Sara has Canaries soaring to play-offs

A BIT of Brazilian magic did the trick as Norwich moved a step closer to securing a coveted play-off place.

Playmaker Gabriel Sara pounced with four minutes left to leave the high-flying Canaries six points clear of Hull with just three games left.

And even though the Tigers and fellow play-off chasers Coventry are still in the picture, David Wagner’s confident side are in the driving seat after Sara’s fifth goal in seven Championship games.

“We deserved the win, performance-wise we looked very mature, very calm and very composed,” said Wagner.

“Unfortunately we had to wait quite a long time but I have the feeling we deserved the goal.

“It was important to keep cool heads and to keep the crowd on a low. How the players executed the plan was just great.

“It was a top performance.”

The visitors dominated, with Freddie Woodman forced to make four fine saves in the first half alone.

Woodman was tested again after the break, although the Canaries rode their luck at times.

Preston midfielder Jack Whatmough headed against the woodwork on the stroke of half-time.

But Sara’s priceless late intervention – albeit Woodman got a hand to his sweet strike before it flew into the corner – has left the Canaries well placed.

Frustrated Preston boss Ryan Lowe was left gutted by the sucker punch which left their faint play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

“It’s a tough one to take conceding so late,” he said.

“I thought we had some good moments, it’s never nice to lose like that.”

PRESTON: Woodman 8; Storey 7, Lindsay 7, Hughes 6; Holmes 6 (Evans (81) 6), Whatmough 7, Browne 7, Brady 6; Frokjaer-Jensenn 6 (Riis (62) 5); Osmajic 6, Keane 6 (Stewart (90) 5) NORWICH: Gunn 7; Stacey 7, Duffy 7, Gibson 7, McCallum 6; Nunez 6, McLean 7; Sara 9, Barnes 7 (Batth (90) 5),

Sainz 7 (Rowe (73) 6); Sargent 6 (Van Hooijdonk (90) 5)

STAR MAN: Gabriel Sara – The Brazilian midfielder’s fifth goal in six games earned a priceless win.

REF: Andrew Kitchen 8