English Championship: Norwich on brink of Premier League despite fourth successive draw

A dejected Marco Stiepermann at the final whistle - Molly Darlington/AMA/Getty/TheGuardian

Championship leaders Norwich City moved to the brink of promotion to the Premier League despite being held to a fourth successive draw by Stoke City.

The draw, combined with Leeds' defeat by Brentford, leaves Norwich six points above the third-placed Whites with two games to go, and a goal difference superior by 10.

Norwich would have secured promotion on Monday had they held on after twice going ahead through Onel Hernandez's crisp shot and Teemu Pukki's glancing header.

But an Ashley Williams header and Tom Edwards' unerring finish meant the Canaries still need a point from their final two games to be completely assured of their top-flight place, although it seems a formality.

Norwich's run of four straight draws, two of which have required late levellers to rescue a point, has prevented the promotion party beginning early despite extending their unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki looks dejected after another draw - Carl Recine/Action/TheGuardian

However, while second-placed Sheffield United have not buckled , Leeds have now lost their past two games to 10-man Wigan and mid-table Brentford, rendering Norwich's slight stutter irrelevant.

Stoke City boss Nathan Jones told BBC Stoke:

"In the first half we showed Norwich too much respect, we sat off them - we didn't press them and work and graft and they were able to play in front of us.

"I thought we were disciplined. They only had one chance that they scored from, so it's not like they were carving us open in any way - it's just we needed to be a bit more proactive and get tighter."

Norwich City manager Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"We stay 12 games unbeaten. I'm not concerned about nerves, but we have to learn the lesson out of it [the result].

"To be honest, it's what I expect when I work with a young side. It's not like I can press a button and the Premier League [promotion] is coming easy."