Norwich City tightened their grip on the Championship play-offs with a massive 1-0 away victory at Preston North End.
Gabriel Sara was the hero as he netted a late winner to move the Canaries six points clear of seventh-placed Hull with three games remaining. The result also pushes them eight ahead of Ryan Lowe's side.
After a flat first-half, City rode the punches to assert control and Jon Rowe's introduction added a spark.
It wasn't until the 88th minute that they found the breakthrough, with Sara sitting down Liam Lindsay before finding the far corner of the net with a smart finish.
Norwich have three games of the Championship campaign remaining - with two home matches against mid table Bristol City and Swansea to come before a final day trip to Birmingham.
PRESTON NORTH END:
Substitutes:
21 Cornell (GK)
3 Cunningham
9 Evans (on for Holmes, 81)
17 Stewart (on for Keane, 90+2)
18 Ledson
19 Riis (on for Frokjaer 62)
33 Best
35 Mawene
36 Seary
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Bookings: Storey, Whatmough, Brady
Goals: None
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12 Long
14 van Hoojidonk (on for Sargent, 90+2)
21 Batth (on for Barnes, 89)
27 Rowe (on for Sainz, 72)
35 Fisher
43 Welch
44 Aboh
47 Lima
49 Montoia
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Sainz
Goals: Sara (88)
KEY MOMENTS
9 - After a slow start from both sides McLean completes some important defensive work to deny Osmajic a goal-scoring opportunity
12 - Nunez displays good positioning to hook away a dangerous cross from Holmes
13 - Lindsay rises to meet Brady’s corner but cannot keep his header under the bar
20 - Sara picks out Sainz’s clever dash into the area, but the Spanish winger lofts a first time volley over the bar from close range
26 - Sainz tries his luck from distance, but is thwarted by a fine stop from Woodman to the left to push it behind for a corner
27 - Barnes fires a fierce snapshot into Woodman’s gloves after good work from Sara to win a high turnover
31 - Preston’s threat from set-pieces continue, with Sargent forced to slice Browne’s deep cross behind for a corner
43 - Sara’s low drive from range is tipped around the post expertly by Woodman for a City corner
45+1 - Whatmough meets Browne’s corner and heads against the crossbar in the closest chance of a cagey first period
HALF TIME - PRESTON NORTH END 0-0 NORWICH CITY
47 - City’s first free flowing move of the encounter sees Sainz slot Sara in behind but he rifles his shot over from the angle
59 - Sainz’s deflected shot falls for Sargent, who goes close to finding the bottom corner
62 - A clever set piece is worked to Nunez - who blazes a shot high over the bar
78 - Good work from the impactful Rowe sees his cross cleared to McLean, who fires over from the edge of the box
88 - GOAL NORWICH - (SARA) - McLean picks him out. Sara’s spin takes him past two defenders. He sits down Lindsay before finding the bottom corner to win the contest
90 - McCallum produces a late block to deny Preston at the death
FULL TIME - PRESTON NORTH END 0-1 NORWICH CITY
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 7; Stacey 7, Duffy 8, Gibson 7, McCallum 6; Nunez 6, McLean 8; Sainz 6, Barnes 7, Sara 9; Sargent 6. Subs: Rowe 7, Batth N/A, van Hooijdonk N/A
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 40% - 60%
Shots: 12 - 15
On target: 1 - 5
Corners: 5 - 6
Fouls: 11 - 9
Added time: 1 min/4 mins
REFEREE: Andrew Kitchen
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