Ethan Galbraith's deflected first-half strike secured Stoke's first Championship victory of the season, as they edged out Norwich.

Galbraith, a £10m summer signing from Swansea, hit a crisp first-time strike from outside the box which clipped the foot of Canaries defender Jack Stacey and flew into the far bottom corner.

Norwich had chances before the break to level, with Andre Brooks denied by Stoke keeper Viktor Johansson.

They also applied pressure in the closing stages, but a superb Stoke defence kept them at bay.

The victory not only lifted Mark Robins' side off the bottom of the fledgling Championship table, but a gutsy performance also demonstrated their resilience and togetherness in the absence of star man Sorba Thomas.

The Wales winger, who scored 10 goals in the Championship last season, has moved to Hull City.

The Potters started sluggishly but on 13 minutes found the source of inspiration that would win them the game.

A low cross from the left by Eric Bocat was deflected out to Galbraith, who stepped up to the loose ball and found the net via Stacey.

A sometimes tetchy game was largely dominated by Norwich and twice the outstanding Johansson denied Brooks with his legs.

But Stoke had chances to settle matters, with George Hirst prevented from scoring by a superb block from Ruairi McConville, and deadline-day signing Luca Bombino seeing a shot tipped over.

Norwich camped themselves in the Stoke half for the final 15 minutes but could not carve out a clear chance as the home defence dug deep and ended a nine-match winless league run dating back to April.

Stoke next host Charlton on Saturday (12:30 BST), while Norwich travel to Sheffield United (15:00 BST).

Stoke City manager Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"We had to grind a win out somehow and we managed to do that, with a really well worked goal.

"We looked a threat on the counter-attack. They had loads of possession but as we know in this division it doesn't matter about possession.

"We needed to get a clean sheet and win a game and it didn't matter how we did it. Obviously there's a lot of turbulence around deadline day, so the lads deserve enormous credit for the way they've dug in and got the first three points.

"The confidence can start to come from that."

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"It's a crazy game to lose the three points. My team did a lot of things really well.

"I don't think I can ask more [in terms of] mentality and the will to win. You saw until the last dying seconds that the team went to win this game fully.

"We had also by far the most possession, by far the most chances. But the goalkeeper had an amazing day today, and a few blocks from them also. It's about working more on the ruthlessness.

"But to play an away game so dominantly, I think it's a really good step. If my team keeps on playing like this, we will take a lot of points this season."