Norwich City clawed their way back to winning form with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Stoke City at Carrow Road, driven largely by the exceptional showing of striker Josh Sargent. This marked Norwich's first win after three matches without victory, injecting renewed hope for play-off contention just as the season gains momentum.
The match kicked off with both sides ready to fight hard, but it was Norwich who struck first. On-loan Aston Villa striker Lewis Dobbin put the Canaries on the scoreboard with a well-placed shot at the 32-minute mark, courtesy of a deft assist by Marcelino Nunez. Running onto Nunez's perfectly-weighted pass, Dobbin cut back and slotted the ball low past Stoke’s goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
Stoke, though struggling for form earlier this season, demonstrated resilience as they fought back just before half-time. Lewis Baker equalized at the 45+2 mark after Andrew Moran set him up with a well-placed cross. This late equalizer pushed the teams to the break level at 1-1, providing Stoke with much-needed momentum.
Norwich wasted no time regaining the lead after the break. Sargent, who had been on-fire this season with multiple goals to his name, capitalized on some indecisive defending from Stoke just three minutes after the restart. After Ante Crnac’s flick disrupted the Potters' defense, Sargent fired home from close range, showcasing his trademark poise and finishing skills.
The American striker wasn’t done yet. Just minutes later, at the 72nd-minute mark, Sargent struck again with a spectacular left-footed shot from 20 yards out, sending the ball soaring beautifully to the top corner of the net to make it 3-1. This effort brought his tally to 11 goals for the season as he continues to enjoy his pivotal role for the Canaries.
Nicholas Mahovo would later add to Stoke's woes with an unfortunate own goal, as his low cross deflected off Junior Tchamadeu and looped over Johansson, sealing Norwich's 4-1 lead. Despite this, Stoke managed to find some respectability through another Baker goal when he converted from the penalty spot late in the game after Shane Duffy's foul, bringing the final score to 4-2.
The victory was pivotal for Norwich, as head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup expressed both satisfaction with the offensive output and frustration with the defensive lapses. He stated, "We could have scored more, that's the positive thing. I'm not satisfied with our defensive performance because we should never concede two goals in a game like this." The Canaries’ win puts them within four points of the play-off places, intensifying the competition for promotion.
Stoke City manager Mark Robins attributed the defeat to lapses in focus, concentration, and discipline from his squad. Assessing the game, Robins lamented, "We gave them too much respect and time to dictate the game… We lost our focus and discipline after working hard to stay competitive."
The match statistics highlighted Norwich's dominance with 17 shots compared to Stoke’s seven, evidencing their superior attacking strategy. Possession favored the home side at 58%, showcasing their control over the ball throughout much of the game.
Next up for Norwich is a challenging fixture against sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers, who they will face at Ewood Park. The upcoming encounter promises to be another test as they aim to push their way back toward the top tier of the Championship.