Norwich City will feel the more frustrated of the two teams as they drew 1-1 with Stoke City on a scorching hot afternoon at Carrow Road. Mame Biram Diouf had put Stoke ahead early in the first half before City captain, Russell Martin, equalized just before the half hour mark. As the match progressed, both teams failed with attempts to find a winning goal but an inspired performance from Stoke goalkeeper, Jack Butland, stopped Norwich from taking all three points
Much of the pre-match excitement was whether Stoke’s highly rated winger, Xherdan Shaqiri, would make his debut following his recent 12 million move from Inter Milan. Large cheers from the Stoke end rung around Carrow Road when his name was read over the starting line-up and there was a great sense of intrigue from all as to how well the Swiss international would adapt.
Manager Alex Neil opted for an unchanged team from the one that cruised to a 3-1 victory over Sunderland last weekend with last season’s Player of the Year, Bradley Johnson, resigned to the bench yet again.
As the match kicked off in the Norfolk sunshine, it was Stoke who dominated much of the early play and Norwich were working hard to try and get the ball back. There was a faint shout for handball when Wes Hoolahan’s cross struck an arm in the box but referee, Mike Dean, correctly ignored the shouts from the majority of the Barclay stand. However minutes later, Stoke were in front. New man Shaqiri whipped in a free kick from the right hand side and former Manchester United striker, Mame Biram Diouf, was free at the back post to head the ball past the stranded Ruddy.
Norwich’s poor start continued and they failed to break Stoke down for the first twenty minutes. Stoke’s fans were in full voice and the home fans were stunned. But, the Canaries finally carved out a chance when Dorrans found Whittaker on the right hand side of the box but Butland closed him down and cleared the right back’s shot for a throw. The match was then unconventionally stopped for a drinks break due to the sweltering heat belting down from the Norfolk skyline which drew moans and groans from both sets of fans.
However, three minutes later and the Canaries were on level terms. Winger Nathan Redmond sent a through ball to captain Russell Martin and he saw his initial attempt saved but when the ball was put in his path a second time, the Scotland defender made no mistake and dispatched a fierce strike which flew through the impressive Jack Butland’s legs and sent Carrow Road wild. Two in two for the centre back, who needs a new striker?
Not long after, Stoke had a goal ruled out for offside after a Ruddy mix up let Afellay through but his ball to Diouf was offside and Norwich got away with it. Norwich new boy Robbie Brady went close with a free kick just wide of the post from 25 yards out. As the first half drew to a close, Stoke dominated possession and had more of the ball but Norwich were dangerous on the counter and were well up to Stoke’s challenge.
HT – Norwich 1-1 Stoke.
As the second half got underway, Norwich looked fired up and Jonny Howson found Cameron Jerome who wriggled free of the defence but side-footed a glorious opportunity wide, much to the dismay of the City faithful. Minutes later, Norwich had another chance to score when Robbie Brady’s ball found Hoolahan in the box but his header was wide. Stoke were all over the place and Manager, Mark Hughes, was furious at the way his team had started the second half.
Norwich continued to pile the pressure on Stoke as Dorrans forced a good save from Butland with his right-footed drive from range. It was then Stoke’s turn to have the ball but the away team failed to make anything clear cut. Butland was Stoke’s savior yet again when Norwich star Redmond found space in the box but his goal-bound effort was somehow kept out by the in-form stopper. In the midst of Butland’s brilliance, Shaqiri found space on the edge of the Norwich box and curled a shot just over Ruddy’s goal. The Swiss man’s quick feet and trickery was proving problems for the Canaries even though they were on top of proceedings and Norwich had to be wary of Stoke’s ability to counter attack.
Another drinks break followed mid-way through the second half as City were still dominating the play. Stoke tried to force the issue but the Norwich defence held strong. Carrow Road had become engulfed in a chorus of ‘On the Ball City’ and ‘Yellows’ ringing around the stadium as the previously loud Stoke fans knew their team was more than evenly-matched going into the final ten minutes. Butland denied Dorrans yet again from range and then the frustrated Cameron Jerome who worked very hard but could not find a way past the unstoppable keeper. Stoke then counter attacked and almost found a winner themselves when Stoke substitute Joselu found himself free at the far post but fired over in an attempt which should have troubled Ruddy. The Norwich fans stuck by the Canaries until the end an urged their side on to find that illusive winning goal but even with various corners in the final minutes and a great deal of the ball, they could not penetrate the Stoke defence for a second time
A point isn’t a bad result but Norwich can’t help but feel that had they been clinical enough; they would have had all three. Norwich missed too many good opportunities to score and it is vital that the striker saga ends with someone who will have the quality and the composure to convert these chances, no matter how good the opposition goalkeeper is.
FT – Norwich 1-1 Stoke.
Norwich Ratings: Ruddy 6, Whittaker 6, Bassong 7, Martin 8, Brady 7, Tettey 7, Dorrans 7, Howson 7, Hoolahan 7.5, Redmond 7, Jerome 6.
Subs: Johnson 6, O’Neil 5.
Stoke Ratings: Butland 9, G Johnson 7, Cameron 6, Muniesa 7, Pieters 7, Whelan 7, Van Ginkel 7, Shaqiri 7.5, Arnautovic 6, Afellay 6, Diouf 8.
Subs: Ireland 7, Joselu 6, Adam 6.
