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          2017-18 English League Championship, Regular Season
          Preston North End Preston North End PNE
          0
          FT
          0
          Norwich City Norwich City NOR

          Preston's play-off bid suffers dent after Norwich draw

          Apr 21, 2018
          • PA Sport

          Preston moved a point closer to the Championship play-off spots but missed a big opportunity to gain significant ground as they were held 0-0 at home by Norwich.
          There were several chances passed up by the Lilywhites in the second half and they also struck the bar through Paul Gallagher before the break.
          A point moves Preston to within two points of the top six with two games remaining - away at Sheffield United and home to Burton.
          Preston began the day three points off the Championship play-off places, with seven teams separated by just four points.
          They cut Norwich open after nine minutes when Alan Browne slipped Callum Robinson clean through but the forward was unable to sort his feet out and Angus Gunn collected the ball.
          James Maddison has been involved in 48 per cent of Norwich's goals this season and their top-scorer was denied a 15th league goal by a superb block from Ben Pearson after 13 minutes.
          Daniel Farke's side, winless in their previous six away games, threatened again four minutes later but Josh Murphy's 25-yard strike went harmlessly over the bar.
          But Preston came close to scoring on the half-hour mark as Gallagher's dipping free-kick from the edge of the area cannoned back off the underside of the bar.
          The Lilywhites began the second half on the front foot as Robinson drove the ball low across the face of goal after 47 minutes but there was nobody there in a white shirt to meet it.
          Former Norwich manager Alex Neil played his hand after 53 minutes, making a double change to bring on Sean Maguire and Josh Harrop.
          The two nearly combined to give Preston the lead on the hour mark, as Maguire carried the ball the length of the field before trying to play Harrop in - only for a last-ditch Jamal Lewis tackle to deny the hosts.
          Harrop was providing that spark from midfield and created an opening for himself after 75 minutes, but his low shot was beaten away by Gunn.
          Just two minutes later Billy Bodin came within inches of the goal Preston desperately wanted to boost their play-off chances, curling wide from 18 yards.
          The chances were coming thick and fast for Preston and Robinson's pinpoint cross picked out Maguire after 78 minutes but he headed over, unmarked, six yards out.
          It was to prove a crucial miss, as Preston pushed for a winner that ultimately proved beyond them.

          English League Championship Standings

          POS Team GP GD PTS
          1 Norwich City 33 +22 70
          2 Brentford 33 +26 63
          3 Watford 33 +19 60
          4 Swansea City 31 +17 59
          5 Reading 34 +9 57
          6 Cardiff City 34 +18 53
          7 AFC Bournemouth 33 +15 52
          8 Barnsley 32 +2 51
          9 Middlesbrough 34 +4 50
          10 Millwall 34 +3 46
          11 Stoke City 33 +1 45
          12 Bristol City 33 -9 45
          13 Luton Town 33 -9 44
          14 Preston North End 34 -6 43
          15 Blackburn Rovers 33 +7 40
          16 Queens Park Rangers 31 -5 40
          17 Nottingham Forest 34 -5 40
          18 Derby County 33 -12 38
          19 Huddersfield Town 34 -12 37
          20 Coventry City 34 -15 35
          21 Birmingham City 34 -16 35
          22 Rotherham United 31 -9 29
          23 Sheffield Wednesday 32 -15 28
          24 Wycombe Wanderers 32 -30 23