Norwich City were forced to endure their first home defeat of the 2016/17 campaign against Simon Grayson’s Preston North End.
Alex Neil played an unchanged squad against the Lilywhites, despite many looking for Alex Pritchard to get his second start of the season in place of Robbie Brady.
Cameron Jerome came close just 14 seconds after kickoff, but City had limited chances to break the deadlock as Simon Grayson’s side proved to be resilient against the Canaries.
Though the substitutions of Alex Pritchard and Nelson Oliveria for Robbie Brady and Jacob Murphy proved to lift spirits in Carrow Road as they pushed the Canaries closer to a goal before Preston’s goal, it was Preston who went ahead in the 75th minute through a set piece.
Norwich pushed on from there in hope of grabbing a last-minute equaliser, including two attempts by Cameron Jerome, but it was Preston who took all three points back to Lancashire.
Here are 5 things we learnt as City suffered their first home defeat of the season:
Pritchard breakdown incoming...
No, Alex Pritchard’s not having a breakdown (he may be) but if Pritchard doesn’t start another game, I will certainly have one. Following criticism over Robbie Brady’s performance against Fulham and since he joined back up with the Canaries after Euros 2016, many had hoped Pritchard would get just his second start of the season. Instead an unchanged side saw Pritchard come on in the 60th minute (surprisingly early) and what I could have certainly predicted – a change in the side’s performance in regards to attacks and chances created by the diminutive midfielder, including a freekick which tested Preston’s goalkeeper.
Don't judge a game 14 seconds in...
It sounds ridiculous to write but when Cameron Jerome came close just 14 seconds in, I was slightly hopeful the game would continue in such manner. In fact, that would be the Canaries closest chance for the majority of the first half, with Alex Tettey the only other memorable attempt on the stroke of half time.
Preston worked City out quickly...
Sitting in 14th place coming into the game at Carrow Road, Preston North End have picked up results against Huddersfield Town, Brighton and Hove Albion and Birmingham City, and it becomes clear why. Simon Grayson had drilled into his team about resilience and although they didn’t exactly do anything, they kept the Canaries quiet for the most part. And once they grabbed their goal through a set piece, despite City’s attacks and North End failing to push ahead, they were resilient enough to earn themselves all three points.
A goal is what takes City to wake up...
It shouldn’t be this way, especially if City are looking to earn themselves Premier League status again. For Alex Neil’s side to wake up, they first needed the substitution of Alex Pritchard and Nelson Oliveria. When things started to quieten, they next needed Preston North End to break the deadlock before they came even close to scoring.
Back to the drawing board...
Three wins in six games is possibly not the form City were aiming for, especially before the Newcastle game. But dropping points first at Newcastle, then Fulham and now at home against Preston, Alex Neil must go back to the drawing board. Norwich have seen Newcastle further themselves from the Canaries, Brighton and Huddersfield have most jumped a point ahead, but more importantly, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City are closing the gap.