By Alex Atkinson -
PNEfans.net
Norwich City 2-0 Preston North End
All images here
North End fell to their first defeat of the season to the hands
of the Canaries. An own goal from Sean St. Ledger and a single
effort from Robert Earnshaw sealed the points for Norwich.
PNEfans.net made the long trip across the country, this time to
Norfolk, home of Norwich City. The convoy set off at 12:00 lunch
time, from a sunny Preston. Only a small number of fans were expected
to make the long trip to Carrow Road.
PNE fans at Norwich City Paul Simpson switched his formation to 4-5-1,
playing David Nugent as a lone striker. The first twenty minutes
of the first half was
all Norwich, the home side keeping the ball well and passing North
End off the park. Norwich’s impressive play wasn’t
hurting North End as the back line was holding firm.
Lee Croft was giving Matt Hill a torrid time down the right flank,
causing the left back all sorts of problems. Norwich had one good
effort on goal, Carlo Nash making a super save when Carl Robinson
broke through on goal.
Norwich’s keep ball tactic almost
went to bust when Simon Whaley broke free on the right side.
Whaley released a shot on
target which was well saved by Gallacher in the Norwich goal. The
first half came to and end, both teams looking for some sort of
breakthrough.
Norwich started the second half just like
the first, playing keep ball in the middle of the park without
really hurting North End.
There wasn’t much in the game before the breakthrough was
made. The canaries took the lead via an own goal from Sean St.
Ledger. St Ledger swung a leg at the ball which caught Nash off
guard as the ball flew past the Preston keeper.
That was the killer punch for Paul Simpson’s men, as they
didn’t look like getting anything from this game. Preston
kept pushing forward, who lacked any sort of drive and attacking
play. Simpson rung some changes, Stock went off for Sedgwick with
Whaley going up front alongside Nugent.
Norwich’s impressive play was rewarded
with ten minutes to go when Robert Earnshaw fired the home side
into a two goal
lead. Earnshaw sat unmarked on the edge of the box to fire a first
time shot into the top left corner. North End were totally out
of this match now.
Things went from bad to worse when North End captain Graham Alexander
was sent off in the final moments of the game. Norwich started
to run down the clock by holding the ball in the corner, as Alexander
came rushing in to win the ball. The referee deemed this as violent
conduct, so Grezza was sent off.
Preston need to improve immensely ahead
of another tricky trip to Molineux this Friday night, when they
take on Mick McCarthy’s
Wolves.
Carrow Road
|
2-0 
