Preston end Norwich run of five straight home wins
Norwich's run of five successive home wins in the league came to an end in surprising fashion as visitors Preston claimed a 1-0 victory.
The visitors had to soak up plenty of pressure but defended well and were good value for the victory given to them by Alex Baptiste's second half-header.
The Canaries were guilty of some terrible marking as the defender found the back of the net from a free-kick, and struggled to create at the other end, although Cameron Jerome saw an effort come back off the woodwork.
Norwich almost got off to a sensational start, with keeper Chris Maxwell needing to produce an excellent stop to keep out Jerome's fiercely-struck rising drive after just 14 seconds.
The visitors also had a good early chance as a routine pass from Ben Pringle put Jordan Hugill clear, only for Michael McGovern to make a smart block.
It was the hosts who had the better of the early stages however and Graham Dorrans twice tested Maxwell as the Canaries gradually built up a head of steam.
But with Preston well organised at the back it was proving hard work for a team who had swept aside virtually all before them at Carrow Road during the opening months of the season.
A long-range effort from Alex Tettey, which was comfortably saved, was as good as it got for Norwich while at the other end McGovern had to be alert to snuff out the danger when Callum Robinson threatened to bundle the ball home.
Robinson then fired a volley just wide as the visitors started the second half brightly and City manager Alex Neil reacted by making a double substitution, with Nelson Oliveira and Alex Pritchard entering the fray on 56 minutes.
The home crowd finally had something to cheer midway through the half when Pricthard's curling free-kick was tipped behind by Maxwell but the smiles did not last with Preston taking the lead on 75 minutes.
The visitors won a free-kick near the right-hand corner flag and when Daniel Johnson whipped the ball in Baptiste was in acres of space to power a header home.
Norwich almost equalised immediately when a shot from Jerome came back off an upright, and the striker was denied again by Bailey Wright as he prepared to convert from close in.
Source : PA
Source: PA