McAlear and Giurgi strikes extend City U23s’ lead at top of Division Two

Norwich City Under-23s extended their Division Two lead to five points as they beat Stoke U23s 2-1 in Premier League Two, thanks to two spectacular goals at Colney.

Strikes from midfielders Reece McAlear and Josh Giurgi earned a fourth consecutive win for David Wright’s squad, including the impressive 5-0 victory at Newport County in the EFL Trophy group stages.

McAlear cut in from the left wing in the 31st minute, selling a dummy to two Potters defenders and then curling a lovely effort from the edge of the box into the top-right corner.

Stoke equalised with a close-range header from a cross soon after. McAlear had another shot cleared off the line after the break but Irish winger Girugi grabbed the points in the 76th minute when he curled a left-footed shot into the top-left corner from the edge of the area.

Next up for the young Canaries is a trip to third-placed Leeds on Monday, October 26, who are five points behind having also played five games - with Wolves second and also five points behind City but with two games in hand.

City U23s: McCracken (C); Vaughan, Omobamidele, Tomkinson, Nizet (Khumbeni 70); Dronfield, McAlear; Giurgi, Hondermarck, Dennis (Dickson-Peters 55); Omotoye. Unused subs: Blair (GK), Warner, Springett