Stoke City play host to Norwich City on Saturday afternoon with head coach Narcis Pelach being reunited with his former club.

At a time when the Potters sit in 17th position in the Championship standings, the Canaries are seventh after an impressive run of form before the October international break.

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Pelach would have been worried about how his Stoke team would develop under his leadership after suffering back-to-back losses to Middlesbrough and Hull City.

But for the Spaniard, who is trying to win over a fan base still upset about Steven Schumacher’s departure, the goal glut against Portsmouth came at the perfect moment.

Before being held to a goalless draw at Swansea City, Stoke had lost five of their previous six league games. The six goals against Pompey ended that trend.

A first clean sheet in five Championship games was warmly received, despite Pelach’s natural desire to record the most points possible in South Wales.

Instead of being closer to the relegation zone, Pelach has the chance to launch a playoff bid since they are only six points out of the playoffs.

Pelach’s former team appears to have taken the final third in each of the four games since he departed Norwich for the Potteries.

In games against Watford, Derby County, Leeds United, and Hull City, twelve goals have been scored, and ten points have been earned.

Pelach’s exit cannot be linked to that improvement, but head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup will be pleased with his team’s reaction to the turmoil in the backroom.

Despite only four goals in as many away games, Norwich has only lost once in their last eight league games, putting the East Anglian team four points behind leaders Sunderland.

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