Match ends, Preston North End 0, Norwich City 1.
Norwich City tightened their grip on sixth place in the Championship play-off places after securing a late win against Preston at Deepdale.
Neither side looked likely to open the scoring for long periods of the first half, but with half-time approaching Preston's Jack Whatmough crashed a header off the crossbar.
Norwich improved after the break, and had early chances in the second half for Gabriel Sara and Marcelino Nunez but neither could find the target.
And their pressure eventually paid off when Sara scored an excellent individual effort, cutting inside before firing past Freddie Woodman with the help of a deflection.
Norwich's lead over the chasing pack is now up to six points, but Hull City's win against Queens Park Rangers keeps the Tigers - who have a game in hand - in the mix.
There was a lot of pressure on both sides going into the game, and the nerves were evident on the pitch as both teams played out a cagey match devoid of clear-cut chances at either end.
Norwich dominated the possession in the early stages without threatening Woodman in the Preston goal.
As the first half wore on the hosts grew into the contest, which was littered with heavy tackles and flaring tempers.
Whatmough's effort on the stroke of half-time was the closest either side came before the break, and the Preston defender was unlucky to see the ball come back off the crossbar with Angus Gunn beaten.
The Canaries looked the most likely to find a breakthrough in the second half, despite also being happy to run down the clock at every opportunity.
And with the game looking destined to end goalless, Sara produced a moment of quality to delight the travelling Norwich fans at Deepdale - Woodman unfortunate to see the shot deflected past him.
Preston had one opportunity to draw level but Alan Browne's effort from six yards out was blocked after Gunn had made a mess of Robbie Brady's cross.
Preston drop to eight points behind sixth-placed Norwich, albeit with a game in hand, and now sit in 10th place after being overtaken by Hull and Middlesbrough.
Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Lancashire:
"I've mixed emotions really, I'm disappointed with the result but pleased and proud of the boys who have given everything.
"They have given everything all season, looking at it now we've fallen a little bit short, but it hasn't been due to a lack of trying.
"The effort, determination, desire and commitment was there but it's that final bit, in both boxes, putting the ball in one net and out of the other.
"I thought we were the better team to be honest, we were ready to pounce and our set plays caused them a bit of trouble but we just didn't capitalise on it.
"We tried to get as many attacking players on the pitch as we could, because even a draw would have been no good, so that was our aim, but it's a bad goal to concede.
"Moments like that sometimes go against you and that's what has happened today."
Norwich City manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Unfortunately we had to wait, but we had the feeling we deserved the goal and deserved the win.
"Performance wise we were very mature, very calm and very composed with the amount of pressure the opponent's manager put on this game.
"It was important to keep our heads cool and keep the crowd low, the way the players executed that were great.
"We were always in control, we defended super super well, we gave them almost nothing apart from set-pieces, so the performance was top and I'm over the moon about the result and clean sheet.
"In possession we looked quite composed and calm. Yes, we didn't execute so many clear-cut chances but we always looked in control."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Woodman
- 14StoreyBooked at 72mins
- 6Lindsay
- 16Hughes
- 25HolmesSubstituted forEvansat 81'minutes
- 26WhatmoughBooked at 35mins
- 8Browne
- 11BradyBooked at 80mins
- 10Frökjaer-JensenSubstituted forRiisat 62'minutes
- 28Osmajic
- 7KeaneSubstituted forStewartat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Cunningham
- 9Evans
- 17Stewart
- 18Ledson
- 19Riis
- 21Cornell
- 33Best
- 35Mawene
- 36Seary
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Gunn
- 3Stacey
- 24Duffy
- 6Gibson
- 15McCallum
- 26Núñez
- 23McLean
- 17Gomes Sara
- 10BarnesSubstituted forBatthat 90'minutes
- 7SainzBooked at 38minsSubstituted forRoweat 73'minutes
- 9SargentSubstituted forvan Hooijdonkat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Long
- 14van Hooijdonk
- 21Batth
- 27Rowe
- 35Fisher
- 43Welch
- 44Aboh
- 47Lima Barros
- 49Serrao Montoia
- Referee:
- Andrew Kitchen
- Attendance:
- 16,322
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Norwich City 1.
Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Sydney van Hooijdonk replaces Josh Sargent.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Layton Stewart replaces Will Keane.
Post update
Delay in match (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Danny Batth replaces Ashley Barnes.
Goal!
Goal! Preston North End 0, Norwich City 1. Gabriel Sara (Norwich City) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kenny McLean.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Sam McCallum.
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City).
Post update
Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Ched Evans replaces Duane Holmes.
Booking
Robert Brady (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Gabriel Sara (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Robert Brady (Preston North End).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam McCallum.
Comments
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Good luck Norwich, wish you well for the season and a safe (if long) journey home.
Utter incompetence in my mind. Lowe needs to go, do you agree.