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City will be ‘unbelievably respectful’ of Preston’s fine form, Farke insists
Alex Tettey's thumping late shot sealed City's 2-0 win over Preston at Carrow Road in August Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Motivation levels must not drop if Norwich City are to maintain their momentum when they take on another in-form team at Preston on Wednesday night, head coach Daniel Farke has warned.
Former Canaries boss Alex Neil has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes with North End in recent weeks, keeping alive play-off hopes with wins at QPR, Stoke and Bolton, as well as a 0-0 home draw with Derby, in their last four matches.
Meanwhile City are flying high at the top of the Championship after just one loss in their last 19, following Sunday's 3-0 derby success over Ipswich.
'We are unbelievably respectful because especially this next game at Preston will be the most difficult game we will have in recent weeks,' Farke said ahead of the Deepdale battle.
'We had outstanding games when we played the leaders at Leeds or West Brom or Sheffield United, a big derby for us (against Ipswich), games where it was pretty emotional and the spotlight was on us.
Ben Pearson of Preston tracks Moritz Leitner during the Canaries' 0-0 bore draw at Deepdale at the end of last season Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
'No we go to Preston, who plays always with a big aggression level and a high intensity, a good side with some really good footballers. Last season they nearly had a late push into the play-offs, meanwhile they also improved a lot in the table, just one loss in the last seven games in the league.
'So they are in decent form and they have no pressure from being involved in the relegation battle, no, they have a chance of again making a late push for the play-offs.
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'I think they will be highly motivated, will have one more day to recover and our game against Ipswich was pretty exhausting from the physical and the mental point of view.'
TEAM NEWS: City midfielder's ankle blow confirmed ahead of Preston battle
Norwich face former boss Alex Neil for the fourth time since he took over at Preston in the summer of 2017 Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
City's chief has no worries about his players retaining their focus though.
'I don't have the feeling that they lose the ground under their feet, otherwise they would not have this consistency in results,' he continued.
'We had several really difficult away tasks, and also at home, and we have had just one loss in the last five months – and this was after the floodlights disaster against Derby at Carrow Road, when the game was nearly already won!
'In general you do not have this consistency when there is a mentality in the group that you won't give 100 percent in every game.
Mario Vrancic hurt his ankle during City's derby win over Ipswich at Carrow Road Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
'But that is never a guarantee of your well deserved credit as well, so you always have to use each and every situation to win games, even when you are there with good performances it is not a guarantee you will win.
'So you have to grab yourself your well deserved reward and hopefully we will be able to do this.'
