Filed under: Stoke City, Norwich, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: CARROW ROAD, SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1330 BST.Carrow Road hosts its first Premier League fixture since May 2005 and is sure to be rocking, especially on the final whistle should Paul Lambert's Canaries secure all three points.
Their rapid rise from the foot of League One under the Scot featured plenty of late goals so don't rule out another on Sunday.
But Tony Pulis' Potters will be backing themselves to make it difficult for the home side, especially as they have yet to concede even a single goal in their four games so far this term.
Last season's beaten FA Cup finalists have carved out a reputation as the most uncompromising side in the Premier League and Norwich will therefore by worried that a party that has been six years in the planning may end up spoiled.
Key Match-up: Ritchie de Laet v Kenwyne Jones. De Laet has been borrowed for the season from Manchester United and was excellent in the centre of the Norwich defence at Wigan on the opening day. Now his task will be to keep the powerful Jones at bay, as well as helping his colleagues fend off the rest of Stoke's hefty attackers, especially from set pieces.
Form Guide: Neither side has been beaten this term. Norwich's only game so far was last week's 1-1 draw at Wigan while Stoke have come through three Europa League qualifiers unscathed as well as beginning their Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea.
Odds: Norwich 8/5, Stoke 7/4, Draw 23/10
NORWICH CITY:
A cracking Carrow Road atmosphere has helped Lambert's troops propel themselves up the divisions in rapid time but, while Lambert was grateful for such backing, he knows it will not intimidate the game's top performers as much as the journeymen.
"Big players handle any atmosphere home or away, it doesn't matter to them," he said. "Our crowd can add something to an extent but opposition players who are big are used to it."
Lambert believes Stoke must now be placed in that category and made it clear he would love Norwich to enjoy the same level of success.
"They are established and that's something we have to aspire to - to stay in the league," he said. "And it's a massive ask. If we can it will surpass anything we have done so far."
Strategy: Lambert rejected the notion that Stoke are a one-dimensional team that relies on long balls into crowded penalty areas. And he admitted that he wouldn't mind his Canaries being labelled as such if it meant they were doing well.
"I don't want to keep playing brilliant football and keep getting beaten," he said. "There's no thanks for that, that's for sure. So if I have got to try to win ugly then I'll take it.
"I know the threat of Stoke. I saw Chelsea trying to cope with it last week and everybody trying to cope with it last season. It's difficult but there's nothing set in stone that you have to play football the way people tell you. You have to try to win."
Injury Update: Defender Zak Whitbread is likely to be forced out by a knee injury, which could open the door for new signing Daniel Ayala. Forward James Vaughan (knee) and defender Elliott Ward (knee) are expected to remain on the sidelines.
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