Norwich City were held to a 0-0 draw by Preston North End at Carrow Road, despite dominating the Championship's out-of-form team throughout.
There were only two real chances in a dull first half, Onel Hernandez wasting one of them when he rolled straight at Preston stopper Freddie Woodman and Christian Fassnacht the other when his half-volley was cleared off the line.
The second half began more entertainingly, with the Lilywhites coming out of their shell. Ben Whiteman struck the bar after Angus Gunn's punch fell to him, before Brad Potts came close with a sweetly-struck shot from the edge of the box.
Liam Gibbs had the best chance of the game by some distance when Norwich played through the visiting defence after 76 minutes, but he somehow stroked wide of the gaping goal.
The Canaries continued to push for a valuable winner and there was a late flourish from the Lancashire side, but neither could find the game's only goal and it ended 0-0.
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12. Long (GK)
7. Sainz (on for Hernandez, 72)
8. Gibbs (on for Barnes, 55)
15. McCallum
20. Placheta (on for Giannoulis, 81)
21. Batth
27. Rowe (on for Fassnacht, 55)
29. Forshaw
35. Fisher (on for Stacey, 72)
Head Coach: David Wagner
Bookings:
Goals:
PRESTON NORTH END:
Substitutes:
21. Cornell (GK)
3. Cunningham
7. Keane
10. Frokjaer-Jensen
11. Brady (on for Hughes, 88)
18. Ledson (on for McCann, 88)
20. Woodburn
25. Holmes (on for Millar, 63)
33. Best
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Bookings: Evans (76), Storey (79)
Goals:
KEY MOMENTS
5 - Idah turns well to find Barnes, whose ball through to Sara is well weighted, but the Brazilian's shot is blocked.
6 - Barnes goes down under Browne's challenge as he winds up for a volley, but the referee gives nothing.
13 - The ball breaks for Nunez 25 yards and he takes aim, who drives just wide of the post.
24 - Nunez has another long-range effort blocked.
25 - Nunez clears the height of two goals when a headed clearance breaks for him to volley.
27 - Giannoulis stretches to find the perfect pass to Hernandez, who races through on goal but rolls straight at Woodman.
30 - The ball breaks for Fassnacht after he jumps for a header and he beats Woodman with his shot, but Lindsay clears on the line.
32 - Duffy meets Sara's corner, his header dropping comfortably wide of the near post.
Half time: Norwich City 0-0 Preston North End
55 - Lindsay flicks Browne's free-kick on, but it doesn't find a touch and drifts wide of the far post.
59 - Potts' vicious half-volley looks to be headed for the top corner but flies over instead.
61 - Giannoulis chips the ball back to Rowe via a deflection, and the substitute's volley is blocked.
62 - Gunn punches as far as Whiteman, who rattles the bar with his shot.
70 - Hernandez sends Idah through, but he slips as he looks to cut in and can only earn a corner.
76 - Norwich play through Preston and Sara finds Gibbs, who should score but inexplicably fires wide.
86 - Duffy meets Nunez' corner firmly, but it's headed off the line by Browne.
90+1 - Nunez tries another shot from distance, but drags it just wide.
Full time - Norwich City 0-0 Preston North End
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 6, Stacey 5, Duffy 7, McLean 6, Giannoulis 5, Nunez 7, Sara 6, Fassnacht 4, Barnes 5, Hernandez 6, Idah 6. Subs: Gibbs 4, Rowe 7, Sainz 6, Fisher 6, Placheta 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 65pc-35pc
Shots: 13-4
On target: 2-1
Corners: 8-0
Fouls: 9-10
Added time: 1 mins/4 mins
REFEREE: Oliver Langford
ATTENDANCE: 25,761 (442 Preston)
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