Norwich v Preston

Last updated : 04 March 2011 By BBC Sport

Preston strikers Iain Hume and Chris Brown are available again after their respective injury problems.

Defender Leon Cort is also back in the squad after being ineligible for last weekend's game against Burnley under the terms of his loan from the Clarets.

MATCH PREVIEW

Norwich City are fifth in the table, unbeaten in four matches, and will not want to slip up against a Preston side that are bottom of the pile and look destined for the drop.

Recent draws against Nottingham Forest and leaders QPR suggested Preston had turned a corner under Phil Brown, so a defeat at home to Lancashire rivals Burnley last time out was a savage blow. They are still yet to win since Brown took over as manager.

The Lancashire club are 11 points from safety and five points adrift of Sheffield United, who are the team immediately above them and the only other Championship side yet to win in 2011. North End are without a victory in 12 league games, and have not won away since September.

Norwich have had more attempts on goal this season than any other second-tier team - 442 of them, to be precise - and their knack of scoring late in games has kept them in contention for a second successive promotion.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Norwich have won 18 and Preston 14 of the 45 previous matches between these clubs.

• A goal for Preston would be the club's 50th in the league against City.

Norwich

• This is Norwich's 1,800th home league game.

• The Canaries have failed to score in only four league games this season.

• They are one of only four teams yet to lose a Championship match this term by more than two goals.

• Norwich have scored a 90th-minute goal in three of their last four home league games, and have netted an unrivalled eight Championship goals in stoppage time.

• Aaron Wilbraham is two goals away from the 100th of his career.

Preston

• Preston have won fewer matches (five) and conceded more goals (61) than any other team in the second tier.

• They have taken only five points out of 36 since beating Ipswich on 11 December - their only win in 20 games.

• North End have drawn five and lost five of their 10 games under boss Phil Brown.

• They have dropped 28 points from winning positions, having drawn five and lost six matches in which they were ahead.

• Preston are the only team yet to keep a clean sheet in the Championship in 2011. They have gone 12 matches without one, and have managed only three all season.

• The Deepdale club have let in 14 goals in the final 10 minutes of matches this term - more than any other team in the division.

• Darel Russell and Chris Brown could both face their former club.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport