PLACHY ADDS A POLISH
City shiner for 1,000 fans
PRZEMYSLAW PLACHETA saved his side after Darnell Fisher threatened to burst Norwich’s support bubble.
A thousand socially distanced Canaries fans were allowed back in Carrow Road as part of a series of test events.
And they were delighted to see the pacy Pole lash home a late equaliser after a rare goal from Fisher put Preston on the brink of victory.
Placheta only arrived at the end of July, signed for around £3million from Slask Wroclaw, and has hit the ground running, scoring in his first home game.
Canaries boss Daniel Farke hailed the fans for aiding his side’s comeback.
He said: “The thousand had a great influence. It’s a great first step. They played a big part in terms of keeping us going.
“It is definitely good news for our reputation and for football. Hopefully we will have a full
Carrow Road soon.” Preston boss Alex Neil also reckoned the experiment at his old club had been a success.
Neil said: “A lot of our games, the stadium has been soulless and that doesn’t help. I really enjoyed this game – apart from the result.”
North End were already bossing the match before Oliver Skipp nudged Ben Davies over for a soft-looking penalty that Scott Sinclair converted in the 14th minute.
Sluggish City required a helping hand from ex-Canaries keeper Declan Rudd to level just after the half-hour mark.
Norfolk lad Rudd let Teemu Pukki’s header flap through his hands at his near post for the Finn’s first goal since January.
But Preston were back ahead before the break thanks to Fisher’s second goal as a pro.
Ryan Ledson’s super pass set up Sinclair, whose shot was going wide but was blocked anyway by Ben Godfrey.
And Fisher, whose only other goal was in 2016 for St Johnstone, was perfectly placed to lash home the rebound. Norwich were much better after the break but they still found Preston hard to break down.
Max Aarons – the subject of a cheeky loan with no obligation to buy bid from Barcelona that was rejected – twice sent potshots over.
And when summer signing Placheta, who had come on in the first half for the injured Kieran Dowell, fired over an empty net, the socially distanced 1,000 must have been fearing the worst.
Placheta was undeterred however and when his shot was blocked in the 85th minute he reacted to lash home the rebound. Rudd made amends by denying Pukki a stoppagetime winner with a fine reflex tip-over.
Preston’s point was all the more impressive as striker Jayden Stockley had to pull out because a pal of his daughter went down with Covid-19.
Neil said: “We were in our hotel and by chance he was speaking to the doctor.
“He told him his daughter hadn’t been feeling well either – the next minute he was in a taxi and I’m without a striker.
“I told him to have those conversations AFTER the game in future!”
NORWICH: Krul 7, Aarons 7, Godfrey 7, Zimmermann 7, Quintilla 7, Skipp 6, McLean 6, Dowell 5 (Placheta 24, 7), Cantwell 6 (Hugill 89), Hernandez 5 (Idah 63, 7), Pukki 7.
Subs not used: McGovern, Rupp, Tettey, Gibson. PRESTON: Rudd 6, Fisher 7, Bauer 7, Davies 7 (Hughes 79), Rafferty 7 (Storey 79), Pearson 6, Ledson 7, Sinclair 7, Browne 7 (Potts 80), Barkhuizen 6, Maguire 6. Subs not used: Ripley, Harrop, Gallagher, Bodin. MAN OF THE MATCH: Darnell Fisher. Got stuck in defensively and was in the right place at the right time for his goal.
REFEREE: John Brooks 5