19-09-2020, 19:24
Przemyslaw Placheta rescued a point for Norwich as they drew with Preston in front of 1,000 fans at Carrow Road.
Preston took an early lead as Scott Sinclair sent Tim Krul the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ben Davies went down under an Oliver Skipp challenge from a corner.
Norwich were level 15 minutes later as Declan Rudd fumbled Teemu Pukki's near-post header, but Preston regained the lead when Darnell Fisher blasted in after Sinclair's shot was saved following a lovely passing move.
But Polish midfielder Placheta, a summer signing from Slask Wroclaw, fired home at the second attempt to delight the home fans at one of several Football League games piloting the return of supporters.
It was a first home point for relegated Norwich since they beat Leicester City 1-0 on 28 February as they maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign, while Preston claimed their first point having lost at home to Swansea last week.
Norwich were one of the first Championship clubs to play in front of a crowd following the coronavirus pandemic
Norwich may well feel aggrieved in the manner they went behind as Skipp barely seemed to make contact with Davies as he went up to head a corner, but Preston fully deserved their interval lead after impressing in the opening period.
Pukki's equaliser from Xavi Quintilla's ball into the box was the Finland striker's first goal in 16 games - a run stretching back to City's 2-1 loss at Tottenham on 22 January - but Preston's midfield dominance was rewarded as Ben Pearson, Alan Browne and Ryan Ledson combined to set up the Lilywhites' second.
Both sides had chances to go ahead soon after the restart - Sean Maguire headed a Joe Rafferty cross narrowly wide for Preston while Max Aarons curled a long-range effort just wide two minutes later.
Norwich should have levelled midway through the second half, but Placheta shot over the bar from seven yards out with the goal gaping after Rudd had parried Adam Idah's low shot.
And Pukki had a chance to make it two wins from two in stoppage time, but Rudd made a superb save from close range after the striker had got on the end of Placheta's cross.
Preston took an early lead as Scott Sinclair sent Tim Krul the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ben Davies went down under an Oliver Skipp challenge from a corner.
Norwich were level 15 minutes later as Declan Rudd fumbled Teemu Pukki's near-post header, but Preston regained the lead when Darnell Fisher blasted in after Sinclair's shot was saved following a lovely passing move.
But Polish midfielder Placheta, a summer signing from Slask Wroclaw, fired home at the second attempt to delight the home fans at one of several Football League games piloting the return of supporters.
It was a first home point for relegated Norwich since they beat Leicester City 1-0 on 28 February as they maintained their unbeaten start to the league campaign, while Preston claimed their first point having lost at home to Swansea last week.
Norwich were one of the first Championship clubs to play in front of a crowd following the coronavirus pandemic
Norwich may well feel aggrieved in the manner they went behind as Skipp barely seemed to make contact with Davies as he went up to head a corner, but Preston fully deserved their interval lead after impressing in the opening period.
Pukki's equaliser from Xavi Quintilla's ball into the box was the Finland striker's first goal in 16 games - a run stretching back to City's 2-1 loss at Tottenham on 22 January - but Preston's midfield dominance was rewarded as Ben Pearson, Alan Browne and Ryan Ledson combined to set up the Lilywhites' second.
Both sides had chances to go ahead soon after the restart - Sean Maguire headed a Joe Rafferty cross narrowly wide for Preston while Max Aarons curled a long-range effort just wide two minutes later.
Norwich should have levelled midway through the second half, but Placheta shot over the bar from seven yards out with the goal gaping after Rudd had parried Adam Idah's low shot.
And Pukki had a chance to make it two wins from two in stoppage time, but Rudd made a superb save from close range after the striker had got on the end of Placheta's cross.
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