Norwich City ensured the Championship formbook went to type as the soaring Canaries consigned rapidly-fading Preston North End to another defeat.

Ali Ahmed gave Norwich an early lead with the Canada winger scoring his fourth goal in 11 games since a January move from Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps.

Norwich skipper Kenny McLean doubled the advantage with a fine 25-yard free-kick and it could have been worse for Preston before the break as Liam Gibbs hit the bar.

Andrew Hughes headed wide with a golden chance to get the visitors back in it in the second half as Preston slipped to an eighth loss in their past 12 league games.

Having spent most of the season in the play-off places until late January, North End have now slumped to a lowly 17th.

By contrast, Norwich's revival until Philippe Clement continued, rising from relegation prospects to play-off outsiders, although they still have a nine-point gap to chase down to the top six despite rising to 12th.

Less than two months ago, on 17 January, Preston were in the play-off places in sixth while Norwich were just inside the relegation zone – but the diverging fortunes of both clubs since have been striking.

While Norwich topped the form standings for the previous 10 games – taking 24 points from a possible 30 – only already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday had taken fewer than Preston's haul of six points during the same period.

Preston did fashion the first chance at Carrow Road, albeit from an error by Norwich defender Harry Darling, but while Daniel Jebbison's attempted lob beat Canaries keeper Vladan Kovacevic, it only found the side netting.

Ahmed then continued his excellent form since his January arrival by tucking home the opener after Mathias Kvistgaarden's initial effort was repelled by Preston keeper Daniel Iversen.

Kvistgaarden was inches away from adding a Norwich second but North End rallied with Kovacevic foiling headers from both Hughes and Whiteman in what proved a key spell.

However, once McLean curled home a wonderful set-piece, the game was up and only the woodwork prevented Gibbs making it three.

Preston did their best to make a game of it after the break but Hughes headed their best chance wide while Kovacevic denied Thierry Small, Robbie Brady and Jebbison in the closing stages as Paul Heckingbottom's side remain in freefall despite a late rally.

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"We played a good first half with two good goals. We had a few other really good actions where we could have scored.

"The second half was more scrappy because of the way that Preston pressed and played one against one with a lot of duels and the moment we passed them, they made fouls and that stopped the game.

"You don't get a game with fluent football. We had, for me, too many chances or half chances against us, mostly from set pieces and long balls and fights like that so that's something to talk about for the next few days.

"It's really good, the resilience that the team shows, keeping the clean sheet, winning at home again, again no goals against, scoring two good goals and having other good opportunities.

"So I think all our fans have to be really pleased about the mentality that the team is showing."

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"Another tough one. We had a bright start and had the best chance of the game, and then a moment, a lapse in concentration. Odel[uga Offiah] was the correct side, they take the shot, Odel is the wrong side and we're one down, which gets compounded by a referee decision.

"Those are the things that are costing us. But after a bright start, we knew that we were still in the game and we knew we'd made it hard for ourselves, but we responded in the right way.

"The big frustration is that we didn't score. If we'd have taken any one of those chances, we'd have made it much more difficult for Norwich because we were the team in the ascendancy in terms of territory and chances in the second half, but we never made them feel that tension and anxiety that can come if we'd have got a goal."