Stoke City 2-3 Norwich City: Teemu Pukki double as Emi Buendia sent off

Teemu Pukki’s double helped Championship leaders Norwich City stretch their unbeaten run to nine games as they survived a Stoke City fightback.

Pukki’s second had put Norwich 3-0 up by then and it was a much needed cushion as Tyrese Campbell and Nathan Collins both headed in late goals for Stoke, who could not find an equaliser.

The result means Norwich, looking to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, remain one point ahead of Bournemouth at the top of the table – after the Cherries beat Nottingham Forest – while Stoke stay seventh.

Argentine Buendia had set Daniel Farke’s side on their way, finishing a slick Canaries move by slotting in Marco Stipermann’s through ball.

Finn Pukki, who scored twice during the international break and came off the bench to net the winner against Middlesbrough on Saturday, lashed in from a tight angle after bringing down Buendia’s clipped, first-touch pass over the top.

Despite struggling in the first half, Stoke somehow failed to convert a goal-mouth scramble, with Norwich keeper Tim Krul saving from Steven Fletcher, Tyrese Campbell seeing his follow-up blocked and Nick Powell heading the loose ball against the crossbar.

It was a moment that saw Fletcher slide into the advertising hoardings and suffer a cut to his leg, forcing him off before the break.

Despite Stoke’s improvement, Pukki had his eighth league goal of the season midway through the second half, rounding home goalkeeper Joe Burski after a pass from impressive teenager Josh Martin.

And then Buendia, whose creativity on the ball can be tempered by his indiscipline off it, made a straightforward night harder for the Canaries, picking up a second yellow card for a high boot – this was his third red card in as many seasons.

Stoke, who had won three of their last four and would have gone level on points with the visitors with a win, sparked into life after the sending-off and showed the thrust that saw them pick up back-to-back victories over Reading and Huddersfield.

Morgan Fox crossed for Campbell to thump in a superb header and Collins nodded in Sam Clucas’ cross to set up a frantic last 10 minutes.

And Norwich, who saw keeper Tim Krul go off with what looked like a hamstring injury to take their absentee list to 10 first-team players, survived a late scare when Krul’s replacement Michael McGovern knocked a looping ball into his own net, only for a foul to be given against the home side.

Stoke boss Michael O’Neill: “You’re disappointed when you get back in the game and don’t take something from it. We were second best for 35 minutes, Norwich were excellent I thought. We got a foothold before halftime and I think we were the better team in the second half.

“We conceded at a bad time and the sending off gives a lifeline but we couldn’t find a third goal. The disallowed goal was a bit soft.”

Norwich boss Daniel Farke: “It’s a tricky situation but in these circumstances we found a way to win. It was not the prettiest game in the world but it was full of mentality and fighting spirit.”

On Buendia’s red card: “I was a bit dubious. Sometimes a bit of naivety, but he was outstanding and his workload was good. He was by far the best player on the pitch.

“The first is a 50-50 tackle, he got a yellow card and should then calm down a bit. He was greedy to win the ball back and his foot his high for the second yellow. He apologised in front of the group for making our life difficult. He is still a young player.”