CHRIS LAKEY They're up and running! Norwich City bagged their first three points of the season last night with a performance which was light years away from much of what was on offer last season.

CHRIS LAKEY

They're up and running! Norwich City bagged their first three points of the season last night with a performance which was light years away from much of what was on offer last season.

An own goal set City on their way before Robert Earnshaw sealed the points, although fans had to wait until the second half to see City make their territorial advantage count.

Preston packed their defence, but Canaries boss Nigel Worthington said he never doubted the breakthrough would come.

“The words we used to the players at half time were 'be patient', because Preston had come to get people behind the ball and try to frustrate,” said Worthington. “But the way we were passing the ball there could have been an army back there tonight and we would have still got through.

“We stuck at it, we were patient in our passing and eventually the goal came. I am always telling the players if you don't shoot you won't score, and we've had a shot tonight which has come off one of them and got us on the road.

“The second goal showed the sign of a great striker. It wasn't even a chance, it was half a chance and that's why Robert Earnshaw will do very well for us and in this league.”

Having lost narrowly at Leeds on Saturday Worthington asked his players to go out and entertain - but be ruthless.

“I said to the players I want more,” he said. “I wanted us to up the tempo, go and pass the ball more, be more ruthless in our approach. When you see Huckerby and Earnshaw tackling back I think that says something.”

What fans will be happy about was the way City passed the ball, with Youssef Safri pulling the strings in a dominant midfield alongside Dickson Etuhu and Carl Robinson.

“It is good we have a settled group, they are working together,” said the manager. “They are working hard together and they like each other, which is important. Everybody wants to be at the club and that is the way forward.”

There was plenty of friction between sections of the City crowd and the manager last season, but there were no signs of that unhappy relationship last night.

“That's good,” he said. “It is good to see the place full and a great atmosphere. That comes from on the pitch, there is no getting away from it. We are playing good football, long may that continue.”