Stoke suffered their third league defeat in a row away at Norwich City after the international break. The Potters came into the game off the back of a 2-0 home loss to high flying Preston North End in a game that saw City fall to 16th in the table.
Norwich on the other have started the season well, being 5th in the league under manager David Wagner as Enda Stevens, Ki-Jana Hoever, Andre Vidigal and Ryan Mmaee all missed out on the clash through injury as City were backed by an away following of approximately 1100.
After a minute’s silence to pay respects to the victims of the earthquake in Morocco, the game got underway. The start of the game was dominated by Norwich with young starlet Jonathan Rowe shining for The Canaries, whose pace provided Mehdi Leris with an early problem. The first shot of the game fell to the Brazilian, Sara, who’s shot from 25 yards flew high and wide over the right post.
Norwich continued to attack with summer signing Christian Fassnacht volleying a shot aimed for the top right corner, however Travers saved his effort. Norwich had their first corner of the game in the 6th minute; however, nothing came from the set piece. Stoke were very shaky in the first half as players were consistently missing passes and giving the ball away. The Potters first chance of the game came in the 22nd minute as Dutch midfielder Wouter Burger saw a left footed effort from outside the box fly high and wide to the right.
Stoke had a penalty appeal as Wesley appeared to be pulled down by the Norwich defender however, the referee waves off the appeal. Alex Neil seemed incredibly animated and frustrated with his sides start to the game as his side lacked composure and discipline. Deadline day signing Lynden Gooch had a shot blocked in the centre of the Norwich City box by Irishman Shane Duffy.
Warning signs were growing for Stoke City as they approached half time, with multiple chances going the way of Norwich City, one of which was a clear scoring opportunity missed by Adam Idah. Idah saw the ball fall to him in the centre of The Potters box; however, his effort was comfortably saved by Mark Travers. Shorty after, yet another chance fell to Norwich as left winger Jonathan Rowe had a right footed shot from the left side of the box saved.
Stoke finally caved into Norwich’s pressure as right back Jack Stacey broke the deadlock for The Canaries as he taps into the bottom right corner to give his team the lead.
Alex Neil clearly had something to say to his team at half time as Stoke came out sharper and more dangerous in the second half. An early chance came for Tyrese Campbell. Unfortunately, his shot was blocked after the ball was played back to him. Stoke began to find a rhythm to their passes as Norwich’s 1-0 lead started to look more delicate, with the tension growing at Carrow Road. Another chance came for Campbell to equalise as Lynden Gooch did well to swing a ball into the forward which was headed wide of the post.
Norwich’s first chance of the second half fell to Adam Idah as he found space at the edge of the box. Fortunately for The Potters, his long range shot flew into the Barclay End behind Travers’ goal.
The first substitutions of the game came in the 60th minute as Hwang and Placheta replaced Idah and Giannoulis and Junho and Wesley made way for Daniel Johnson and debutant Send Haksabanovic. As the second half progressed, neither side took real control of the game as both sides struggled to attack.
Norwich’s penultimate change came in the 71st minute as Columbian winger Onel Hernandez was introduced to the game. Hernandez threatened the Stoke defence instantly as he looked to end his Carrow Road goal drought, however, he volleyed just over the bar.
Stoke desperately looked to find an equaliser in the closing minutes, as they piled on the pressure, with chances from an in-swinging set piece. Haksabanovic flew straight through in between the keeper and the defence and Angus Gunn denied Wouter Burger inside the box, after the midfielder wriggled his way through defenders. Stoke had a late penalty shout in the 89th minute as the ball clearly hit Jack Stacey’s hand, however, the referee thought nothing of it.
The full time whistle blew and Stoke fall to defeat for the third game in a row and are still yet to score a goal away from home this season.
Manager Comments:
Alex Neil said: “I think the goal we conceded was a very scruffy goal. We had ample opportunities throughout the game, first half and second half, predominately (in) the second half and we certainly didn’t deserve to lose the game, but unfortunately for use we didn't have the cutting edge we needed."
Norwich have won their opening 3 games at home for the first time since the 2006/07 season, here’s what the Canaries’ boss had to say:
“In the second half the guys really dug in. They showed their fighting spirit. First half from my point of view we were outstanding. We played unbelievable football and I’m absolutely over the moon with this result today!”
Stoke have the opportunity to bounce back away at Huddersfield on Wednesday night.
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