Chris Lakey Glenn Roeder is refusing to contemplate a stunning Championship play-off challenge after the Canaries stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games on Saturday.

Chris Lakey

Glenn Roeder is refusing to contemplate a stunning Championship play-off challenge after the Canaries stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games on Saturday.

City were indebted to a superb Darel Russell goal in time added on to seal the points against Preston - a victory which saw them rise three places to 13th in the table, their highest position in almost four months.

It means they are nearer to the final play-off spot than they are to the relegation zone - an almost unthinkable situation after the final day of the Peter Grant era when City were in danger of being cut adrift.

"I am not a dreamer," he said. "I let the others dream - maybe at the end of October our fans were not dreaming with eight points.

"I think it is quite unbelievable to have achieved 38 points since the end of October. We were nailed, make no mistake about it.

"We came in here all positive talking and talking it up, but six points adrift to eight points above the bottom three is an unbelievable turnaround.

"It has been achieved by hard work, good play, excellent team spirit and none of the signings I have been disappointed with, they have all played their part. We signed four young men on Thursday who will come and play their part and hopefully help us to continue upwards.

"It gives us cause of being confident about going to Cardiff next week."

It was hard work, but City got there in the end - the very end.

"It's not over until the fat lady sings," said Roeder. "I must admit she was warming up, but she hadn't started.

"If you are going to win 1-0 it's the best time to win I would have thought."