Norwich City reignited their Championship play-off ambitions with a commanding 4-2 victory over Stoke City at Carrow Road.
The match saw early promise for Stoke, but Norwich’s attacking firepower, combined with defensive lapses from the visitors, ensured a comprehensive home win.
While Lewis Baker struck twice for the away side, a Junior Tchamadeu own goal and Sargent’s clinical finishing meant Johannes Hoff Thorup’s team took all three points.
Sargent’s Brilliance Seals the Deal
Stoke entered the game buoyed by recent results under Mark Robins, but they found themselves under early pressure. Despite an initial scare when Baker missed a headed opportunity, the Canaries were first to strike through on-loan Aston Villa forward Lewis Dobbin. Set up by Marcelino Nunez, Dobbin coolly cut inside before slotting the ball beyond Viktor Johansson in the 32nd minute.
However, Norwich’s control was momentarily undone just before the break. Shane Duffy’s misplaced pass gifted possession to Stoke, and Andrew Moran’s cross found Baker unmarked, allowing the midfielder to fire home and level proceedings.
After the restart, Norwich quickly reasserted their dominance. Borja Sainz’s surging run disoriented the Stoke backline, and when Ante Crnac lost his footing inside the box, Sargent pounced on the loose ball to rifle Norwich back in front.
The American international wasn’t finished there. Demonstrating both composure and skill, he latched onto a pass from substitute Jacob Wright, deceived the Stoke defence with a clever feint, and unleashed a sublime left-footed strike into the top corner to extend the lead.
Canaries in Full Flight
Norwich refused to ease off, adding a fourth in spectacular fashion. Kellen Fisher’s incisive run and cross found full-back Lucien Mahovo, whose driven delivery deflected off Tchamadeu and looped into the net.
The Canaries could have made the scoreline even more emphatic, with Sargent denied a hat-trick by Johansson’s superb close-range save. Oscar Schwartau then squandered a golden opportunity, somehow failing to convert from a yard out.
Despite Stoke’s struggles, they managed a consolation late on. Duffy’s foul on Million Manhoef handed Baker a chance from the penalty spot, and he made no mistake in reducing the deficit.
“We have some offensive stuff going on that really gives us good opportunities and puts us in so many good situations. We could have scored more, that’s the positive thing.
I’m not that satisfied with our defensive performance because we should never concede two goals in a game like this.”
Writer’s View
This win represents a significant boost for Norwich, who have struggled for consistency in their play-off chase. Sargent’s form could be the key to sustaining their challenge, while the return of Nunez adds much-needed creativity. However, Thorup’s concerns over defensive fragility are valid—tightening up at the back will be crucial as the Canaries prepare for a crunch clash against Blackburn next weekend.
