Norwich City 2-3 Preston North End: Canaries squander chance to go top of the table – as Troy Parrott’s late winner ends Dean Smith’s side nine-game unbeaten run in the Championship
The beautiful game can be cruel at times, and Norwich City learned that the hard way on Saturday. A golden opportunity to move to the top of the Championship table slipped through their fingers, and they were left to pick up the pieces after a heartbreaking loss to Preston North End. The final score of 3-2 in favor of the visitors will be a tough pill to swallow for Dean Smith’s side, who had been pushing for an automatic return to the Premier League. The defeat was made all the more frustrating by the fact that Sheffield United had stumbled elsewhere, leaving the door wide open for Norwich to take over at the summit. Instead, they remain in second place, wondering what could have been if they had taken their chances and closed out the game.
Preston North End, on the other hand, came into the match with a peculiar record. They had the best defense in the Championship, having conceded only four goals all season, but they also had the worst attack, having scored only four times themselves. It was a quirk that made it difficult to decide whether Ryan Lowe’s team was good at what they did or bad. However, all that changed on Saturday, as they notched up three goals and took all three points. The win was a welcome boost for Preston, who had been struggling to find the back of the net. Emil Riis Jakobsen’s double and a winner from Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott were enough to frustrate Norwich and send them packing. The Canaries will be left to rue their missed opportunities, particularly in the first half, when they could have taken a 2-0 lead and put the game to bed.
The match got off to a flying start, with Josh Sargent opening the scoring for Norwich in the second minute. The American striker collected the ball and drove at the Preston defense, with Liam Lindsay’s half-hearted attempt at a block allowing the shot to fly through his legs and into the bottom corner. It was Sargent’s seventh Championship goal of the season, and it gave Norwich the perfect start. However, they failed to capitalize on their advantage, and Teemu Pukki wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0. The Finnish striker chipped wide when he had only Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to beat, and it proved to be a costly miss. A minute later, Robbie Brady’s cross found Riis, who headed home the equalizer, and the game was back in the balance.
As the match wore on, Preston began to gain the upper hand. They wanted a red card for Sam Byram for his nasty challenge on Alan Browne, and television replays showed that they had every right to be angry. However, referee Dean Whitestone bottled the big decision, showing only a yellow card, and Preston were left to feel aggrieved. In the 52nd minute, Alvaro Fernandez won possession ahead of Max Aarons and squared the ball to Riis, who beat Tim Krul for 2-1. It was a shocking turnaround, and Norwich were left reeling. The Canaries pushed hard for an equalizer, and it finally came in the 76th minute, when Pukki danced his way into the box, crossed, and found Gabriel Sara, who made it 2-2. The game was back in the balance, and it seemed that either team could win it.
However, in the 80th minute, Parrott was fed and fired a shot that was deflected off Liam Gibbs, and the ball sneaked beyond Krul at his near post. It was a devastating blow for Norwich, and they were left to wonder what had hit them. Parrott injured himself in the process of celebrating, grabbing his hamstring before hobbling off, but his goal had given Preston the lead. The visitors held on for dear life, and even when Kenny McLean’s left-footed shot sailed into the bottom corner in the dying minutes, referee Whitestone had spotted an off-the-ball foul by Grant Hanley on Liam Lindsay, and the leveller was disallowed. The final whistle was met with boos from the Norwich faithful, who were disappointed and frustrated by their team’s failure to take the three points.
In the end, it was a case of what could have been for Norwich City. They had the chance to move to the top of the table, but they blew it. Preston North End, on the other hand, will be thrilled with their three goals and three points. It was a much-needed win for Ryan Lowe’s side, and it will give them a boost as they look to climb the table. For Norwich, it’s back to the drawing board, and they will have to regroup and refocus if they want to achieve their goal of an automatic return to the Premier League. The Championship is a cruel and unforgiving league, and teams have to be at the top of their game if they want to succeed. On Saturday, Norwich City were not, and they paid the price.
