Connect with us

Championship

Paul Heckingbottom impressed with Preston’s display in win at Norwich

Paul Heckingbottom Preston

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom felt his side had been rewarded for a top-quality performance after beating Norwich 1-0 at Carrow Road.

The visitors moved to within five points of the Championship play-off places after comfortably seeing off a side who would have gone into the top six themselves with a victory.

Milutin Osmajic struck the winner in the fifth minute.

‘Great Performance’

“I thought it was a top-drawer performance from the whole group,” said Heckingbottom.

“This is a tough place to come to and to get anything from a game here you have to get a lot of things right and we certainly did that.

“We were good with the ball and really good without it too, with everyone contributing.

“Probably the only negative of the performance was that we missed a number of good chances and could have won more comfortably, but when you’re saying that as a visiting manager here you know you have played well.”

The only downside of the evening for North End was a serious injury to midfielder Duane Holmes, who was stretchered off in the first half after a crunching challenge from Shane Duffy.

Heckingbottom said: “Duane has gone to hospital and it doesn’t look good. It’s potentially a break but we don’t know yet.

“It wasn’t a good challenge – the type you don’t see so much now – and it put a dampener on a fantastic victory.”

Norwich’s Struggles

Norwich struggled to create chances all evening, with Borja Sainz having a shot on the turn deflected just wide late on.

Canaries head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said he could understand the boos at the end.

“The fans were not satisfied and the players were not satisfied either. They tried their best but were not good enough tonight,” he said.

“I thought it was an even game, although they had the better chances. We were expecting a tough game and that is exactly what we got. Preston were physical and tough in all the duels and I got the feeling it was not even with the decisions taken.

“I think when we play well we look like a team who can push for the play-offs, and I still think we can do that. But when our level drops it can be like it was tonight.”

READ MORE: Milutin Osmajic earns Preston North End battling win at Norwich

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Football League Newsletter Today!
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Best Betting Sites at Betinireland.ienew-UK-football-betting-sites-banner

More in Championship

  • Electric frontman Electric frontman

    Jamie Vardy “perfect” for Sheffield United – says Don Hutchinson

    Former Sheffield United midfielder Don Hutchinson is backing Sheffield Wednesday fan and former academy player Jamie Vardy to make the switch to Bramall Lane this summer.  Vardy left Leicester City at the end of last season, following 13 years at the Foxes, in which time he won a Premier League title and scored 183 goals in the process.  Born in Sheffield, the striker was an Owls...

  • Danny Ward has returned to his hometown club Wrexham (Mike Egerton/PA) Danny Ward has returned to his hometown club Wrexham (Mike Egerton/PA)

    Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward joins hometown club Wrexham

    Former Liverpool and Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward has completed an emotional return to his hometown club Wrexham.

  • Birmingham Birmingham

    Sky Bet EFL Fixtures Revealed for 2025/26 Season

    The fixtures for the 2025/26 Sky Bet EFL season have been confirmed, with all opening weekend matches in the Championship, League One and League Two set to once again be broadcast live on Sky Sports.  The action gets underway in League One and League Two over the weekend of 1-3...

  • Rob Edwards has been appointed as Middlesbrough’s new head coach (Zac Goodwin/PA) Rob Edwards has been appointed as Middlesbrough’s new head coach (Zac Goodwin/PA)

    Rob Edwards named new boss of Middlesbrough

    Rob Edwards has been appointed as Middlesbrough’s new head coach on a three-year deal.