Narcis Pelach's initial month as Stoke manager has produced some mixed outcomes as they get ready to host an improving Norwich at the Potteries this Saturday.
Spanish coach Pelach took over from Steven Schumacher at Stoke in September, but has managed to secure just one victory in his first four matches in charge, although it was a convincing 6-1 win against Portsmouth.
Pelach might seek guidance from Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup, as the Danish coach had a slow start after joining the Canaries in the summer, but now seems to be getting positive results from his team following a four-game unbeaten streak.
Team news
Stoke do not have any new injury worries, but Bosun Lawal (back), Lynden Gooch (knee), and Ben Pearson (hamstring) are all likely to remain sidelined.
Norwich have concerns regarding the fitness of goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who left the pitch with a rib injury during the 4-0 victory over Hull and missed the international break with Scotland as a consequence.
If Gunn is unable to prove his fitness, George Long is expected to replace him, while Liam Gibbs (muscle), Onel Hernandez (leg), Jakob Sorensen (foot), Christian Fassnacht (Achilles), and Ashley Barnes (leg) are all still unavailable.
The stats
After losing the first two games in charge of Stoke, Pelach has gathered four points from the last two matches, with a 6-1 win against Portsmouth followed by a goalless draw at Swansea before the international break.
At the beginning of the season, Norwich won only one out of five Championship matches, but they have managed to secure three wins and a draw in their last four games, including a 4-0 victory over Hull in the previous match.
Norwich has not lost in their last seven encounters with Stoke, winning five of those matches. They achieved victories in both meetings against Stoke last season, winning 1-0 at home and 3-0 away in March.
The last time Stoke beat Norwich at home was in a 3-1 Premier League win in January 2016, with Joselu, a Euro winner with Spain this summer, among the goalscorers that day.
Prediction
While Stoke is still adjusting to the new coach Pelach, Norwich seems to have adapted well after a tough start under Thorup, and they could secure their fourth win in five games this weekend.
Norwich has had success against Stoke in recent encounters, with their last loss to Stoke at any venue coming in 2018. They were dominant across all areas in their 3-0 victory in the last meeting in March.
It appears that Norwich is a bit ahead in their development compared to Stoke, which might reflect in the outcome on Saturday, with Norwich likely to take all three points back to Norfolk.