2020/21, and was also cautioned in the reverse fixture.

He’s also offending at a much higher rate since the turn of the year, earning himself five bookings in his last 11 games as the Clarets fight tooth and nail to avoid the drop.

All five of those cards have come in games where Burnley have avoided defeat and with Norwich winless since January, there could be more punishment in store for him here.

No player has committed more fouls for Burnley this season than the 37 given away by the midfielder, and he’ll have to keep track of Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean - who himself has drawn 41 already this season.

Brownhill was also booked by Sunday’s referee, Michael Oliver, in a game against Leeds earlier this season so the official is wary of his ways.

He’s also one booking away from a two-match ban; so if he were to pick it up here he’d miss the games against West Ham and Southampton and ensure he’s available for the crunch match against Watford at Vicarage Road.

Another former-Manchester United youth player who seemingly can’t avoid getting into trouble is Norwich left-back Brandon Williams, who’s on-loan from the Red Devils.

The young full-back has earned himself seven bookings in just 21 starts this season, including four in eight since the start of February.

He’s the most carded player in Norwich’s squad, earning himself 0.33 cards per 90 at by far the highest rate in Norwich’s squad (of players to play more than 50% of their minutes).

Williams was also booked in one of his two career starts against Burnley and the 16/1 on offer for these repeat offenders seems too good to resist.