Swedish striker Mathias Svensson's solitary strike was enough to earn First
Division leaders Norwich a valuable 1-0 victory over Stoke at Carrow Road.
With West Brom and Sunderland also winning, Norwich - with two defeats in
their last three games - desperately needed to do the same. They did so thanks
to Svensson's winner in first-half stoppage time - only his second goal for the
club.
They could also have made it a more comfortable second half for themselves had
Darren Huckerby not seen a 49th-minute penalty saved by Dutch goalkeeper Ed de
Goey.
Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green, tipped to win a place in the England squad
for the international friendly with Sweden on Wednesday, preserved his side's
lead with a fantastic save to deny Gerry Taggart 13 minutes from time.
Norwich boss Nigel Worthington, having issued a promotion war cry ahead of the
game, decided to go for broke with Leon McKenzie starting alongside Svensson and
Huckerby in attack.
It was Huckerby, without a goal in three games, who was first to try his luck
as he let fly from 30 yards, his shot sailing wide. He then nearly fired Norwich
ahead when his fine shot from 20 yards was parried away by de Goey.
Huckerby also drilled a free-kick wide before McKenzie put the ball in the net
on the half-hour only to be flagged offside.
John Halls became the fourth Stoke player - they had seven in total - to go
into the referee's notebook before they finally threatened in the 37th minute
when Karl Henry forced Green into a save.
Francis and then Huckerby attempted to give Norwich the lead as half-time
approached, before Svensson popped up in added time.
Norwich wasted a glorious opportunity to double their advantage four minutes
after the restart when they were awarded a penalty.
Gary Holt was upended by former Norwich midfielder Darel Russell but de Goey
came to his side's rescue by saving Huckerby's weak spot-kick.
Francis tried to overcome the setback by helping give his side a cushion but
could not keep his shot down while McKenzie was denied by a last-ditch Clive
Clarke tackle.
Stoke came close to equalising in the 65th minute when Peter Hoekstra let fly
from 18 yards and forced Green into a neat save.
Francis headed another chance wide for the Canaries, who were then grateful to
Green for keeping out Taggart's header.
Substitute Kevin Cooper had two late efforts saved by de Goey but the home
side held on for a priceless win.
Teams:
Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Mackay, Fleming, Drury, McVeigh,
Holt, Francis, Huckerby, McKenzie (Cooper 70),
Svensson (Roberts 81).
Subs Not Used: Crichton, Brennan, Mulryne.
Booked: Huckerby, Edworthy.
Goals: Svensson 45.
Stoke: de Goey, Halls, Taggart, Thomas, Henry,
Gunnarsson (Commons 55), Russell, Clarke,
Hoekstra (Wilkinson 73), Akinbiyi, Asaba.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Hill, Palmer.
Booked: Akinbiyi, Hoekstra, Thomas, Halls, Gunnarsson, de Goey,
Taggart.
Att: 23,565
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
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