Freddie Woodman produced a goalkeeping masterclass but Gabriel Sara’s late winner saw Norwich beat Preston 1-0 at Deepdale to move closer towards securing a coveted play-off place.

The former Newcastle shot-stopper pulled off a string of fine saves but Brazilian midfielder Sara’s 86th-minute strike dented the Lilywhites’ play-off hopes and left the Canaries six points clear of seventh-placed Hull.

Woodman made four excellent saves in the first half alone while the Lilywhites also hit the crossbar but it was Sara’s later intervention which proved crucial.

It was the playmaker’s fifth goal in seven games, with the Canaries having left themselves well-placed to be in the play-off mix with just three games left.

Preston dropped to 10th and are now eight points off sixth place, although they have four games left.

Defender Liam Lindsay went close for the home side in the 13th minute but his header flew narrowly over.

Midfielder Mads Frokjaer forced a fine save from Canaries keeper Angus Gunn not long after as the home side forced the early pace in their quest to further their play-off hopes.

At the other end, Sara picked out Borja Sainz with a fine pass but the Spaniard rifled his powerful volley wide of the target.

Centre-back Jordan Storey was then thwarted from close range by a superb save from Gunn.

But another missed chance nearly cost the home side but for Woodman’s brilliant intervention.

The on-song keeper produced an excellent block to deny Sainz the opener as the visitors found their way back into the contest.

Two minutes later Woodman saved well from Ashley Barnes as the home side found themselves on the back foot.

Sara went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock but again Woodman did well to collect a fizzing 25-yard volley.

Woodman saved again from Sara in first-half stoppage time as the home side were able to get some much-needed respite going into the break.

But that was just before Jack Whatmough thought he had put them ahead on the stroke of half-time, his thundering header having beaten Gunn and crashed into the woodwork.

Sara smashed over the bar after just two minutes of the second half while Sainz’s deflected effort fell fortuitously into the path of Josh Sargent but he lashed across the face of goal.

Kenny McLean fired a powerful shot over the bar as the visitors pushed for a winner and the pressure told with just four minutes left when Sara pounced to win it for the visitors.

Woodman got a hand to the shot but not enough to prevent it going into the far corner.

Midfielder Alan Browne had a shot cleared after a goalmouth scramble as Preston desperately tried to get back on level terms but Sara’s winner was a real sucker-punch to their play-off ambitions.

Ryan Lowe expects his Preston team to have more goal power this season following impressive starts by summer signings Will Keane and Mads Frokjaer in a 1-1 draw against Bristol City.

Keane marked the beginning of his second spell as a North End player with an opportunist late equaliser at Ashton Gate, while Frokjaer also played a key role in a determined fightback after
Sam Bell’s 47th-minute strike had threatened to give City a winning start.

Lowe was delighted with his team’s efforts and said: “Will is capable of adding 14 goals to our team this season. That’s how many he got last season and, while I don’t want to put pressure on him, I have faith in his ability to excite our fans.

“His goal was a fantastic finish, a great swivel and a shot into the bottom corner. It showed that if we give him opportunities, he will score for us.

“Mads has fantastic quality, which is why we have invested heavily in him. I see him also scoring goals, but he has to get up to speed with the Championship because it is a ruthless league.”

Lowe was also full of praise for 17-year-old defender Kian Best after a first senior appearance packed with promise.

“Kian is still only a baby and got cramp at the end,” said the manager. “But he worked his socks off and was intelligent in his passing range. His quality on the ball is different class and I have never been afraid to throw young players into my teams if they are good enough.

“I thought the whole team were fantastic. The players did all we asked of them off the ball in the first half and in the second we created enough chances to feel unlucky not to take all three points.

“Bristol’s goal worked against them in a way. We really got our backsides in gear after it and had them on the ropes, but I’ll take a point away at Bristol City, who have some very good players.”

City boss Nigel Pearson was asked about the absence from his team of £25million-rated midfielder Alex Scott, a transfer target for several Premier League clubs.

He said: “Alex developed a problem with a knee two or three days ago and he will be fine once we get the swelling down.

“When his name is not on the team sheet, people will make different assumptions, but that is the truth of the matter. Alex is injured and hopefully we will get him back for next weekend.

“Outside of that, I can’t really comment on how things will develop with Alex. We have put a valuation on him as a club and it’s important we protect our assets. I’m not saying a move won’t happen, but it has to be on our terms.”

Of the game, Pearson added: “It was a stop-start affair. We are disappointed not to win after taking the lead, but Preston created some chances and will feel they deserved something.

“It was a reminder of how tough the Championship is. They came with a plan to be difficult to break down and we didn’t use the ball well enough.

“It was largely about whether we could get our full-backs forward and on the ball. For whatever reason, they were not involved in our attacking play enough.”