Stoke City 1 - 0 Norwich City

A second-half goal from Matthew Etherington following a controversial throw-in enabled Stoke to edge past the stubborn challenge of Norwich. The result meant Stoke continued their recovery from a four-match losing streak in the Barclays Premier League, following up last week's 2-0 win against Swansea. They are now eighth, with Norwich dropping to tenth.

The home side enjoyed the better of the first half but were unable to convert the opportunities that came their way, with John Ruddy making saves from Jon Walters, Dean Whitehead and Peter Crouch.

Tony Pulis' men continued to press after the break and Etherington struck in the 72nd minute after collecting the ball from substitute Cameron Jerome, who had flicked on a throw-in it appeared the hosts had been fortunate to be awarded.

The only change to the Stoke starting line-up from the Swansea game was the return of defender Robert Huth after serving a three-match suspension, replacing Matthew Upson.

Norwich's selection showed three changes from their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, with manager Paul Lambert bringing in midfielder Jonny Howson for his debut, as well as Elliott Bennett and Russell Martin. Simeon Jackson, David Fox and Adam Drury were the players making way.

Walters made the game's first attempt on goal in the ninth minute, getting the better of Kyle Naughton and unleashing a fierce shot which goalkeeper Ruddy initially parried before gathering. Six minutes later, Huth came forward to get on the end of Ryan Shotton's cross but the German could not direct his header on target.

Referee Michael Oliver waved for play to continue when Shotton went down in the area under the attentions of Naughton, and then penalised Crouch for committing a foul as the forward jumped to head the ball at Ruddy.

Howson picked up a booking for a challenge on Glenn Whelan, before Walters slipped in Whitehead, who could not get sufficient power on his effort to trouble Ruddy. Stoke were forced to make a substitution in the 25th minute, with Andy Wilkinson having to come off for Jermaine Pennant, and Huth then swung a wild attempt into the stands.

Norwich had offered little going forward, but called Asmir Begovic into action on the half-hour mark when Grant Holt met a free-kick with a header at the far post. Holt hacked a shot wide from outside the box five minutes later, and it was the Stoke who went close just before the break, Crouch having a header blocked by Bradley Johnson and then a shot kept out by Ruddy.

Lambert changed things around at half-time, substituting Anthony Pilkington for Jackson.

Crouch tried to connect with an Etherington cross but was beaten to the ball by Naughton, with Ruddy punching away the resulting corner. Crouch then flicked a header wide before Holt won a free-kick in a useful position which was taken by Andrew Surman and caught by Begovic.

Pulis refreshed his attack in the 69th minute by replacing Walters and Crouch with Jerome and Kenwyne Jones, and within three minutes the hosts finally broke Norwich's resistance.

From a throw-in – which replays suggested should have been given to the visitors - Jerome headed the ball to Etherington, who touched it past Elliott Ward before firing beyond Ruddy.