CRAIG Brown turned to seaside favourite Mr Punch in his search for words after losing to Norwich, pointing to the promoted Canaries and telling his players: "That's the way to do it!"

While North End's boss was happy overall with his side's performances at Carrow Road - they pulled themselves level twice before conceding a third in the 84th minute - he knows they will have to improve at the back if they're to be in contention for promotion next season.

He said: "We have to play to the sort of standard Norwich have achieved next season.

"Hopefully the celebrations the players saw at Norwich will make an impression so that maybe it can happen at Preston next year."

If that is to happen though, Preston are going to have to tighten up at the back and stop conceeding goals so early on.

By the second minute, the visitors were a goal down as Leon McKenzie headed home his ninth goal for Norwich

Three minutes later, and Paul McKenna had pulled one back, when he picked up Graham Alexander's cross from the right and hit a shot which Robert Green found too hard to handle.

Damian Francis scored on 28 minutes in classy fashion, playing a neat one-two with Kevin Cooper before unleashing a shot Jonathan Gould could do nothing to stop

Craig Brown responded at half-time by bringing on Ricardo Fuller for Richard Cresswell and within seconds the Jamaican made an impact - by getting himself booked for an over-zealous challenge.

On 48 minutes, David Healy levelled things as he swept home Alexander's through ball but the departure of Marlon Broomes on 68 minutes for a second bookable offence gave Norwich the chance to push forward and find a winner.

It came, on 84 minutes, when Darren Huckerby's shot deflected off the foot of Gould, and any hopes of an equaliser were dashed in inury time when Dickson Etuhu was denied by Green.

NORWICH 3

PNE 2

Norwich: Green, Edworthy, Fleming, Mackay, Drury, Cooper, Holt, Francis, Huckerby, Svensson, McKenzie. Subs: Crichton, Brennan, Mulryne, Roberts, McVeigh.

Preston: Gould, Broomes, Lucketti, Michael Jackson, Alexander, Lynch, Etuhu, McKenna, Lewis, Cresswell, Healy. Subs: Lucas, Fuller, Smith, McCormack, Davis.

Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).