Narcis Pelach helps Stoke take point from former club Norwich

Boss Narcis Pelach earned a point against his former club as Stoke played out a 1-1 draw with Norwich at the bet365 Stadium.

The Spaniard left his position as first-team coach at Carrow Road last month to take up the top job at Stoke after Steven Schumacher was relieved of his duties.

Ante Crnac opened his account for the Canaries after his summer move from Rakow Czestochowa before Million Manhoef pulled the Potters level in a chaotic six-minute period before half-time.

The Canaries’ only change from their 4-0 demolition of Hull before the international break was in goal where George Long replaced the injured Angus Gunn and the stand-in stopper was called into action early when he saved Tom Cannon’s goalbound effort.

Stoke played some nice football as they controlled the opening minutes and Manhoef almost picked out Lewis Koumas while Cannon saw his shot deflected behind for a corner.

Sweden international Viktor Johansson had mainly been a spectator for the opening 20 minutes before he pulled off a sharp save down to his right to keep out Marcelino Nunez from close range.

Johansson was called upon again minutes later to keep out Kenny McLean, who then dragged a shot wide.

The game burst into life on the stroke of half-time when some penalty box pinball saw substitute Oscar Schwartau’s shot deflected and bounce kindly for Crnac to rifle home a half volley.

The hosts refused to go in at the break behind and Cannon, who scored four in Stoke’s last home outing against Portsmouth, should have done better from Ben Wilmot’s cross.

Undeterred, in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Manhoef was given time and space to shift onto his left foot and bend his effort into the top corner.

Norwich went in search of re-establishing their lead after half-time through Josh Sargent, who latched onto Callum Doyle’s knockdown before cutting inside and seeing his effort deflected.

Championship joint-top scorer Borja Sainz had been kept quiet in the first half but he was also played in by Doyle before Johansson comfortably saved the Spaniard’s effort.

Then it was Stoke’s turn to have sustained pressure once again.

First, Long had to get down sharply to thwart Andrew Moran after the Brighton loanee showed off some neat footwork in the box while Koumas blasted over.

Long was almost left red-faced when he unconvincingly came for a Manhoef corner, almost parrying it into his own net.

Sainz had one more attempt at earning Norwich all three points when he cut inside and fired goalwards but the spoils were shared.