THE thumping victory over one of the early pacesetters could be just the tonic for Preston as they bid to climb up among Division One's title contenders.

After an indifferent start, North End have defeated Birmingham and the Canaries in the last four days and have begun to show the form which took them to the Play-Off Final last season.

Victory over Watford on Sunday will show they are well and truly ready now to compete at the top of the table.

But for the moment boss David Moyes was keen just to enjoy their moment.

"It is hard to hide our delight at how well we have played against Norwich, one of the top sides," he said.

"We passed the ball well and if we continue to do that then we will be hard to beat. It reminded me of another team but they wear red!

"This should give the players even more confidence."

Without suspended skipper Sean Gregan and Colin Murdock, it was all set up for a tricky tie.

But it went Preston's way within 30 seconds when Craig Fleming was adjudged to have fouled the battling Mark Rankine in the area and Graham Alexander converted the spot kick.

"I was disappointed with the decision and all of my players were upset by it," said Norwich boss Nigel Worthington. "But it has been given and you have to get on with it. And we didn't."

"I am not sure about the decision," said Moyes. "It was a great run by Mark, I thought it may be obstruction but we haven't had a great deal of luck this season and sometimes it evens itself out."

It was 2-0 inside 13 minutes as David Healy dispossessed Fleming and sent Jon Macken free. The transfer-listed striker hit the ball into the top corner of the net for his first league goal of the season.

The crowd sang "Super Jon" as all the North End fans are hoping he will withdraw his request to leave.

Then it was an amazing three just after the half hour as Norwich offered little - and seemed lucky to have 11 men still on the field after Iwan Roberts appeared to lash out at Rankine.

A Healy cross was headed down and into the back of the net by Rob Edwards. The Welsh defender hadn't scored in 66 games prior to the Birmingham match and now it's two in two matches.

Then on the stroke of half-time, Macken made sure Moyes could rest in his dug out for the second half when Healy once more sent him through and the 24-year-old ran into the area and smashed the ball into the net, after a deflection off the post. Norwich tightened up after the interval but Preston could have gone nap, sub Richard Cresswell hitting the inside of the post in the 83rd minute before the ball bounced to safety.

"We could have had more," said Moyes. "Jon Macken can play better and I'm sure he'd say that - and he scored two which shows how highly we regard him.

"David Healy was magnificent with his link play and intelligence and he didn't get the goal we felt he deserved. And I'd like to mention Lee Cartwright whose work rate has been tremendous in the last two or three games."

Macken is still on the list but 12,000 fans were urging him not to go. Added the Preston chief: "I've said all along I want to keep him. At the end of the day if he puts on a white shirt I hope the supporters trust me enought to pick him and believe he will give his best for us."