Bristol City v Norwich City: Free Tips, Prediction and Odds

Bristol City can move into the Championship play-off positions with victory over Norwich City at Ashton Gate on Friday, with the visitors seeking the three points to boost their own flailing top-six hopes.

Liam Manning's Robins claimed a credible late draw at automatic-promotion hopefuls Sheffield United on Tuesday night to extend their impressive run of form to just one defeat in their last 10 matches.

On the same night, Norwich let a two-goal lead slip to lose 3-2 to Sheffield Wednesday on home soil, a result that leaves them seven points off the play-off places and five behind their hosts on Friday.

Bristol City v Norwich City free betting tips and predictions

Bristol City to win - 1/1

Consistency has been the key to Bristol City's push towards the play-off positions, as they have lost just two of 15 league matches since Christmas, those defeats coming at home to Swansea City and away to Coventry City.

The Robins showed plenty of that hard-to-beat spirit to salvage a point at Sheffield United this midweek, with substitute Mark Sykes netting a 90th-minute leveller to earn them a third draw across their last five games.

Draws have been a familiar theme for Manning's side this season, as only two sides have shared the spoils more often than their tally of 15 in the second tier, with West Brom and Preston having played out 17 apiece.

However, they have found a way to win more often than not in recent home matches, triumphing in seven of their last 10 Championship games at Ashton Gate and, with the added incentive of knowing a victory on Friday will move them into the top six, at least temporarily, they will be going all out for the three points,

This could certainly be a good time to be facing Norwich, who followed up an underwhelming home draw with Oxford United with their demoralising loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

Leading 2-0 at the break, the Canaries looked on course for the three points against the Owls, only to concede three goals in the space of 12 second-half minutes to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

That was no doubt a damaging loss to Norwich's play-off hopes and, with just three days to recover ahead of this game, Johannes Hoff Thorup's side could be there for the taking.

Scott Twine over 3.5 shots - 12/5

No player has had more shots in a Bristol City shirt this season than attacking midfielder Scott Twine, who has fired off 75 in his 28 Championship appearances to date, a figure that has grown significantly over recent weeks.

The 25-year-old played for little over an hour against Sheffield United on Tuesday, but still managed three shots towards goal, although that pales into insignificance compared to how many efforts he has had in Bristol City's last two home games.

In the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at the end of February Twine managed seven shots, while he bettered that in his last appearance at Ashton Gate against Hull City, firing off nine efforts in that 1-1 draw.

A set-piece specialist, as evidenced by his superb free-kick goal against Wolves in the third round of this season's FA Cup, Twine is more than capable of having another four efforts towards goal on Friday.

Borja Sainz over 1.5 shots on target - 5/2

Twine may be Bristol City's most prominent shooter, but he looks a little shy in front of goal when compared to Norwich forward Borja Sainz.

Despite missing five league fixtures through suspension across January and February, Sainz has still managed more shots (97) and efforts on target (42) than any player in the Championship this season.

The 24-year-old has had two efforts on target in two of his last four games, while he may have only managed one against Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

However, he found the back of the net with it to end a goal drought that had lasted since the end of November - a remarkable stat considering he is the division's leading scorer.

Buoyed by that strike against the Owls, Sainz could have plenty of attempts at Ashton Gate and a couple of those could well hit the target, although his side may still end up finishing second best on the night.

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Bristol City v Norwich City odds

Bristol City - 1/1
Draw - 23/10
Norwich City - 14/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.