Norwich 0 Preston 3

Norwich 0 Preston 3

Norwich's winning streak was halted in stunning fashion by Preston at Carrow Road as Billy Davies' play-off chasers extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches.

The Canaries, who won their previous five Coca-Cola Championship matches, were cut down by goals from Adam Nowland, in first-half stoppage time, Graham Alexander from the penalty spot and David Nugent.

Nowland secured Preston a deserved lead in the fourth minute of time added on before the break when he slammed home Alexander's cross from close range.

Alexander powered home from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Norwich skipper Craig Fleming was harshly adjudged to have handled and five minutes later Nugent put the game beyond the home side when he curled home a third.

Preston have drawn too many matches this season for Davies' liking, but preserved an unbeaten run that stretches back to September 27 when they went down 3-0 at Luton.

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington made just one enforced change to the side which won 1-0 at Leicester on New Year's Eve, on-loan Carl Robinson stepping in for the suspended Youssef Safri.

Davies made three changes to Preston's starting line-up - with Tyrone Mears returning to right-back, Alexander switching to midfield and Danny Dichio preferred to Patrick Agyemang up front.

Preston were first to threaten, Chris Sedgwick and Dichio going close with headers and Alexander's drive from the edge of the penalty area blocked by Gary Doherty inside the first 15 minutes.

Callum Davidson then clipped a 20-yard shot wide, and Norwich goalkeeper Robert Green held Mears' close-range effort before the home side flickered into action - Paul McVeigh carving out their only chance with a curler from the edge of the area which Carlo Nash held.

Preston continued to press forward, and Green denied Nugent's long-range shot - while Sedgwick fired wide from similar distance soon afterwards.

Alexander was next to threaten Green's goal, rifling the ball over the bar from 20 yards, but Preston made the first-half breakthrough deep into time added on when Nowland lashed home from six yards following Alexander's cross.

Jim Brennan replaced the injured Robinson at the break and within minutes forced Nash to hold his shot from the edge of the area.

But Preston were in no mood to relinquish their advantage with Davidson crashing the ball over from 18 yards and Agyemang - on for Nowland, who departed with what appeared to be a serious injury - forcing Green to turn away his vicious 20-yarder.

Worthington sent on Ian Henderson for Adam Drury just after the hour-mark and his introduction brought almost instantaneous reward when Fleming's fine long-range volley was parried by Nash.

But Preston doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Fleming was controversially adjudged to have handled in the area and Alexander stepped forward to thump home his side's second from the spot.

Five minutes later Nugent put the game beyond Norwich, curling home a right-foot shot from the edge of the area to make it 3-0.

Norwich striker Dean Ashton headed Simon Charlton's cross wide as the game entered the closing stages and Henderson fired wide from distance in the third minute of stoppage time, but it was not to be Norwich's day.