Championship
NorwichNorwich City4StokeStoke City1

Norwich City 4-1 Stoke City: Canaries go top after rout

Teemu Pukki
Teemu Pukki took his tally to 13 for the season with a double against Stoke

Teemu Pukki scored twice as Norwich City replaced Brentford at the top of the Championship with a 4-1 win over Stoke City, their first victory in four league games.

The Canaries dominated a first half in which their blanket possession was rewarded with goals from Todd Cantwell and Pukki - the first a low drive past Angus Gunn after a skip in off the right, the second a close-range tap-in for the Finn after Emi Buendia robbed Morgan Fox.

Stoke, who had a goal by Steven Fletcher ruled out for offside in the first half, did get themselves on the board when Dimitris Giannoulis played straight to Nick Powell, and his low shot beat Tim Krul.

Giannoulis made up for his error with a run and cross that Buendia struck past former Canary Gunn, and after the Argentine was then fouled in the box, Pukki got his second from the penalty spot to wrap up the points.

Stoke's disappointment was compounded late on when defender Nathan Collins had to be withdrawn on a stretcher with a leg injury.

Brentford can climb above Norwich if they avoid defeat by Barnsley in Sunday's lunchtime kick-off.

This was a timely return to form for Daniel Farke's side, after four games without a goal and a three-match winless run, but for Michael O'Neill and Stoke it was another crushing blow to their fading play-off hopes.

The Potters are winless since mid-December, a run of nine league games without a victory which has seen them tumble from fifth in early December down into mid-table.

From the off, Norwich settled into their fluid short passing game despite Stoke's enthusiastic press, with the movement of Buendia, Cantwell and Mario Vrancic opening up space and creating options in attack.

Even Stoke's best chances came from the home side, such as when Kenny McLean blindly played in Stoke striker Fletcher, but despite rounding Krul, his goalbound effort was cleared by home skipper Grant Hanley.

The visitors improved after the break, with Powell and Jack Clarke using the space out wide to get at the hosts' defence.

However, once Buendia struck back quickly to restore the two-goal advantage after Powell had reduced arrears, the game drifted away from Stoke and Pukki's spot-kick left them too much to do.

Norwich City boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"After a dry spell, we were three league games without a goal and today we were greedy to get goals.

"Compliments to the lads, we created more chances than any other club against this very compact and experienced Stoke side, could have perhaps scored even more.

"Four goals I can't complain too much, it was an important win for us. It was good for the mood and the confidence. We wanted to add more ruthlessness in the final third, we wanted to be fully committed and we were."

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:

"You never like to lose a game but I thought - while the scoreline wasn't harsh because we gave away opportunities, didn't defend well enough and got punished - we had good chances in the game.

"It could quite easily have been 2-2 before the third goal was scored, but we missed chances and against this level of team you get punished.

"We didn't look like we could deal with their movement up front, and it caused us a lot of problems."

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Krul
  • 2Aarons
  • 5Hanley
  • 34Gibson
  • 30Giannoulis
  • 20SkippSubstituted forSørensenat 81'minutes
  • 23McLean
  • 17BuendíaSubstituted forDowellat 85'minutes
  • 8VrancicSubstituted forRuppat 71'minutes
  • 14CantwellSubstituted forHernándezat 82'minutes
  • 22PukkiSubstituted forIdahat 85'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Zimmermann
  • 7Rupp
  • 10Dowell
  • 16Quintillá
  • 19Sørensen
  • 25Hernández
  • 27Tettey
  • 35Idah
  • 50Barden

Stoke

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Gunn
  • 37CollinsSubstituted forat 90+3'minutes
  • 36Souttar
  • 12Chester
  • 3Fox
  • 4AllenSubstituted forThompsonat 82'minutes
  • 13ObiBooked at 43minsSubstituted forMcCleanat 62'minutes
  • 47ClarkeSubstituted forMatondoat 45'minutes
  • 22ClucasSubstituted forCousinsat 82'minutes
  • 25PowellBooked at 42mins
  • 21FletcherSubstituted forVokesat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Batth
  • 9Vokes
  • 11McClean
  • 14Smith
  • 18Brown
  • 24Cousins
  • 32Bursik
  • 34Thompson
  • 49Matondo
Referee:
Jeremy Simpson

Match Stats

Home TeamNorwichAway TeamStoke
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home16
Away11
Shots on Target
Home7
Away3
Corners
Home3
Away7
Fouls
Home8
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Norwich City 4, Stoke City 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Norwich City 4, Stoke City 1.

  3. Post update

    Nathan Collins went off injured after Stoke City had used all subs.

  4. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Adam Idah replaces Teemu Pukki.

  5. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Kieran Dowell replaces Emiliano Buendía.

  6. Post update

    Jacob Sørensen (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Morgan Fox (Stoke City).

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Stoke City. Jordan Thompson replaces Joe Allen.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Stoke City. Jordan Cousins replaces Sam Clucas.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Todd Cantwell.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Jacob Sørensen replaces Oliver Skipp because of an injury.

  12. Post update

    Goal! Norwich City 4, Stoke City 1. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

  13. Post update

    Penalty Norwich City. Emiliano Buendía draws a foul in the penalty area.

  14. Post update

    Penalty conceded by Joe Allen (Stoke City) after a foul in the penalty area.

  15. Post update

    Attempt saved. Lukas Rupp (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Todd Cantwell.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City).

  17. Post update

    Nick Powell (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. James McClean (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nick Powell with a headed pass.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Vokes replaces Steven Fletcher.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Norwich City. Lukas Rupp replaces Mario Vrancic.

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As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Norwich29177539241558
2Brentford28169355282757
3Swansea27158435152053
4Watford29149637201751
5Reading2914694234848
6Bournemouth291210743281546
7Cardiff29117114033740
8Middlesbrough29117113230240
9Blackburn281161142311139
10Stoke2991283333039
11Preston29123143437-339
12Bristol City29123142939-1039
13Millwall2981472827138
14Luton28107112329-637
15Barnsley27106112934-536
16Nottm Forest2989122530-533
17QPR2789102632-633
18Huddersfield2996143342-933
19Derby2887131929-1031
20Coventry29710122740-1331
21Rotherham2785143338-529
22Sheff Wed2897122130-928
23Birmingham29610132135-1428
24Wycombe2847172149-2819
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