Stoke City vs Norwich City. Sky Bet Championship.
Bet365 Stadium.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Stoke City and Norwich City at the Bet365 Stadium as Teemu Pukki scored twice before the Canaries eventually hold on for victory after Emi Buendia red card
Tuesday 24 November 2020 22:59, UK
Ten-man Norwich survived a spirited Stoke comeback to triumph 3-2 and stay top of the Championship.
Finland striker Teemu Pukki scored twice and Argentine midfielder Emi Buendia was also on the scoresheet as it looked like the Canaries were cantering to victory.
But Buendia was sent off for a second yellow card with 21 minutes remaining and his dismissal provided a lifeline for the Potters to fight their way back into an absorbing contest.
Buendia needlessly fouled Nick Powell and Stoke pulled two goals back in nine minutes through Tyrese Campbell and substitute Nathan Collins.
However, the Canaries withstood late pressure at the death to cling on for their first away win against the Potters for seven years.
Victory also saw Daniel Farke's side make it seven wins in nine unbeaten games in the league.
Buendia put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute with a clinical finish and nine minutes later Pukki netted with a fine left-foot volley.
Pukki rounded 'keeper Joe Bursik just before the hour mark with his seventh league goal of the campaign, a goal which looked to have sealed the deal.
But there was more drama to come after Buendia's dismissal, which saw Campbell head in his fourth league goal in three games and Collins nod in skipper Sam Clucas' corner to set-up a frantic finish.
Canaries skipper Grant Hanley nearly gifted the Potters an eighth-minute lead but 'keeper Tim Krul managed to clear the defender's lazy back pass.
Midfielder Josh Martin saw his right-foot shot deflected over the bar as the Canaries countered well and then Tottenham loanee Oliver Skipp had a strike deflected wide as Farke's side ramped up the pressure.
At the other end, Campbell teed up Clucas but the skipper curled his left-foot shot just over.
But then the Canaries took the lead when Buendia rolled a shot into the bottom right corner.
Midfielder John Mikel volleyed wide as the hosts went within a whisker of restoring parity two minutes later but Pukki doubled the Canaries' lead with his superb strike.
The Potters should have pulled a goal back after a trio of chances.
But Krul thwarted striker Steven Fletcher from point-blank range, Campbell had a shot charged down and then Powell headed the rebound against the woodwork.
Pukki netted his second but Campbell and Collins scored as the home side nearly completed a stunning comeback.
Stoke's Michael O'Neill: "We're disappointed not to take something from the game, especially having got back into the game. We were second best for 35 minutes of the game, there's no doubt about that.
"Norwich were excellent and I thought we struggled with their movement and their quality on the ball. But the sending-off gave us a lifeline and we were the better team in the second half, but ultimately we just couldn't get that third goal."
Norwich's Daniel Farke: "I'm really happy and absolutely delighted with the lads, I can't praise them enough because we have a lot of injuries to key players. I can't give the players enough compliments during what is a really tricky period for us.
"It's a massive win, I'm glad we found a way to win. We've stayed unbeaten and done well after the international break. After the red card we had to defend really well, it was difficult for us. I think he [Buendia] was naive but he was also the best player on the pitch."
