Norwich V Southampton Barclays Premier League Match 31 -August 2013

Norwich V Southampton Barclays Premier League Match 31 -August 2013.Norwich are again without Gary Hooper, who has not yet recovered from the shin injury he picked up in pre-season.

Ryan Bennett needed stitches after gashing his knee against Bury and could also miss out.

Southampton's Guly do Prado and Jos Hooiveld face fitness tests, and Morgan Schneiderlin is also doubtful.Watch Norwich V Southampton Live, Watch Norwich V Southampton Live Stream, Watch Norwich V Southampton Free Live Stream, Watch Norwich V Southampton Online, Watch Norwich V Southampton Online Free, Norwich V Southampton Live, Norwich V Southampton live stream Online.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino must decide whether or not to include club-record signing Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in his starting line-up.
MATCH PREVIEW

With a combined expenditure of over £65m this summer it's fair to say optimism levels are high for supporters of both Norwich and Southampton.

These are two well-matched clubs, and expectation levels have been significantly heightened after they both broke their transfer records - twice in Southampton's case.

But while the Saints have made their best-ever start to a Premier League season after two matches, Norwich only have one point to show for their efforts. Chris Hughton was left perplexed by their failure to beat Hull last Saturday despite playing against 10 men for over an hour.
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Image of Mark Lawrenson Mark Lawrenson Football analyst

"Both of these sides have brought in a lot of players this summer - and the early signs suggest that they've invested wisely.

"I'm not sure Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino knows his best XI yet and has to decided where record signing Dani Osvaldo fits in. It's a work in progress for him."

Read Lawro's full prediction and score

They will not want to go into the international break without a win, especially as two of their matches would have been played at home.

Both clubs have a vested interested in England's matches next week. Southampton's talisman Rickie Lambert, of course, made a sensational introduction on to the international stage, scoring a goal with his first touch and will hope to feature again in the games against Moldova and Ukraine.

An injury to West Brom's Ben Foster means Norwich's John Ruddy will be Joe Hart's understudy in goal, and given the faltering form of the Manchester City player, Ruddy will be optimistic that a series of top-class displays for the Canaries could wrestle the jersey off him.

Southampton's potent forward line will certainly put Ruddy under pressure as Mauricio Pochettino has got the Saints playing some lovely football.

The forward three of Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez have started the season well and have left Pochettino with a headache of how to incorporate record-signing Dani Osvaldo into his team.

History tells us that this will be a tight match and while it is tempting to predict a low-scoring draw, both sides, as they showed in midweek in the League Cup, have goals in them.
MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

This is the 100th meeting between the sides in all competitions.
Southampton are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Norwich.
Both matches ended in draws last season - 1-1 at St Mary's and 0-0 at Carrow Road. In that goalless draw Saints keeper Artur Boruc saved a controversial penalty in stoppage time from Norwich's Grant Holt.
Less than four years ago these sides met in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy - Southampton won in a penalty shoot-out.

Norwich

After making the fewest passes on the opening weekend of the season, Norwich's total of 585 passes against Hull was second only to Manchester City's 637 last weekend.
Their defeat at Hull continued their dismal away form from last season. They have taken just five points (W1 D2 L8) from their last 11 away games in the top flight, and have kept a clean sheet in just two of their last 53 Premier League away trips.
Winger Nathan Redmond has successfully dribbled past 10 players in his first two top-flight matches of the season.

Southampton

Four points is Southampton's best ever return from their opening two games of a Premier League season.
They have conceded just two goals in their last six away games in the Premier League but have failed to keep a clean sheet at home since January.
James Ward-Prowse has made 12 accurate crosses so far this season - more than any other player in the Premier League.
Rickie Lambert had eight of Southampton's 17 shots in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland.