Norwich City were lucky to leave the Bet365 Stadium with a 0-0 draw this afternoon after being dominated by Alex Neil's Stoke City.
The hosts impressed most in a difficult half for the Canaries, coming closest when Will Smallbone forced a fantastic stop from Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal.
Josh Sargent should have given David Wagner's side the lead when sent through on goal by Christos Tzolis, but he got the ball stuck under his feet and failed to convert.
The visitors saw more of the ball after the break, but struggled to create clear-cut chances in an increasingly drab game.
The draw means Norwich stay seventh in the Championship table, three points short of Millwall in the play-off places.
STOKE CITY (4-2-3-1):
Substitutes:
34. Fielding (GK)
6. Jagielka
8. Baker (on for Hoever, 76)
14. Tymon (on for Laurent, 89)
15. Thompson
32. Taylor
49. Holland-Wilkinson
Manager: Alex Neil
Bookings: Wilmot (17), Pearson (52)
Goals:
NORWICH CITY (4-2-3-1):
Substitutes:
1. Krul (GK)
4. Omobamidele (on for Sorensen, 45)
13. Marquinhos (on for Tzolis, 69)
15. McCallum (on for Giannoulis, 81)
26. Nunez (on for Pukki, 77)
46. Gibbs
47. Kamara
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings:
Goals:
KEY MOMENTS
6 - Tzolis plays Sargent through on goal and he should score, but he loses balance and miscues wide.
14 - Smallbone's cross finds Brown, whose looping header is caught by Gunn.
21 - Wilmot meets Smallbone's corner, but his tame header is collected by Gunn.
25 - Brown cushions Campbell's cross into Smallbone's path, and his shot is saved fantastically by Gunn.
28 - The ball bounces off Campbell's back and into Brown's path, but Gunn races off his line to deny the Stoke attacker.
39 - Gibson finds Sara, whose early shot is held by Bonham.
Half time - Stoke City 0-0 Norwich City
60 - Sterling cuts back for Laurent, but he skies over Gunn's bar.
61 - Pukki nutmegs Tuanzebe and shoots, but sees his effort deflected wide for a corner.
75 - Marquinhos tries a shot from range, but drags well wide.
Full time - Stoke City 0-0 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 8, Aarons 5, Hanley 6, Gibson 7, Giannoulis 6, McLean 6, Sorensen 5, Sara 6, Tzolis 6, Sargent 4, Pukki 6. Substitutes: Omobamidele 6, Marquinhos 5, Nunez 5, McCallum 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 65pc-35pc
Shots: 14-8
On target: 8-1
Corners: 8-3
Fouls: 12-11
Injury time: 1 min/4 mins
ATTENDANCE: 22,102 (1,505 away)
REFEREE: David Webb
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