Norwich striker Darren Huckerby followed up his superb solo strike against Birmingham in midweek with the only goal of an entertaining Coca-Cola Championship clash with 10-man Stoke at Carrow Road.

Huckerby produced a composed finish on the half-hour mark to avenge his side's 5-0 thrashing against the Potters at the Britannia Stadium earlier this season.

And to compound the visitors' misery full-back Andy Griffin was dismissed for a professional foul on Moroccan midfielder Youssef Safri with seven minutes remaining.

The defeat leaves Stoke still five points adrift of a play-off spot, while Norwich now sit comfortably in mid-table with any relegation fears surely behind them.

Norwich manager Peter Grant unsurprisingly named the same starting line-up that defeated Steve Bruce's league leaders in midweek, while Potters boss Tony Pulis also kept faith with the 11 players that almost ended Sunderland's long unbeaten run on Tuesday evening.

Stoke came flying out of the traps and had their first sight of goal within a minute, with midfielder Liam Lawrence trying his luck from just outside the area but failing to trouble Tony Warner.

The home side responded and Huckerby crossed for his young striker partner Chris Martin who headed narrowly wide of Steve Simonsen's left-hand post.

On-loan striker Jon Parkin let fly with a well struck left-foot volley from fully 30 yards out but Warner made a comfortable save to deny him his first goal for Pulis' side.

Both sides continued to press for the opening goal and Huckerby stung Simonsen's palms with a vicious drive, but it was Safri who came closest to breaking the deadlock when his superbly-executed free-kick struck the crossbar with Simonsen beaten.

Norwich suffered a blow just 22 minutes in when full-back Adam Drury sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Mark Fotheringham.

But the Canaries took the lead when Martin set up the lively Huckerby who produced a clinical right-foot finish from the edge of the penalty area.

And Grant's side came close to doubling their advantage when defender Jason Shackell headed Safri's pinpoint cross against the post from just six yards out.

Pulis made a double substitution at half-time to try and invigorate his side, with Gabriel Zakuani and Parkin replaced by Ricardo Fuller and Lee Martin.

But it was Norwich who had the first opportunity of the second half when Fotheringham's right-footed strike flashed narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

Stoke were forced into making a third substitution five minutes after the interval, with Salif Diao replaced by John Eustace.

Fuller let fly with a 25-yard drive moments later but former Liverpool stopper Warner made a comfortable save.

And Lawrence was off target with his left-foot effort from a similar distance as Stoke pressed for an equaliser.

But Norwich were threatening at the other end and Huckerby attempted a cheeky lob, but Simonsen was alert to the danger.

Canaries starlet Martin was determined to get in on the act but failed to beat Simonsen with a tame right-foot strike.

A scrappy period of play ensued, with both sides' midweek exploits appearing to catch up with them.

The visitors continued to commit bodies forward in a bid to draw level and Mamady Sidibe was narrowly off target with a measured strike from long range.

On-loan winger Martin had an opportunity to bring his side back on level terms but ballooned his right-foot volley over the crossbar.

And the Potters' hopes of getting something out of the game were dashed when Griffin hauled down Safri and the referee produced a straight red card.

Teams:

Norwich Warner, Hughes, Shackell, Doherty,Drury (Fotheringham 23), Croft (Chadwick 76), Safri, Etuhu,Lappin, Huckerby, Martin (Dublin 80).

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McVeigh.

Goals: Huckerby 31.

Stoke Simonsen, Zakuani (Martin 46), Fortune, Higginbotham,Griffin, Hoefkens, Russell, Diao (Eustace 51), Lawrence,Parkin (Fuller 46), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Dickinson.

Sent Off: Griffin (84).

Booked: Zakuani, Martin.

Att: 24,293

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).