Soccer
Stoke off the mark as Ethan Galbraith nets winner against Norwich
Ethan Galbraith earned Stoke their first points of the Championship season with a 1-0 victory over Norwich at the bet365 Stadium.
The Potters had lost all three of their opening league games, including Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Wolves, conceding nine goals in the process.
Stoke had only won three times in the league since Norwich’s 1-0 victory at the bet365 on January 4, a run of 23 games.
After picking up their first win of the season with an impressive 4-1 victory over Burnley on Saturday, Norwich were condemned to their third defeat in four matches, leaving them also with just three points.
The hosts were without talismanic winger Sorba Thomas as he closed in on a move to newly promoted Hull, as the Potters switched to a three-at-the-back system that saw Luke Graham and Million Manhoef included in the starting line-up.
Despite their dismal start to the season, Stoke had found themselves ahead in four of their five games in all competitions and did so again after 13 minutes through Galbraith.
Eric Bocat’s low cross was deflected into the path of the ex-Manchester United midfielder, who unleashed a sweet strike from outside the box which cannoned off Jack Stacey and into the bottom corner.
It had been a slow start from the Canaries, but Philippe Clement’s side sprung into life with 10 minutes remaining of the first half when Darlin Yongwa, starting a Championship game for the first time, stung the palms of Viktor Johansson.
Mohamed Toure and Andre Brooks had scored a brace each in Norwich’s 4-1 rout against Burnley at the weekend and when they combined to set Brooks free one-on-one with Johansson, it looked destined to be 1-1.
The Swede stood firm and his outstretched right leg denied Brooks from seven yards out.
Canaries captain Kenny McLean then bent his effort inches wide of the post as Stoke were forced to endure a Norwich onslaught.
At the other end, it was Vladan Kovacevic’s turn to pull off an impressive save as he stood tall to keep Manhoef out.
Brooks was then denied again by Johansson as an end-to-end first half was brought to a close.
Norwich had enjoyed over 70 per cent possession but had only mustered two second-half shots when Stoke almost caught them on the counter.
Substitutes Robert Bozenik and Sam Gallagher combined to play in deadline-day signing Luca Bombino, who cut inside and forced Kovacevic to tip his effort over the crossbar.
Norwich began to knock on the door when Oscar Schwartau blazed wide before McLean’s deflected effort was pushed wide by Johansson, while the Sweden international also gathered Anthony Musaba’s tame header.
The visitors had Ruairi McConville to thank as he slid in to prevent a certain Stoke second in the closing moments, but the Potters held on to claim a vital first victory of the season.
