Paul Lambert refused to criticise Wes Hoolahan for his penalty miss against Preston at Carrow Road.

With the scores locked at 1-1 and 18 minutes on the clock, Hoolahan had the perfect chance to put City ahead, after Darren Carter had handled, but chose to 'dink' keeper Iain Turner from 12 yards.

Turner moved slightly to his left, but not enough to prevent him from adjusting his body and holding the weak effort.

Preston boss Phil Brown said he believed it showed a lack of respect on Hoolahan's part, but Lambert refused to criticise the Irish midfielder.

'Whether you to chip them or you want to blast them – if they don't go in it is an opportunity missed,' he said. 'Whoever is confident to go and hit them will hit them – it's a chance to get yourself in front in the game.

'They look great when they come off, but when they don't people are always going to criticise the lad for hitting them, but I won't criticise the lad because he's been excellent for me. Sometimes if you are confident enough to do that and you can get away with it. I don't know what went through his head in the run-up but there have been games when he's been huge for us.

'I don't think you have to hold your hands up – 26,000 saw what happened. You pick yourself up and you go again. You don't have time to feel sorry for yourself. When that happens it can affect your game.

'I think we had a lot of chances to go and win the game but Preston fighting for their lives and you have got to give them credit, they have had some decent results against the teams up there, but there were a couple of results went for us. You don't know, a point could be huge.'

Brown had his own views on Hoolahan's miss

'I can't understand players who do that,' he said. 'For him to do that it shows a little bit of disrespect for Iain Turner. I am delighted for Iain Turner to get himself a penalty save and also a point.'