[themaclad]

Preston North End 0 Norwich City 1 Sara
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Holmes (Evans, 81), Whatmough, Browne, Brady; Frøkjær (Riis, 62); Keane (Stewart, 90+2), Osmajić. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Best, N.Mawene, Seary.

Norwich City line-up: Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, McCallum; Núñez, McLean; Sara, Barnes (Batth, 90), Sainz (Rowe, 74); Sargent (Van Hooijdonk, 90+2). Subs not used: Long, Fisher, Welch, Aboh, Lima, Montóia.

Attendance: 16,322 (1,442 Norwich City fans).

Referee: Mr A Kitchen.

Four minues from time Gabriel Sara who was probably the only player on the pitch who looked like scoring duly did, it wasn't great defending but seeing we had gone for broke to earn the win to keep our season it wasn't a surprise that they would score, his substitutions(Lowe) were odd the subsitution of Mads FJ was correct but to take Holmes off and play our goal scoring hat trick man from Tuesday at right wing back was weird to say the least.
The visitorswere the better side in the second period and desered their win they over ran our midfield which was threadbare although no criticism of Whatmough who again did a sterling job.
A buzz around the ground in a tactical first half, both sides got men behind the ball, City better early on as usual we took time to get into the game, one plus it was a far better game than the one at Carrow Road.
Holmes down the right main outlet good battle with McCallum who somehow managed to avoid getting through the game without a booking, he sailed close to the wind in the first half. We were dangerous from corners as it was quite obvious thet couldn't defend them although to be fair they did get bodies in the way of any danger that came from them. Lindsay headed narrowly over from one. Sara seemed to wage a one man assault on goal three efforts which required goalkeeping intervention.
On half time a game changing incident yet another corner for us Whatmough header off the bar, from then on in the game swung towards City.
Early corner from us, chaos in the six yard box and then it was City, McLean and Nunez ran midfield created a chance for the half fit Sargent who fired wide of the far post personal view he fouled the defender.
They had a couple of efforts which went narrowly but we began to look tired and Lowe's substitution didn't work and down the inside right channel City carved open the defence and Sara finally got his due reward.
Stung by the goal we nearly equalised after some odd goalkeeping by Gunn, Keane's shot cleared off the line and with that our chances for glory disappeared in the April rain.

At the final whistle the lady appeared she was singing



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."