Sam Gallagher scored his first Stoke goal in 10 months as the Potters beat Norwich at Carrow Road to continue their Championship promotion push.
Gallagher replaced Divin Mubama at half-time and Mark Robins’ tactical change paid off as he tapped home on 75 minutes.
Sorba Thomas added a second eight minutes from time to give Stoke only their fifth win at Carrow Road and Robins’ first over the Canaries in his 13th attempt.
The win continues Stoke’s resurgence after their New Year’s Day victory at Hull, while Norwich remain rooted in the bottom three.
Stoke are revived and, after losing seven of their final 10 games of 2025, they have won their first two games of the new year away from home without conceding.
The Potters have a long injury list and Ben Gibson was added to it before kick-off to rob them off their last left-back.
They had the better of the opening exchanges and Mubama saw a shot deflected over, while Lamine Cisse had an effort saved by Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic before he fired a shot over.
Norwich knew a point would take them out of the bottom three for the first time this season and Jovon Makama had a header saved by Tommy Simkin after Kellen Fisher and Matej Jurasek went close.
Stoke grew stronger as the game wore on and Cisse, Thomas and Bosun Lawal all had efforts before Gallagher made the breakthrough.
Thomas produced good work on the left and Gallagher lost Makama in the six-yard box to tap home his low cross.
Norwich were beaten and the excellent Thomas rubber-stamped the win when the Potters’ top scorer met Million Manhoef’s cross first time to fire home his ninth goal of the season.
