Source: Team_Talk
Jones header thwarts Canaries
Ten-man Norwich were denied a first Premier League win when Kenwyne Jones' stoppage-time equaliser earned Stoke a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.[LNB] Ritchie de Laet had scored against his old club to put the Canaries in front at the break.[LNB]After Jon Walters saw his penalty saved following Leon Barnett's red card on the hour, it looked as if Norwich would hold on - only for Stoke's pressure eventually to tell with Jones heading home to cap a fine Potters move.[LNB]Carrow Road last hosted top-flight football in May 2005, when Nigel Worthington's men failed to make their stay more than a flying visit.[LNB]Despite the partisan atmosphere in the 27,000-strong crowd, it was Stoke - coming on the back of their midweek Europa League tie, who made the early running, as Walters got in on the overlap to fire an angled shot at John Ruddy.[LNB]Anthony Pilkington - one of half a dozen changes by Canaries boss Paul Lambert from the side which drew 1-1 at Wigan - shaped to shoot from 25 yards, but could only blast the ball straight at Robert Huth.[LNB]Canaries captain Grant Holt was coming in for some rough treatment from the Stoke backline, who continued to give away needless fouls.[LNB]After 20 minutes, Elliott Bennett, a £1million signing from Brighton, got clear down the right, but his chip through the six-yard box was headed clear.[LNB]Holt nodded Naughton's sweeping crossfield ball to the far post back into the path of Pilkington, and only a flying block from Huth stopped the winger from firing Norwich ahead.[LNB]Stoke countered quickly after 28 minutes, working the ball out to Matthew Etherington on the left, who cut inside Barnett and fired an angled drive which Ruddy beat away.[LNB]The visitors were forced into a change on the half-hour when Jermaine Pennant, struggling with what looked like a calf problem, was replaced by Danny Pugh.[LNB]Jonathan Woodgate went into the book after 36 minutes for upending Bennett out on the far touchline.[LNB]From the resulting free-kick Norwich took the lead when former Stoke defender De Laet, on loan from Manchester United, glanced Bradley Johnson's curling delivery into the far corner.[LNB]The visitors were rattled, with Woodgate almost diverting a low cross into his own net which Asmir Begovic pushed around the post.[LNB]Norwich striker Chris Martin got the wrong side of Woodgate and into the Stoke box, but lacked support as eventually the danger was cleared.[LNB]Stoke emerged with some purpose for the start of the second half, with Walters drilling wide from a tight angle after breaking into the right side of the Norwich box.[LNB]At the other end, Martin - making a first appearance since February - saw his 20-yard drive pushed away by Begovic.[LNB]After 57 minutes, Holt was penalised for pushing over Glenn Whelan to concede a free-kick in a dangerous central position, some 25 yards out. Etherington beat the wall, but Ruddy flicked the ball over the crossbar.[LNB]Disaster struck for the home side on 63 minutes when Walters got ahead of Barnett and into the Norwich box, before tumbling.[LNB]Referee Neil Swarbrick ruled Barnett the last man, awarding a penalty and then sending the Norwich defender off. Walters took the spot-kick himself, but Ruddy guessed correctly to make a fine save - as the Carrow Road faithful erupted.[LNB]After 65 minutes, Lambert made a tactical change, replacing lively winger Pilkington with Daniel Ayala, who joined from Liverpool earlier this week.[LNB]Stoke, though, continued to press, as Norwich defended too deep.[LNB]Ruddy had to tip away a swirling cross from Ryan Shotton, which looked like it might loop in, the corner then flying through the six-yard box.[LNB]Jones blasted over from close range, but the visitors' pressure finally told in the third minute of added time when the striker headed in Whelan's cross.
