Here is Paddy’s verdict on David Wagner’s Norwich City, who frustrated Stoke largely down to the razor-sharp reflexes of Angus Gunn.

• Angus Gunn             9

Command performance. A clean sheet to take with him when he joins up with the Scotland squad for the first time. One crazy spell midway through the opening period appeared to be Gunn versus Stoke.

Smart parry to deny Will Smallbone, then scrambled across his line to keep out Jacob Brown’s far post header. Seconds later a ‘star jump’ move foiled Brown, following Grant Hanley’s woefully underhit header. Another demonstration of his awareness inside his own six yard box when he beat away Brown’s rising hit.

Set the tone early on when he dived ‘Superman style’ to get his fingertips to a Josh Laurent deep cross. Helped over Brown’s curling lob and in the right position again to claim Ki-Jana Hoever’s dipping effort. One final act in stoppage time when Brown flicked Smallbone’s free kick goalwards but paddled it away.

• Jacob Sorensen    5

Wagner confirmed there was no injury issues behind his half-time exit. Deployed at right back but had a torrid spell against Tyrese Campbell and Brown in particular.

Needed Gunn to ride to the rescue when Campbell easily brushed him aside to spark five chaotic minutes midway through the first half.

• Grant Hanley (C)             6

Gunn was on hand to mop up a weak header that had Brown interested. Beaten in the air by the same player, but Brown’s looping effort was collected by Gunn. Sensed the danger to block Hoever’s snapshot in the 20th minute.

• Ben Gibson             6

Stood his ground in two tussles with Brown in the space of seconds. Won the first contact on two consecutive near post defensive corners. Drilled a sublime ball down the left channel for Gabby Sara, who had more time and space than a tame shot on the turn. Well-positioned a minute from the interval to cut out a Campbell cross.

• Dimi Giannoulis     6

Departed late on, after running treatment for a full-blooded tip tackle from Ben Pearson as the Greek led a breakout that ended with Sara picking out Christos Tzolis, who saw his cross deflected into the arms of Jack Bonham.

Won a key defensive header at the far post, and then exchanged passes with Tzolis to drop a ball at the feet of Teemu Pukki. Vital sliding challenge in the 62nd minute on Laurent, after Kenny McLean’s intended corner routine instead sparked a Potters’ counter.

•  Max Aarons              6

Strange to see him operating in front of a right back. Wagner indicated afterwards that was part of his tactical template to subdue Stoke in wide areas. Lack of communication with Hanley led to the unmarked Brown's far post header.

Gunn parried the effort, and Aarons completed the clearance. Whipped in a cross Tzolis attacked but his looping header hit a Stoke defender and spiralled for a corner. Got to the byline in the 48th minute and clipped in a cross the swivelling Pukki sliced wide.

• Kenny McLean     6

Little in the way of targets to connect further forward for the majority of this game. Tried his own luck in the 37th minute with a rising shot that had Bonham diving full length, after good build up play from Pukki and Sara.

Plucked the Brazilian’s header out of the sky in the 57th minute but then over-clubbed his intended diagonal for Tzolis.

Fortunate Giannoulis bailed him out when a drifting corner delivery, intended for a City player on the edge of the area, was intercepted.

•  Gabby Sara         6

Deeper role alongside McLean, and looked far less potent as a result. Caught in possession from Giannoulis’ reverse ball. Sharp interplay with Pukki teed up McLean. Rash decision to shoot himself on the turn when found by Ben Gibson.

Rolled in Pukki down the right who bought a yard of space with quick feet to pick out Sargent, but the American's right footed effort was blocked. Swept Giannoulis pass out to Tzolis. Whipped a late free kick to the far post that was easy prey for Bonham.

• Christos Tzolis       6

One genuine moment of quality when he shifted the ball inside his marker and threaded a right footed pass through the Stoke backline for Sargent’s big early chance. Looping header from Max Aarons’ cross struck a Stoke defender on the back of his head.

Hit the floor when he burst between two Potters in the 59th minute, but told to get to his feet by the official.

­­• Teemu Pukki          6

That scoring drought continued. No chances worthy of the name. Served the ball up for McLean to let fly in the 37th minute. Turned provider again for Sargent. Sliced Aarons’ cross wide as he looked to be off-balance.

• Josh Sargent         6

Lack of composure with Bonham to beat in the sixth minute. Watch back the reaction of Pukki, who had a tap in had the American rolled it square. Pukki turned provider in the 40th minute, but another unconvincing finish.

Teed up Aarons in the 42nd minute to find Tzolis. Back helping out with a far post defensive header, but Pearson returned the ball with interest to lash a right footer into the side netting. Stoke midfield was booked when he barged over Sargent heading in the opposite direction.

Subs

• Andrew Omobamidele (for Sorensen, 45)          5

Ball watching a touch when still new to the action, as Brown ran off the back of him, to collect Campbell’s reverse ball and test Gunn.

• Marquinhos (for Tzolis, 69)          5

Left footed shot dragged wide from 25 yards in the 75th minute.

• Marcelino Nunez (for Pukki, 77)          n/a

• Sam McCallum (for Giannoulis, 81)          n/a