Norwich City 2-0 Preston North End: Fourth defeat on the spin as Lilywhites drop further

Preston North End fell to their fourth defeat on the bounce as Norwich City triumphed 2-0 at Carrow Road.

In the early exchanges Daniel Jebbison came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock for PNE, after latching on to Ben Whiteman’s pass over the top of Norwich’s defence. After lifting the ball past the onrushing Vladan Kovacevic, though, North End’s loan man saw his effort land into the side netting, rather than the back of the net.

There was an even feel to the match but on 17 minutes, Paul Heckingbottom’s men fell behind in avoidable fashion. Mathias Kvistgaarden raced through and fired a tame, bobbling effort on target. Daniel Iversen could only parry it back out into danger and there was Ali Ahmed - ahead of Odel Offiah - to roll the rebound home.

Norwich began to dominate possession while Preston lacked sharpness when they were able to get into encouraging positions. Mid way through the half a chance presented itself to Whiteman, but his close range header was directed straight at Kovacevic. The returning Liam Lindsay had kept the free-kick alive initially.

Just a couple of minutes later, Iversen was picking the ball out of the North End net for a second time. Jordan Thompson was the man penalised on the edge of the box and up stepped Kenny McClean, to whip his free-kick over the PNE wall - which didn’t jump - and into the top right corner.

Shortly before the break, the game was almost done and dusted. Iversen dropped a lofted free-kick into the Preston box which resulted in Liam Gibbs crasup effhing a vicious strike off the underside of the crossbar. A follow up, headed effort was then goal bound and Jordan Storey reacted well to guide it behind.

Preston, like on Wednesday night, came out for the second half knowing they needed to score the next goal in the game. The Lilywhites hardly flew out of the traps but did eventually see a glorious opportunity go begging, when Alfie Devine’s free-kick picked out Andrew Hughes but he headed wide from point blank range. And in second half injury time, Jebbison nor Michael Smith were able to force the ball over the line when it looked for all world that PNE would pull one back.

Attendance: 25,285 (371 away) PNE starting XI: Iversen; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Offiah (Valentin 64’), Whiteman (Smith 82’), Thompson (Potts 64’), Small (Brady 82’), Moran (Devine 64’), Dobbin, Jebbison. PNE unused subs: Cornell, Vukcevic, Lukovic, Osmajic.