Stoke ended their poor run of form to retain second spot with a well earned 1-0 away victory at Carrow Road.

Mama Sidibe headed in on the hour with his second goal of the season to seal a vital win for the Potters.

Bristol City and Watford ended in a stalemate meaning City remained in second place, moving within a point of the league leaders, and eleven clear of Plymouth in seventh.

City boss Tony Pulis made some unexpected changes to the team that were held to a draw by Burnley last Saturday, as the Potters looked to end their three match winless run.

Ricardo Fuller dropped to the bench, with Richard Cresswell moving up front to partner Mama Sidibe. Danny Pugh pushed up to left midfield, which meant a recall to the starting line up for Carl Dickinson, who came in to fill the left-back slot. Dickinson's inclusion meant Jon Parkin was not included amongst the substitutes.

Stoke started slowly but comfortably and were awarded the first corner of the game. Norwich defended well and broke on the counter attack and the ball broke to left winger Ryan Bertrand, but his low cross went wide of Carlo Nash's left hand post.

Norwich's first corner came after fifteen minutes when captain Andy Griffin blocked a Bertrand cross, but Nash came to catch Mark Fotheringham's cross comfortably.

Norwich earned a half chance twenty minutes into the game when the ball dropped in the box for Jamie Cureton, but centre-back Leon Cort bravely threw himself in front of the shot.

Three minutes later Dickinson crossed from deep for Stoke but unfortunately Cort's header went harmlessly wide.

City came close to breaking the deadlock after twenty-six minutes from a corner. Cort ws first to react as he headed across goal where the ball struck Jon Otsemobor but David Marshall dived on the ball to prevent the own goal.

An embarrassing moment for Cort came moments later, as he tumbled over the advertising boards in an attempt to reach Rory Delap's long throw.

Cureton had a chance to put Norwich in front five minutes before the break when he latched on to Marshall's long kick, but his hard shot was gathered comfortably by Nash. Otsemobor then shot well wide from a Norwich counter attack.

Stoke started fairly brightly in the second half but it was Norwich who created the first chance, when Carlo Nash smothered at the second attempt after a long range effort from Fotheringham.

Stoke had a penalty shout moments later when Delap appeared to be brought down the box but the referee ignored the central midfielder's appeals. Pugh fired over a minute later from the edge of the box.

The Potters showed their intent to go for the win when Pulis brought on Fuller for Salif Diao.

This enabled Pugh to slot into a more central position with Cresswell retreating to the left wing.

City's early second half pressure paid off as they took a deserved lead just before the hour.

A trademark long throw-in from Delap was flicked on by Sidibe, and his header looped over Marshall into the Norwich net.

Stoke by no means sat back to defend their lead. They continued to apply pressure on the Norwich goal, limiting their opportunities to go forward.

The home side were restricted to half chances and long range efforts, as another effort from Otsemobor was hopelessly off target. Norwich substitute Ched Evans was guilty of the same offence with twenty minutes remaining.

Three minutes after that Cureton fired low from distance straight at Nash as the Potters continued to frustrate the visitors.

Norwich almost equalised as the game entered its final fifteen minutes. Cureton controlled a right wing cross well, but Nash rushed out to superbly deny the forward.

They began to apply more pressure but the City keeper was equal to the task again as he held on to a strong header from Evans.

Ryan Shawcross replaced Cort with ten minutes remaining after the big centre half picked up a minor knock on his ankle.

Lawrence came close to sealing the three points with little over five minutes left on the clock. His low shot was palmed just wide by Marshall.

Pulis decided to sent fresh legs on as the pacy Paul Gallagher replaced goal scorer Sidibe.

Stoke had a close scare late on when Matty Pattison's long range effort flew just wide.

Delap was booked for a late tackle as the game ticked into five minutes of added on time.

Cureton was guilty of missing an open goal from a Norwich corner but the Potters hung on for a richly deserved three points in the Championship race to end their bad run of form.

Bristol City and Watford ended in a stalemate meaning City moved up into second place, moving within a point of the league leaders.

NORWICH (4-4-2): Marshall; Otsemobor, Pearce, Shackell, Camara (Evans 68); Croft, Pattison, Fotheringham (c), Bertrand; Cureton, Dublin. Subs: Gilks (gk), Gibbs, Spillane, Daley.

CITY (4-4-2): Nash; Griffin (c), Cort (Shawcross 81), Riggott, Dickinson; Lawrence, Delap, Diao (Fuller 52), Pugh; Sidibe (Gallagher 84), Cresswell. Subs: Simonsen (gk), Wilkinson.