Championship leaders Norwich held by Stoke to keep promotion champagne on ice

Tom Edwards' equaliser kept Norwich's promotion champagne on ice
Tom Edwards' equaliser kept Norwich's promotion champagne on ice Credit: PA

Stoke City 2 Norwich City 2

The champagne must remain on ice until Saturday night, but Norwich City’s return to the Premier League is tantalisingly close.

This was a fourth draw in a row for Daniel Farke’s Championship leaders and Norwich are the footballing equivalent of a cricketer in the “nervous 90s”, edging nearer towards the finish line step by small step. They now need just one point from their final two games to finally secure promotion.

At the final whistle here, a few Norwich players sank to the turf as if they had just suffered relegation, after a typically frenetic afternoon in this crazy division. 

Twice they went in front against Stoke, only to throw away the three points that would have confirmed promotion.

Over 2,800 fans travelled to the bet365 Stadium in hope and expectation, with a further 8,000 watching via the “beamback” at Carrow Road, but the wait stretches on for another week.

Hernandez celebrates his first-half opener for Norwich
Hernandez celebrates his first-half opener for Norwich Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Now they must do it all again on Saturday, against Blackburn at home, with one point enough to finally end their agonising wait and clinch a place back in the big time after Leeds’ defeat at Brentford.

Farke said: “Success is never easy, you always have to fight to the end.

“We are still the league leaders, 12 games unbeaten and in a brilliant position, 23 other clubs would gladly swap places with us. Life could have been more easy for us in the final battle but there is no reason to doubt ourselves or be too disappointed.

“This could be a massive, crucial point. At this stage, anything can happen. I am happy with our consistency, maybe not with the consistency of draws. We go again on Saturday.”

It was all looking so simple early on, after the visitors made the breakthrough in the 24th minute.

Stoke failed to properly clear a Jamal Lewis cross and Onel Hernandez took one touch before driving the loose ball into the bottom corner. It was Hernandez’s ninth goal of the season, prompting chants of “we’re going to win the league” from the away end.

That was the pre-season ambition for Stoke after relegation, but they are facing another summer of wholesale changes.

Nathan Jones, the manager, has only three wins from 19 games and his record is no better than Gary Rowett, who was sacked in January.

With Jones keen to drastically revamp his squad and play with a diamond formation next season, their recruitment will have to improve significantly. Norwich have proved quite brilliantly the value of shrewd recruitment and scouting, so this summer is crucial to Stoke. 

At least there were signs of encouragement here, as Stoke displayed the battling qualities that have been so lacking this season.

Stoke had barely threatened in the first-half, but were level two minutes into the second period with their first chance. Norwich struggled to clear Thibaud Verlinden’s corner and Ashley Williams headed in at the far post.

Norwich were now unsettled and Sam Clucas should have given Stoke a 64th minute lead, lifting his shot over the bar after good interplay between Joe Allen and Peter Etebo.

But just when Norwich appeared out of ideas, Teemu Pukki rose to head home substitute Mario Vrancic’s cross past Butland.  Goal no 28 for the Finnish forward.  

It was a short-lived lead, however, with impressive Stoke wing-back Tom Edwards arrowing a low shot across Tim Krul.

The game ebbed and flowed, another absorbing advertisement for the division, but there were no more goals. For Jones, there were clear signs of progress ahead of such a big rebuilding job.

Jones said: “I’m very proud of the second half performance, that is the side I envisaged turning up. We’ve got to produce that for 46 games next season.

“It’s difficult at the moment because we’re not getting the results we deserve but there are positive signs.

“This club needs to give someone time and we will change this here. We’re getting there and we’re ready for a big summer. We will get this right.”

                                                                                                    

Full-time scores

Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Derby County 2-0 QPR

Hull City 0-3 Sheffield United        

Ipswich Town 0-1 Swansea City        

Nottingham Forest 3-0 Middlesbrough    

Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion    

Rotherham 1-3 Birmingham City    

Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Bristol City    

Stoke City 2-2 Norwich City        

Wigan Athletic 2-0 Preston North End  

GOAL!!

Derby 2 QPR 0 (Wilson)

11 minutes into injury time at Pride Park, Harry Wilson has sealed the points for Derby and sealed their return to the playoff places.

GOAL!!

Derby 1 QPR 0 (Wilson pen)

...and Harry Wilson slots it into the bottom corner! Derby have leapfrogged Bristol City and Middlesbrough into sixth!

PENALTY TO DERBY!

In injury time at Pride Park, and a very dubious-looking spot-kick has been awarded...

GOAL!!

Rotherham 1 Birmingham 3 (Mrabti)

That's the points for Birmingham, and now Rotherham look in serious trouble: they trail Millwall by three points but, crucially, have played a game more.

GOAL!! 

Nottingham Forest 3 Middlesbrough 0 (Lolley)

Boro are buried now, and now have Bristol City and Derby breathing down their necks for the last couple of games.

GOAL!! 

Wigan 2 Preston 0 (Evans)

That should mean the three points are safe and, with Rotherham trailing, Wigan are set to survive relegation with a couple of games to spare.

GOAL!!

Stoke 2 Norwich 2 (Edwards)

Moments after Pukki had restored Norwich's lead, Stoke have pegged them back again at the Bet365! Tom Edwards with the goal.

GOAL!!

Stoke 1 Norwich 2 (Pukki)

An outstanding finish from the Finn, his 29th of the season, and Norwich could rubber-stamp their promotion tonight if Leeds fail to win at Brentford.

GOAL!! 

Rotherham 1 Birmingham 2 (Jota)

The Spaniard tucks the ball home to complete the turnaround at the New York Stadium!

GOAL!!

Nottingham Forest 2 Middlesbrough 0 (Milosevic)

Speaking of the playoffs, sixth-placed Boro are really there to be shot at now - they trail by two goals at the City Ground!

GOAL!!

Ipswich 0 Swansea 1 (Routledge)

Swansea's outside chances of a playoff place are kept alive by 34-year-old Wayne Routledge.

GOAL!!

Rotherham 1-1 Birmingham City (Maghoma) Blow for Rotherham. 

GOAL!!

Blackburn 2-0 Bolton (Armstrong)Took a rebound at the second attempt after it initially got caught under his feet to lift it over the keeper from about five yards. 

GOAL!!

Stoke City 1-1 Norwich (Williams) Buries a back-post header at a corner. 

Half-time scores

Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Derby County 0-0 QPR
Hull City 0-3 Sheffield United        
Ipswich Town 0-0 Swansea City        
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Middlesbrough    
Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion    
Rotherham 1-0 Birmingham City    
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Bristol City    
Stoke City 0-1 Norwich City        
Wigan Athletic 1-0 Preston North End  

GOAL!!

Hull City 0-3 Sheffield United (Stevens) It's a rout. Baldock stands up a cross and Enda Stevens buries the header. Hull haven't even bothered to turn up. Sheffield United, an outstandingly managed side, are romping to victory in the East Riding. 

GOAL!!

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Middlesbrough (Lolley, pen)Hits it high to the keeper's right as Randolph dives to the left. 

GOAL!!

Sheff Wed 2-0 Bristol City (Joao) Lovely finish, taking a floated pass from Bannon, cushioning it with his left foot then lobbing the keeper. 

Ryan Shotton escapes a straight red

Forest have a penalty after the Boro defender hacks down Osborn from behind as he ran into the box. How was that only a yellow card? Preposterous. 

Here's David McGoldrick's first for Sheffield United

David McGoldrick is left wholly unmarked to head in Sheffield United's first Credit:  Action Images/Ed Sykes 

 

GOAL!!

Blackburn 1-0 Bolton (Brereton) Set up by Dack, with a round-the-corner pass into the box, Brereton takes it on and finishes with a left-foot shot. 

GOAL!!

Stoke 0-1 Norwich (Hernandez) And now the leaders have taken the lead at Stoke. Hernandez controls a Lewis cross that was hacked out to him and he slotted it into the bottom left corner from about 12 yards. 

GOAL!!

Rotherham Utd 1-0 Birmingham (Crooks) Finishes from about eight yards after a fine run and centre from Williams down the right. 

GOAL!!

Hull City 0-2 Sheffield United (McGoldrick) An arcing shot from 20 yards, left to right, over the keeper and into the bottom corner. Blades are going up. 

GOAL!!

Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Bristol City (Bannon) A 30-yard screamer, bent with sizzling power into the top right corner. 

GOAL!!

Wigan 1-0 Preston (Clarke)Tap-in from two yards after Preston flap at a whipped cross sent in from the left. 

GOAL!!!

Hull City 0-1 Sheffield United (McGoldrick) Free header at a corner. Terrible marking. 

At Pride Park

QPR's goalkeeper Joe Lumley pulls off a smart save. Still scoreless in the 10 matches. 

They're off

And Sheffield United are out of the traps quickly, on the attack against Hull City.  

Aston Villa win a 10th successive match

Aston Villa 1-0 Millwall. Which leaves Millwall in 21st, three points above Rotherham and Villa are in fifth with 75 points, needing one more to secure a play-off place. 

No change at Villa Park

It's still 1-0 after 76 minutes but Villa haven't played particularly well in the second half. 

Jonathan Kodjia celebrates putting Villa 1-0 up Credit: Action Images/Alan Walter

 

Team news from Pride Park

Derby Roos, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Malone, Bryson, Johnson,  Mount, Harry Wilson, Waghorn, Lawrence.
Subs Carson, Marriott,  Evans, Bennett, Cole, Nugent, Huddlestone. 

QPR Lumley, Wszolek, Furlong, Cameron, Manning, Freeman,  Scowen, Luongo, Samuel, Wells, Hemed.
Subs Ingram, Eze, Smith,  Shodipo, Phillips, Walker, Scrivens. 

Referee David Webb (County Durham) 

Team news from New York Stadium

Rotherham Rodak, Jones, Wood, Ajayi, Mattock, Vaulks,  Williams, Towell, Crooks, Newell, Smith.
Subs Price, Robertson,  Vassell, Ihiekwe, Wiles, Taylor, Forde. 

Birmingham Camp, Colin, Dean, Morrison, Pedersen, Jota, Davis,  Gary Gardner, Maghoma, Jutkiewicz, Adams.
Subs Roberts,  Craig Gardner, Vassell, Mrbati, Trueman, Lakin, Harding. 

Referee Andy Davies (Hampshire) 

Team news from Hillsborough

Sheff Wed Dawson, Iorfa, Lees, Hector, Lazaar, Reach,  Pelupessy, Bannan, Boyd, Lucas Joao, Hooper.
Subs Fox, Onomah,  Winnall, Nuhiu, Marco Matias, Wildsmith, Forestieri. 

Bristol City O'Leary, Kalas, Wright, Webster, Hunt, Brownhill,  Pack, Dasilva, Weimann, Diedhiou, Eliasson.
Subs Baker, Taylor,  Walsh, Kelly, Semenyo, Marinovic, Palmer. 

Referee Robert Jones (Merseyside) 

Team news from the City Ground

Nottm Forest Pantilimon, Cash, Milosevic, Wague, Robinson,  Pele, Yates, Lolley, Joao Carvalho, Osborn, Ansarifard.
Subs Guedioura, Grabban, Murphy, Steele, Janko, Yacob, Appiah. 

Middlesbrough Randolph, McNair, Flint, Shotton, Howson,  Clayton, Mikel, Besic, Saville, Fletcher, Assombalonga.
Subs Konstantopoulos, Hugill, Downing, Wood-Gordon, Tavernier,  Gestede, Spence. 
Referee Peter Bankes (Merseyside) 

Team news from the Bet 365

Stoke Butland, Edwards, Shawcross, Batth, Williams, Etebo,  Allen, Clucas, McClean, Afobe, Verlinden. Subs Ince, Vokes,  Adam, Diouf, Krkic, Federici, Collins. 

Norwich Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Godfrey, Lewis, McLean, Trybull, Emi, Stiepermann, Hernandez, Pukki.
Subs Vrancic, Rhodes, Klose, Hanley, McGovern, Cantwell, Leitner. 

Referee Tony Harrington (Cleveland). 

Team news from Portman Road

Ipswich Gerken, Bree, Chambers, Nsiala, Elder, Dozzell,  Chalobah, Downes, Edwards, Keane, Judge.
Subs Skuse, Jackson,  Bishop, Nydam, Quaner, Ndaba, Bialkowski. 

Swansea Nordfeldt, Roberts, van der Hoorn, Carter-Vickers,  Naughton, Fulton, Byers, Grimes, Routledge, McBurnie, James. 
Subs Fer, Dyer, Benda, McKay, Rodon, John, Baker-Richardson. 

Referee Darren England (South Yorkshire).

Team news from Ewood Park

Blackburn Leutwiler, Nyambe, Lenihan, Williams, Bell, Travis,  Rodwell, Rothwell, Dack, Armstrong, Brereton.
Subs Raya,  Graham, Mulgrew, Bennett, Conway, Butterworth, Buckley. 

Bolton Alnwick, Connolly, Hobbs, Beevers, Taylor, Brockbank,  Joe Williams, Connell, Noone, Ameobi, Donaldson.
Subs Oztumer,  Buckley, Murphy, Wilson, Ben Williams, Magennis, Muscatt. 

Referee Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)

Team news from the Madejski

Reading Martinez, Yiadom, Miazga, Moore, Blackett, Rinomhota,  Baker, Meite, Ejaria, Barrow, Oliveira.
Subs Gunter, Baldock,  McCleary, Harriott, Walker, Loader, McIntyre. 

West Brom Johnstone, Dawson, Bartley, Adarabioyo, Holgate,  Harper, Field, Townsend, Robson-Kanu, Rodriguez, Murphy.
Subs  Gibbs, Phillips, Brunt, Mears, Gayle, Hoolahan, Bond. 

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey) 

Team news from the DW

Wigan Walton, Byrne, Dunkley, Fox, Robinson, James, Morsy,  Massey, Lee Evans, Naismith, Clarke.
Subs Gibson, Windass,  Roberts, Powell, Olsson, Owen Evans, Garner. 

Preston North End Rudd, Rafferty, Storey, Davies, Fisher,  Ledson, Johnson, Nmecha, Robinson, Gallagher, Maguire.
Subs Earl, Moult, Ginnelly, Stockley, Huntington, Ripley, O'Reilly

Referee Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) 

Team news from the KCOM

Hull Long, Kane, McKenzie, De Wijs, Lichaj, Bowen, Batty,  Irvine, Grosicki, Pugh, Campbell.
Subs Marshall, Stewart,  Evandro, Dicko, Toral, Martin, Ridgewell. 

Sheff Utd Henderson, Cranie, Egan, O'Connell, Baldock, Duffy,  Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, Hogan, McGoldrick.
Subs Basham,  Lundstram, Dowell, Madine, Stearman, Moore, Washington. 

Referee Graham Scott (Oxfordshire) 

Good afternoon

And welcome to goal-by-goal coverage of events in the 10 Championship matches kicking off at 3pm on Easter Monday. These are the matches we will be following:

Blackburn Rovers vs Bolton Wanderers
Derby County vs QPR
Hull City vs Sheffield United        
Ipswich Town vs Swansea City        
Nottingham Forest vs Middlesbrough    
Reading vs West Bromwich Albion    
Rotherham vs Birmingham City    
Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City    
Stoke City vs Norwich City        
Wigan Athletic vs Preston North End    

If Norwich win at Stoke and either Sheffield United or Leeds United do not win, their return to the Premier League will be conformed today. Sheffield United have a six goal advantage over Leeds United but need to keep the pressure on with victory at Hull, who have an extremely slim chance of making the last play-off place.

Derby County and Bristol City have played one fewer than Boro and have at least to keep pace at home against QPR and at Hillsborough respectively. 

Aston Villa are playing Millwall at home in the 1pm kick-off and are currently 1-0 up. If they manage to hang on to win,  a 10th successive victory,  they will need only one point from their final two games to secure a play-off spot. Boro, currently in 6th, have won their last three on the spin and can knock the remote chances of Preston, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday of sneaking past them by beating Forest.

At the bottom Rotherham are in 22nd and three points behind Millwall (should the result stay the same at Villa Park) in 21st who will have a game in hand at 5pm. They haven't managed to beat Birmingham City at home in their past six attempts but desperately need victory at the New York.

Reading and Wigan both have 45 points and would expand their breathing space with points against Preston and West Brom respectively.  

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