Norwich City suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Stoke City in the Championship, with Ethan Galbraith's goal ending the Potters' nine-match winless league run. The result leaves Philippe Clement's side 12th in the table with six points from five games.
Galbraith, a £10m summer signing from Swansea, scored the only goal of the match at Stoke's home ground. Norwich City had the most possession and created the better chances but could not find a way past goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who had an excellent day.
Stoke City manager Mark Robins saw his team grind out a vital win. The decisive moment came from a well-worked move, with Eric Bocat delivering a low cross from the left. Ethan Galbraith was in the right place to apply the finish, giving the hosts a lead they would not relinquish.
"We had to grind a win out somehow and we managed to do that, with a really well worked goal," said Robins after the match. His team had not won a league game since April, making this result particularly significant for their campaign.
Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement was left frustrated by a defeat he felt was undeserved. His team applied strong pressure in the closing stages and created several good opportunities. Andre Brooks had chances to level the score before half-time, while Luca Bombino forced a fine save from Johansson with a shot that was tipped over the bar.
George Hirst also saw a chance prevented by defender Ruairi McConville. "It's a crazy game to lose the three points," Clement said. "My team did a lot of things really well." The absence of winger Sorba Thomas, who scored 10 Championship goals last season before moving to Hull City, was felt in the final third.
The loss leaves Norwich City in 12th place in the Championship. They have six points from two wins and three losses in their opening five matches, with a recent form of WLWLL. The team has scored eight goals and conceded eight, giving them a goal difference of zero. They currently sit five points behind league leaders Swansea City.
Clement's squad is also dealing with several injury absences. Ali Ahmed, Jovon Makama, Lucien Mahovo, and Mirko Topić are all currently sidelined, which affects the manager's options. Fans can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page.
Norwich City must quickly regroup for their next Championship fixture. They are scheduled to face Birmingham City at home on September 9th. Birmingham currently sit 10th in the table, making it another challenging encounter. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on the fixtures page.
This match will be an immediate opportunity for Clement's side to bounce back from the disappointment at Stoke. The team's current standings position shows they are in a tightly packed mid-table group early in the season. Norwich City's next match kicks off at 15:00 BST.
