4. Norwich (1) vs Carlisle (14)

Party time for Norwich

TEAM NEWS

Norwich manager Paul Lambert has promised to strengthen his squad in the summer in preparation for their return to the Championship.

The Canaries’ boss rested several first team players last weekend but with the title won, they will all want to take part in this celebratory game in front of a full house.

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott says that striker Joe Anyinsah has an “outside chance” of being fit for this game after a double hernia operation.

Abbott will start deciding which players he wants for next season as soon as this game is over, with Anyinsah sure to be in his plans.

Norwich:

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Hoolahan (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: Holt (ankle)

　

Carlisle:

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Livesey (stomach)

Injured/unavailable: Hurst (knee), Cook (foot), Anyinsah (hernia), Robson (foot), Murphy (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

While the sides below them sweat it out to try to join them in the Championship, Norwich are already back in the Championship and with the title to boot. They will be parading that around Carrow Road afterwards and manager Paul Lambert has the luxury of resting as many players as he wants.

Not that he is likely to leave out many. The players who have done most to get the club up will want to be out there receiving the supporters’ cheers. Sadly, Grant Holt, the club captain and the first Norwich player in history to score 30 goals, will have to hobble out at the end to collect the trophy after suffering an ankle injury.

Carlisle, meanwhile, have the rare luxury of not having to win on the final day to stay up, having done so on several occasions. And they would not want to have to take all three points at Carrow Road, where only two other sides have won this season.

The Cumbrians just want to avoid a last day humiliation against the outstanding side in the division. Having lost four of their last six games and won only one, they are not in the best of form. But then Norwich have no big incentive to go for a big win. A narrow one should be their reward.

HEAD TO HEAD

Norwich have won ten of their 11 home games against Carlisle, three of them in the league cup, and drawn the other one.

Only four of the 23 meetings between these teams have ended in draws.