Preston North End 0-1 Norwich City: Canaries boost play-off hopes with late win
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Norwich City have now lost just one of their last seven Championship matches
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."