David Wagner is desperate to finish Norwich City’s remarkable comeback story with a happy ending in the play-offs. 

The Canaries’ 1-0 victory over Preston North End moved them closer to securing their top-six place for a chance at Premier League promotion. 

Against all the odds and in spite of fierce criticism, City’s boss has turned the ship around in impressive fashion from a precarious position after a testing autumn that left him on the brink as head coach. 

Gabriel Sara’s late winner was the latest chapter in a football story for the ages, fuelled by a desire to prove those who wrote them off wrong. 

“Every win gives more belief and more confidence,” Wagner said after their victory in Lancashire. 

“I said this a few times but where we came from when we were 17th in November where a lot of people didn’t believe in us or trust us, [we wanted to] show them that they were wrong. We always believed and that gelled our group together.

“These are stories in football which I love and which everyone who loves football loves. We keep going. It makes sense to speak less and work more.

“How these players are together and how they have done this, it is something special.”

Norwich’s point haul since the international break has kept them ahead of their top-six challengers, who have struggled for consistency in recent weeks. 

That has put them in a great position to finish the job ahead of two matches at Carrow Road against Bristol City and Swansea in the coming weeks. 

Wagner reflected with pride on his side's efforts since a return to action after the international hiatus in March. 

”A lot of people speak about crunch time, it’s huge to consistently pick up points. After the international break, we have taken 10 points out of five games. Top.

Norwich Evening News: An impressive 1-0 victory at Preston has taken Norwich City close to the play-offs.An impressive 1-0 victory at Preston has taken Norwich City close to the play-offs. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

”But it’s not only the points, the performances have been very good as well,” City’s head coach said. 

“All of the wins and points were deserved which the players collected and now we’re getting the one or other player back. Every win in the Championship is super difficult, especially at this stage of the season, it’s even more difficult.”