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  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: Britannia Stadium
  • Attendance: 14249
  • Referee: Pike, M

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

90mins

Stoke are replacing Mamady Sidibe with Bruce Dyer.

86mins

Dean Ashton is being taken off, Gary Doherty has come on in his place.

85mins

Simon Charlton is booked for unsporting behaviour.

83mins

Carl Hoefkens is booked for unsporting behaviour.

79mins

Kevin Harper is being taken off, Paul Gallagher has come on in his place.

69mins

Goal!! Stoke have scored with Mamady Sidibe putting it in the back of the net.

63mins

Michael Duberry is booked for unsporting behaviour.

61mins

Stoke are replacing Gabriel Ngalula Mbuyi Junior with Karl Henry.

60mins

Leon McKenzie is replaced by Paul McVeigh.

52mins

It's red. He's off. Darren Huckerby has been sent off.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 1.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by M Pike

45mins

Goal!! Kevin Harper scores for Stoke.

38mins

Goal!! Dean Ashton scores for Norwich.

9mins

Goal!! Stoke have scored with Martin Kolar putting it in the back of the net.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Darren Huckerby wrecked Norwich City's chances of a first league win of the season when he was sent off for foul and abusive language.

Referees have been instructed to show straight red cards if they are sworn at by players this term and Mike Pike had no hesitation in ordering Huckerby to the dressing room in the 51st minute.

The game was delicately poised at 2-1 to Stoke City at the time, but the home side emerged comfortable victors after he left the field.

Both sides put the emphasis on attack in an entertaining first half packed with good football.

Stoke took a ninth minute lead when Mamady Sidibe muscled free to test Robert Green and Martin Kolar cracked in the rebound.

The home side maintained their momentum after the Cezch winger struck and Sidibe's strike from Dave Brammer's cross was clutched by Green.

Norwich gradually upped their tempo as Dean Ashton warmed Steve Simonsen's fingers before the England Under-21 marksman levelled in the 38th minute.

Jim Brennan whipped over a low cross from the left and Ashton lost his marker to thump home a first-time shot from seven yards.

The visitors began to zip the ball around and Leon McKenzie was inches away from getting on the end of a Huckerby cross.

But it was Stoke who regained the lead on the stroke of half-time after Kolar's cross was deflected into the path of Kevin Harper.

Harper dragged the ball on to his left foot and curled an exquisite finish high inside Green's right-hand post.

Norwich were never in it after Huckerby's dismissal and Stoke were coasting by the time they doubled their lead in the 68th minute.

Man of the match Sidibe had his first shot blocked from Brammer's corner, but reacted quickly to lash the ball into the roof of the net before Green could move.

The muscular Stoke striker gave Norwich centre-backs Jason Shackell and Craig Fleming a real mauling and almost scored again six minutes from time.

He turned Shackell inside-out before driving in a fierce shot which only just cleared Green's crossbar.

Stoke City Team

Norwich City Team

Stoke City

Norwich City

Corners

92

Fouls

67

Goal attempts

85

Shots off target

22

Offsides

02

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