Norwich City Cruelly Denied All Three Points against Stoke City

                                Last Gasp Equaliser Frustrates the Canary Camp


Paul Lambert and Norwich City were right to feel aggrieved after referee Neil Swarbrick decided to award Stoke City a penalty midway through the second half which also saw Leon Barnett given a straight red card. Despite John Ruddys fantastic penalty save, the decision turned the game onto-its-head. Subsequent Stoke pressure then culminated in the cruel, 94th minute equaliser, from Kenwyne Jones.

Norwich made six changes from their opening day draw at Wigan, as Anthony Pilkington, Elliot Bennett and Kyle Naughton were handed their first starts in the yellow Jersey. Meanwhile Stoke saw Dean Whitehead fill in for their well known, long-throw-specialist, Rory Delap. Refreshing formations saw both sides start with two genuine wingers in matching 4-4-2 formations.

Stoke started brightly as ex-Ipswich and villain for the day, John Walters, was threaded through on two occasions, once by the skillfull Matt Etherington and later by Marc Wilson. Nevertheless poor control and finishing  from Stoke's Europa league goalscorer, ensured that the game remained goalless. The first real chance of the game came twenty minutes into the game, captain Grant Holt's knockdown was met powerfully by Pilkington, yet a despairing block by the ever dependable Ryan Shawcross, who reminded Norwich that goals would not come as easily at this level.

The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute as Richie De Laet put last weeks mistake at the DW Stadium firmlybehind him, as his jinking run decieved his marker as he rose to head home newboy Bradley Johnson's freekick, sending the Norwich faithful into raptures. Stoke posed no real threat during the closing stages of the half as Jermaine Pennant's replacement, Danny Pugh spurned an effort well wide when he had far greater options available.

De Laet celebrating his first Norwich City goal

The second half would see the match turn in Stoke's favour as John Ruddy was forced to make a smart save in the 59th minute, as the ever-threatening Etherington dribbled around Naughton and fired a shot on target. Chris Martin also stung the hands of Stoke 'keeper, Asmir Begovic with a left foot drive in what was an otherwise quiet game for the locally born-and-bred Norwich player.

However, the real talking point came in the 62nd minute when Barnett was ajudged to have prevented a goal scoring opportunity by dragging down Walters and was controversially dismissed from the field of play. Referee Swarbrick awarded Stoke a penalty, despite the challenge being clearly made outside the box and a great diving save from man-of-the-match John Ruddy, down to his left, denied Walters and Stoke their equaliser.

Inevitably, following the sending off, Stoke started to take control of the game. Prior to their goal, Stoke's best chance had come from a Glen Whelan corner, which was flicked on at the near post and Robert Huth was inches away from equalising. Despite resolute and commendable defending by the Norwich backline, Jones' bullet header in the dieing embers of the game gave Ruddy no chance as he was beaten to his left handside. Tony Pulis' post-match claims that he could 'not believe' that his side did not score a 'hatful', are unfair on a Norwich side who performed well and would have won the game if it was not for Barnett's dismissal.

Jones rises to beat Ruddy and secure Stoke City a point.

Norwich have to be happy with a point against Stoke, who are now an established Premier League side who now play better football than the reputation suggests. Their success story is one that Norwich can admire and wish to emulate. There is no doubting that Norwich have the quality, temperament and determination to survive in this division, they just need a bit more luck and bit more Premier League experience to win football matches.

Bring on Chelsea.





All content is copywrited and owned by myself.