Norwich City boss frustrated by officials in defeat to Preston North End

Two goals from Emil Riis and one from Troy Parrott gave PNE the win after Josh Sargent had put the Canaries ahead and Gabriel Sara had then drawn them level after the visitors had turned it around.

Smith’s men were certainly the side on top in the opening exchanges with things going entirely to plan for the City boss.

He said: “We got the start we wanted, the game should have been over after 20 minutes. We scored a good goal and their goalkeeper has made a good save off another one of Sargent's chances, Teemu Pukki's put one wide.

"Our attacking play in the first 20 minutes was what we wanted but unfortunately we've given away three sloppy goals away, which is very unlike us. We still created chances in the second half.

"I'm annoyed, disappointed, frustrated and we don't normally do that. That's what makes me angry about us.”

Dean Whitestone was the man with the whistle for the game on Saturday but his performance was not to Smith’s liking.

He felt North End were able to waste too much time and disrupt the game at Carrow Road but was also left to rue his own side’s part to play in their own downfall.

He said: “We certainly allowed them in with the goals. They're a give and go team, they like to play on the counter attack and they slowed it down today at every opportunity. I don't blame them, I blame the officials for not dealing with that.

"The officiating for delaying was really poor and I've been to see the officials about it. It's something that has to be handled better because they were losing 1-0 and taking 30 seconds to take a throw in. It's normally when teams are winning or drawing that they're wanting to get a point.

"That was frustrating for me, he could have put 20 minutes up at the end. We came to see a game. I don't blame them, I blame the officials. We come to see a game of football that was on the pitch not off it.

"From that, they'd done two give and goes, they got a cross in and had a free header. They didn't have to do an awful lot for that. They didn't have to work too hard for their goals and we've contributed in them and that's a disappointing aspect.”

Norwich Saw a goal disallowed late on that would have given them a point.

Kenny McLean’s strike from distance was ruled out due to Grant Hanley grappling with Jordan Storey in the PNE penalty area and the Nowich boss was bemused with the decision.

He said: “The officials said that their lad was holding him which I can't deny that he was but their lad was holding him as well. He catches him with a nice little left hook from what I've seen.

"The ref blows early, or as McLean is striking it. He's not blown for fouls for holding throughout the game so I don't know why he started then.”