MX23RW : Saturday, March 22 04:29:52| >> :600:455531:455531:
[monks data]
Norwich logo
Championship | Gameweek 29
Feb 13, 2021 at 3pm UK
Carrow Road
Stoke logo

Norwich
4 - 1
Stoke

Cantwell (15'), Pukki (44', 80' pen.), Buendia (64')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Powell (61')
Powell (42'), Obi Mikel (43')

Daniel Farke hails "best offensive performance" of the season in Stoke win

The Canaries were without a win or a goal in four matches going into the game and were beaten 2-0 at promotion rivals Swansea last time out.

Norwich manager Daniel Farke felt his side produced the perfect response to a poor run with a 4-1 home win over Stoke that took them back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship.

The Canaries were without a win or a goal in four matches going into the game and were beaten 2-0 at promotion rivals Swansea last time out, but they were in top form as they moved back above Brentford, who are at home to Barnsley on Sunday.

"I think that was our best offensive performances of the season – it was certainly the most goals we have scored," he said.

"I don't think I have ever seen a side create more chances against Stoke, who are an experienced, well-organised side.

"It has been tough recently but we had a good training week and there was a big determination among the lads to produce the right response – and we certainly did that. It was a really good performance and I can only pay my compliments to the players.

"We moved the ball much quicker in the final third, found our offensive players in better positions and found a cutting edge in the final third that had been missing in recent games.

"Strangely we also made a lot more mistakes than usual as well, giving the ball away too often, but overall I was very happy with the way we played.

"I was especially pleased for Teemu Pukki, who has had a dry spell recently, but worked really hard in training and got his reward with two goals."

Norwich were soon into their stride against a struggling Stoke side.

Todd Cantwell fired them in front after just 15 minutes following a neat one-two with Mario Vrancic and it was 2-0 just before the break as Emi Buendia charged down an attempted clearance from Morgan Fox and squared for Pukki to apply a simple finishing touch.

Stoke pulled one back just after the hour mark when a poor square pass by Dimitris Giannoulis was intercepted by Nick Powell and coolly dispatched.

But Buendia's first-time finish from a Giannoulis cross restored Norwich's two-goal advantage three minutes later and the win was wrapped up after 78 minutes as Pukki converted from the penalty spot after Joe Allen had brought down Buendia.

Stoke manager Michael O'Neill had no complaints about the result – but felt his side had contributed to their own downfall.

"Norwich are a good side and they showed that again today, but we didn't half give them a helping hand," he said.

"We have been saying too often recently that we have been playing well without getting what we deserved but that wasn't the case today – we got what we deserved.

"We knew this would be a tough test but I certainly wasn't expecting a result like 4-1 – we came here expecting to give them a good game.

"We should really have gone ahead early on but then we are weak defensively and Norwich go ahead. Their second goal just before half-time was also poor from our point of view – Morgan Fox should certainly have done better with his clearance.

"We then had a good spell and got a goal back but then we failed to pick up their runners and a few minutes later it's 3-1.

"We are on a bad run at the moment and it's something we need to address – we need to start winning games again."

Nathan Collins was carried off on a stretcher in the closing stages after appearing to fall awkwardly.

O'Neill said: "He was obviously in a lot of pain and it looks like a metatarsal injury, something like that but hopefully it's nothing too serious."

ID:435135: cacheID:435135:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5579:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Watford manager Xisco Munoz pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Watford vs. Bristol City
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds382311476255180
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd38257653282580
3Burnley382115252114178
4Sunderland381912755371869
5Coventry CityCoventry38178135548759
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381318748341457
7Bristol City38141594941857
8Middlesbrough38159145748954
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn38157164240252
10Watford38157164751-452
11Millwall381312133739-251
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38149155359-651
13Norwich CityNorwich381213136054649
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR381112154450-645
16Swansea CitySwansea38128183849-1144
17Portsmouth38119184661-1542
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd381012163955-1642
19Hull City381011173947-841
20Stoke CityStoke38912173751-1439
21Cardiff CityCardiff38912174262-2039
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton3898213460-2635
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth38712194077-3733


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!