Stoke City continued their new-year resurgence and strengthened their promotion push with a 2-0 victory over Norwich City at a snow-dusted Carrow Road, thanks to late goals from substitutes Sam Gallagher and Sorba Thomas. After a scrappy contest short on clear chances, Mark Robins' side found a decisive extra gear in the final quarter of an hour to secure back-to-back away wins without conceding.
Norwich, who knew even a draw would have lifted them out of the Championship's bottom three for the first time this season, were never able to take control of the game and slipped to a damaging ninth home defeat of the campaign. Philippe Clement's team had enjoyed a profitable festive period before the weekend, but they could have few complaints about the outcome against a Stoke outfit that looked stronger as the match wore on despite an extensive injury list.
Scrappy snow-dusted opening offers few clear chances
On a pitch that still carried a light dusting of snow after the previous day's wintry showers, the game began in nervy fashion. Norwich were almost punished inside two minutes when they carelessly surrendered possession and Divin Mubama was played through, only for his goal-bound shot to be deflected over by Harry Darling. It set the tone for a first half in which Stoke generally looked the sharper side in transition, even if clear chances remained at a premium.