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After making a strong start to pre-season, Championship side Norwich City will aim to make it two wins from two when they take on League Two outfit Colchester United on Saturday.
This will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2009-10 League One campaign, where Norwich ran out 5-0 winners after suffering a season-opening 7-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Norwich City vs Colchester United key stats
- Colchester failed to keep a clean sheet in their final four matches of the 2025-26 campaign.
- Norwich City also ended last season in poor defensive form, conceding in each of their final seven fixtures.
- Both teams have scored in four of the hosts’ last five matches.
Norwich City vs Colchester United preview: Can Colchester pick up where they left off last season?
Norwich City vs Colchester United — Tale of the Tape
| Norwich City | vs | Colchester United |
|---|---|---|
| N/A (EFL Championship) | Position | N/A (EFL League Two) |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
Norwich City were in contention for a Championship play-off spot for much of last season but ultimately fell short at the business end, winning only four of their final nine matches (D2, L3).
Nevertheless, it was a promising start to life at Carrow Road for Philippe Clement, who took charge in November 2025 after a nine-month hiatus following his abrupt departure from Rangers.
For Clement, the primary objective will be to secure Premier League football for Norwich after a four-year absence. With the expanded play-off format, an eighth-place finish would put the Canaries in contention for a return to the top flight.
Norwich have already made three new signings: Sam Field, a loanee from the second half of 2025-26; Andre Brooks; and Bruno Alves, who made his debut in Saturday’s 2-0 win over King’s Lynn.
With fixtures against West Brom, Millwall, and Burnley in the opening three gameweeks next season, Norwich will be eager to enjoy a strong pre-season as they approach the second of a six-match schedule between July 4 and August 4.
Despite having the fifth-best defensive record in League Two, Colchester United finished 12 points adrift of the final play-off spot, largely due to their attacking output of 62 goals, a tally surpassed by nine other teams.
With attacking firepower a pressing concern for Danny Cowley’s side, the loss of 11-goal Kyreece Lisbie is far from ideal at the start of the summer window, especially as no permanent additions have been made so far.
Now preparing for his third full campaign in charge, Cowley will hope his side can recapture the form they showed at the end of last season, when they won four of their final six matches following a five-game winless streak.
Unbeaten in 12 consecutive pre-season friendlies leading up to Saturday’s clash, the U’s have proven difficult to beat in warm-up matches over the past few years, including victories over higher-league opposition.
Norwich City vs Colchester United form guide & betting tips
| Norwicch City | vs | Colchester United |
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| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
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Friendlies |
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Whispers predicts: Norwich City 3-1 Colchester United
Norwich possess greater quality across the pitch, which is to be expected given the divisions the two teams currently occupy. A win for Clement’s side is the most likely outcome, and we expect them to come out on top.
That said, Colchester have packed a punch in recent matches, so we back them to get on the scoresheet, which is good news for BTTS.
With both sides averaging 1.9 cards per game apiece in league action last season, neither Norwich nor Colchester tends to play overly physical football, making under 4.5 cards a sensible selection.
> Match result – Norwich City to win | Likelihood: Possible
> BTTS | Likelihood: Possible
> Under 4.5 cards | Likelihood: Probable