Norwich City v Sunderland: a few numbers to help if you fancy a bet or two

Chris Martin is given his marching orders by referee Andrew Madley - who is in charge of this weekend's game against Sunderland. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Norwich City v Sunderland

Carrow Road, Sunday, 1.30pm

First game of the season at Carrow Road falls on a Sunday, but for those who still fancy a flutter on the supposed day of rest, there are a few numbers to come which you might want to consider.

The head-to-head shows City have 21 wins, Sunderland 13, with a dozen ending all square.

Last year’s form was a little upside down: both were won by the away team, although the teams are usually a bit more thoughtful to punters and stick to home wins.

Add to the mix this year the fact that Sunderland have been relegated (while watching great rivals Newcastle go in the opposite direction), lost their best player (Jermain Defoe), but have a good new manager in Simon Grayson.

And there is silverware at stake – the Friendship Trophy, named as one of football’s most pointless awards by Talksport, one of broadcasting’s most ... aah, you fill in the rest.

Last time...

Norwich 0 Sunderland 3

(Premier League, April 16, 2016)

City’s survival hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow against their fellow Premier League strugglers. The Black Cats moved within a point of Alex Neil’s men with a game in hand after goals by Fabio Borini (penalty), Jermain Defoe and Duncan City were, of course, relegated as Sunderland survived to fight another season.

So, to the game...

Referee: Andrew Madley. Sent off eight players last season, including, on his last visit to Norwich, Fulham’s ex-canaries striker Chris Martin for elbowing Mitchell Dijks in the final seconds of the first half.

Incidentally, of more interest may be the fourth official - welcome back to Carrow Road, Simon Hooper.

Weather forecast

Cloudy but clearing, 20 degrees but not much in the way of rain.

Betting

(SkyBet)

Norwich win: 4/5

Sunderland win: 10/3

Draw: 13/5

First scorer

City: Jerome 9/2, Naismith, Wildschut 6/1, Watkins 11/2

Sunderland: Vaughan, Grabban 13/2, Maja 8/1

No scorer: 10/1

Or...

Cameron Jerome 40-1 to score a hat-trick, 1-1 is favourite bet at 11/2. City to win 3-0 is 12-1.