A CITY team reduced to ten men were pegged back by visitors Preston who shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

Goals from Leroy Lita and John Kennedy had put City in front after former Canary Chris Brown's shock opener but Neil Mellor blasted the visitors level with 11 minutes to go shortly after Norwich skipper Darel Russel was sent off after clashing with Ross Wallace.

Ex-City player Chris Brown opened the scoring with a shock goal inside the opening two minutes. A cross from Paul McKenna eluded David Marshall in the box, and when the ball rebounded off the legs of Jon Otsemobor, Brown smashed the rebound into the back of the net from close range.

Minutes later, Dejan Stefanovic collided with Stephen Elliot in the centre circle, resulting in the City defender being stretchered off wearing a leg splint to applause from the home crowd.

AIRBORNE: Leroy Lita tries the acrobatic at
Carrow Road against Preston North End

Leroy Lita equalised for the Canaries after 14 minutes after David Bell's corner enabled the striker's close-range header, which was too much for the helpless Andrew Lonergan.

In the 28th minute, Lita went close again latching on to Bells flick-on before his fierce drivce forced a flying save from Lonergan. Three minutes later, the Canaries went closer still as a rasper from Ryan Bertrand crashed down off the cross-bar and Lee Croft dragged his volley from the rebound wide of the far post.

Half time: Norwich 1 Preston 1

Bell's shot from 30-yards was on target in the 59th minute, forcing a smart save from the Preston 'keeper.

CROFT: Winger Lee Croft in action this afternoon

On 62 minutes John Kennedy gave City the lead after getting on the end of a curling free-kick from Bell. The defender's close-range volley could only be helped into the net by Lonergan.

The 79th minute saw referee Paul Taylor produce the red card for Darel Russell, after the midfielder was involved in a confrontation with Ross Wallace. Minutes later, the Lilywhites equalised when substitute Neil Mellor fired the ball from 30 yards past the diving Marshall.

Full time; Norwich 2 Preston 2

Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Kennedy, Stefanovic (Doherty 10), Croft (Pattison 75), Clingan, Sibierski (Cureton 45), Bell, Russell (C), Bertrand, Lita. Subs not used: Hoolahan, Lupoli.

Preston: Lonergan, Davidson, Mawene, C Brown, Nicholson (Chaplow 65), St Ledger (Sedgwick 65), McKenna, W Brown, Jones, Wallace, Elliott (Mellor 60). Subs not used: Parkin, Neal.