Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City are on a rotten run, losing their past four - although two of those defeats came at the hands of leaders Norwich.

The Bluebirds' hopes of another play-off berth, having been beaten by Fulham in the semi-finals last season, are fading badly.

Neil Harris' men are nine points off the top six heading into this one, as new signings Perry Ng and Max Watters make their debuts for the hosts.

Opponents QPR are relatively fresh, having had their match against Wycombe at the weekend postponed because of Covid-19 cases in the Wanderers camp.

Charlie Austin helped inspire the R's to a 2-0 win at Luton last time out, but that was the west Londoner's first win in 10 Championship games.

Rangers travel to Wales four points above the relegation zone.

Striker Chris Martin wins a flick on in the air for Bristol City but gets a barge from Ben Gibson and stays down for a moment.

He's back up soon enough and Norwich set about building another attack.

Quick stat.

Before this match only three Championship players had created more chances in open play than Norwich defender Max Aarons this season (32), though he is yet to register a single assist.

I'll stick my neck out and say that'll soon change.

You can't give Max Aarons that much space!

The 21-year-old right-back is in acres of space and picks out Emi Buendia in the box, but his free shot at goal is well blocked by Tomas Kalas.

A warning for the Robins.

Jordan Hugill gets to a lofted ball over the top but the Norwich front man runs the ball out of play under pressure from Jack Hunt.

The hosts have had more than three quarters of the ball but Bristol City look solid after a slightly slow start.

The Canaries signed Greece left-back Dimitris Giannoulis on loan from PAOK yesterday, but it's too soon for him to feature and Jacob Sorensen continues to deputise.

The young Dane doesn't give the hosts the same thrust as Max Aarons on the other side, but he's looked solid enough there since Xavi Quintilla's injury.

They soaked up the early pressure but Bristol City have grown into this now.

Kasey Palmer is putting himself about in midfield and the visitors are pressing Norwich relatively high up the pitch.

Image source, Rex Features

A speculative Bristol City effort almost reaps rewards.

Kasey Palmer cuts in off the left and his shot is almost deflected into the path of team-mate Hakeeb Adelakun.

Norwich survive and defend the resulting corner comfortably enough.

As normal Norwich are dominating the early possession on home turf, with full-back Max Aarons very advanced down the right-hand side.

Emi Buendia stands over a free-kick which is swung into the box and cleared by the visitors.

An early half-chance for the hosts.

Mario Vrancic and Emi Buendia play two lovely through balls and things open up for Todd Cantwell just outside the box, but his shot is straight at Daniel Bentley in the Bristol City goal.

Norwich get things off and running at a blustery Carrow Road.

Image source, Rex Features

It'll be no surprise to regular Championship followers to see yo-yo side Norwich top of the table, but Daniel Farke's side have been functional rather than showing the swashbuckling style of their 2018-19 promotion season.

They've lost just once at home this term and only Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough have conceded fewer than the eight goals let in by the Canaries at Carrow Road.

Opponents Bristol City have lost their past three on the road and are winless in nine league games against Norwich, though the inconsistent Robins are ninth and have play-off ambitions.

Image source, Rex Features

Goalkeeper Tim Krul returns for Norwich after two weeks off with coronavirus.

The Canaries remain without Teemu Pukki, with Jordan Hugill leading the line.

Dean Holden has named an unchanged Bristol City side, with striker Chris Martin up against his former club.

Norwich: Krul, Sorensen, Hanley, Gibson, Aarons, McClean, Skipp, Cantwell, Vrancic, Buendia, Hugill.

Bristol City: Bentley, Hunt, Mawson, Kalas, Vyner, Rowe, Nagy, Adelakun, Palmer, Martin, Diedhiou.

Image source, Rex Features

There were four matches in the Championship last night, with Watford and Reading cutting the gap to the automatic promotion places.

Troy Deeney's first-half penalty was enough for the Hornets to overcome Barnsley, while the Royals beat 10-man Coventry 3-0.

Derby inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Bournemouth to register Wayne Rooney's first win as permanent boss and move the Rams out of the bottom three.

Rotherham slipped back into the relegation zone after a 3-3 draw with Stoke, while Blackburn's game against Swansea was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

With all the staggered kick-off times these days it's always worth running through the order of play - we don't want any of you missing a thing.

• Norwich v Bristol City (18:00 GMT)
• Brentford v Luton (19:00)
• Cardiff v QPR (19:00)
• Huddersfield v Millwall (19:00)
• Nottm Forest v Middlesbrough (19:00)
• Birmingham v Preston (19:45)

Image source, Rex Features

Another day and another evening of live football - how would we cope without it?

We've got half of the Championship in action tonight, with leaders Norwich kicking things off against Bristol City in around 15 minutes.

This is the place to be for the next four hours.