Potts provides Preston with welcome boost to clip the Canaries’ wings
BRAD Potts scored a deflected 95thminute equaliser to spark wild celebrations as Preston North End denied runaway Championship leaders Norwich City a 10th win in 11 games.
Emi Buendia’s stunning longrange effort looked to be enough to overcome managerless Preston and earn the Canaries a win that would have set a new club record of 14 away league victories in a season.
The normally reliable Teemu Pukki had missed three great chances to be sure, unluckily seeing a fierce strike come back off the bar and also missing two wonderful oneon-one chances.
Preston took advantage of the away side’s profligacy and avoided a fourth successive loss when Potts cut in from the left and found the corner of the net with a well-struck effort.
Meanwhile, second-placed Watford beat struggling Sheffield Wednesday, who were without boss Darren Moore after he tested positive for Covid-19, to record a sixth successive victory.
The hosts took an early lead when Tom Lees slid Ismaila Sarr’s low cross into his own goal.
Jordan Rhodes had a great chance to level for the Owls when a deep ball fell to him at the back post, but he could not keep his effort down.
That was as good as it got for Wednesday and they remain six points adrift of safety.
Bournemouth enhanced their play-off bid and dealt a blow to Middlesbrough’s top-six hopes with a close-fought win. Philip Billing latched onto Arnaud Danjuma’s flick-on over the top of Boro’s defence and planted a half-volley into the bottom corner.
Duncan Watmore controlled Yannick Bolasie’s pass into the box and lashed in a deserved equaliser off the right-hand post.
But the hosts were soon back in front through Jefferson Lerma’s deflected shot, and Dominic Solanke stabbed in his 12th goal of the season late on to seal the points.
Millwall boosted their slim Championship play-off hopes with a narrow win over 10-man Rotherham.
The game at The Den was the Millers’ first in a run of four matches in nine days, but they will have to play the next three without skipper Richard Wood after he was sent off for hauling down Jed Wallace as he looked to run in on goal after the break.
Wallace then gave the hosts the lead with a powerful finish after a corner had gone over everyone in the middle.
Goals by Nick Powell and Steven Fletcher kept Stoke’s faint play-off hopes alive as they sentenced Bristol City to a seventh straight home defeat.
Powell netted his 12th goal of the campaign to give the Potters a firsthalf lead, finishing off Jacob Brown’s cross.
Fletcher then sealed the points with a curling free-kick that zipped beyond Dan Bentley just after the hour mark.
Stoke’s first away success in 12 games keeps them in 11th place, seven points off the top six, while the Robins remain 14th.
Elsewhere, Queens Park Rangers coasted to their biggest win of the season as they beat struggling Coventry City at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Chris Willock headed Rangers in front inside the second minute before Michael Rose’s own goal made it 2-0. Coventry’s Marko Marosi prevented a complete rout with numerous saves, but was finally beaten again when Ilias Chair’s shot squirmed through his hands.
There were also wins for Wycombe (1-0 over Blackburn) while Derby beat Luton 2-0.