Pavel Pergl had a dream debut in English football, scoring the opening goal and helping North End to all three points against Norwich City.

The Czech replaced Chris Sedgwick in the heart of midfield and he opened the scoring on 28 minutes with a long range strike.

Danny Dichio added a second shortly before the break in a first half dominated by the home side but Norwich made things more difficult after the break, putting up a real fight.

Jason Shackell got the visitors back in it on 62 minutes but in the end Paul Simpson's side held on to take all three points.

As promised Paul Simpson rang the changes for tonight's visit of Norwich, making three changes from the side that lost against Manchester City on Sunday.

Pavel Pergl was handed his debut in English football, starting in the heart of midfield in place of Chris Sedgwick and it was one to remember as he capped it with the opening goal.

Danny Dichio returned after a five week absence, taking the place of the injured Michael Ricketts, while Kelvin Wilson returned after suspension at the expense of skipper Graham Alexander.

North End started brightly, with Dichio putting Gallagher under pressure before Nugent bought a good save out of the Canaries keeper with just six minutes on the clock.

A clever flick on by Dichio opened things up for Nugent, he raced away into the area before firing a low angled shot from the right of the area which Gallagher did well to save. The keeper playing in place of Marshall, who was injured in the 4-0 defeat by Chelsea at the weekend, got down low and at full stretch parried the ball away to safety.

An excellent cross by Hill on 13 minutes caused panic in the City defence when he fizzed a low cross from the left that was deflected goal bound, unfortunately there was no one at the far post to stab the ball home.

The move all started when Seyfo Soley won the ball inside his area and burst forward, he passed out side to Whaley on the left and Hill went through the gears to overtake the North End number 15 on the outside, once again proving to be a good attacking outlet.

An early shot from Chris Martin on 17 minutes bought the first save for Andy Lonergan but the former England U21 keeper watched it all the way and got down to make the save.

Jason Shackell almost opened the scoring two minutes later, only it would have been for the wrong team after confusion between him and Gallagher almost saw the defender heading into his own net, thankfully for the pair the ball finished just wide.

A long goal kick from Lonergan was flicked on by the head of Dichio and with Nugent racing through Shackell panicked and almost scored an own goal for the second successive trip to Deepdale, with he and Doherty both finding the wrong net last season to give Preston a 2-0 win.

Dichio headed just over on 24 minutes as it was North End who were asking the majority of the questions in the early exchanges, with Nugent, Dichio and Whaley all looking lively in attack.

The visitors were forced into a change just seconds later when Dion Dublin, who had been a doubt before the game, was replaced by Peter Thorne. The change meant that Gary Doherty dropped back into the heart of defence and Thorne slotted into midfield.

The opening goal came on 28 minutes and Pavel Pergl made himself an instant hit with the North End fans, firing home on him debut to give Preston the lead.

The Czech midfielder looked comfortable and assured in the heart of midfield but the emphasis seemed to be on him sitting with Pugh and McKenna pushing on, but from near on 30-yards out Pergl struck a low, powerful shot which nestled in the bottom corner.

His English may not be the best but that doesn't matter, he was certainly letting his football do the talking.

Five minutes later there was another change, this time in charge as Phil Dowd was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Mr M Haywood.

The goal gave North End the confidence they needed with Whaley going close on 36 minutes after he raced through the City defence but he fired just wide of the left hand post.
Danny Dichio made it 2-0 just before the break with his fifth of the season. It was a well worked attack down the right involving McKenna and Wilson and ended with the right back swinging a cross in, McKenna sweeping it across the goal and Dichio on hand to side foot home.

It was nothing more than North End deserved after impressing in the opening 45 minutes and nothing more than Dichio deserved after over five weeks out of the first team frame.

Norwich made their second change at the break, Paul McVeigh replacing Peter Thorne, who lasted just 22 minutes.

Seyfo Soley almost made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart but his goal bound effort was diverted over the bar for a corner

Lee Croft had a superb chance to grab Norwich a lifeline on 56 minutes, on the end of a cross which the North End defence failed to clear. He had time on the bal but fired his shot against the post, with Lonergan beaten.

Preston looked to be cruising towards three points, with what looked to be a solid all round performance but Norwich were back in it on 63 minutes. Jason Shackell heading home a corner in from the left, he rose highest to beat his man to the ball and beat Lonergan in the Preston goal.

There were nervy moments four minutes later when Chris Brown gave Liam Chilvers the slip. He raced clear and hit an early cross into the middle which Wilson sliced behind for a corner, for a split second it looked to be heading on target from our angle but the important thing was that he cleared the danger.

Norwich were beginning to provide more and more of an attacking threat and went close to equalising with 19 minutes on the clock from a long range effort from Mark Fotheringham. Lonergan parried the ball clear and with Martin about to pounce he scrambled the ball clear.

At the other end Chilvers sent a volley just fizzing past the left hand post.

Paul Simpson made his first change on 78 minutes, Patrick Agyemang replacing Danny Dichio in attack.

Sean St Ledger quickly followed as he returned alongside Liam Chilvers at the back after he replaced Seyfo Soley.

With six minutes to go Neil Mellor replaced David Nugent was the home side desperately trying to cling on to the three points.

With the full time whistle fast approaching Simon Whaley could have made sure of the points but he fired into the side netting.

In the end North End weathered the storm and made sure of the points to keep up the pressure at the top of table and move back to fourth in the league.

PNE LINEUP: Lonergan, Wilson, Hill, Chilvers, Soley (St Ledger 82), Pergl, Pugh, McKenna, Dichio (Agyemang 79), Nugent (Mellor 84), Whaley

SUBS: Henderson, Mellor, Agyemang, St Ledger, Sedgwick.

NORWICH LINEUP: Gallagher, Drury, Dublin (Thorne 24 )(McVeigh 46), Shackell, Hughes, Doherty, Fotheringham, Lappin, Croft, Brown, Martin

SUBS: Lewis, McVeigh, Thorne, Eagle, Colin

Attendance: 11,601