Norwich City charged to a 4-0 victory over Preston North End in David Wagner's first Championship game at the helm, Teemu Pukki and Kieran Dowell goals securing a vital win.
The Canaries got off to a fast start, dominating possession early on before finding the goals their play deserved.
The first of those was Pukki's, calmly passed into the top corner after Gabriel Sara's tee-up. Dowell then smashed home two minutes later, his unerring strike beating Freddie Woodman all ends up after Max Aarons' back-heeled assist.
After 28 minutes the Liverpudlian found the pick of the bunch, rolling into an empty net after Josh Sargent's through ball allowed Pukki to square into his path.
A double substitution from the hosts halted that momentum a minute later, but Max Aarons did well to block Alvaro Fernandez' close range effort and ensure his impact was not rewarded.
A hectic start to the second half saw chances that both sides will feel they should have scored, but good work from Woodman and the returning Krul kept the score at 3-0.
Pukki's hunger for goals wasn't satisfied, however, and his turn and poke beyond Woodman for 4-0 rivalled Dowell's second in an increasingly tight goal of the game contest.
The win leaves Norwich seventh in the Championship, two points away from West Bromwich Albion in the final play-off spot.
NORWICH CITY (4-4-2):
Substitutes:
1. Gunn (GK)
11. Idah (on for Pukki, 72)
15. McCallum
19. Sorensen (on for Aarons, 79)
21. Sinani (on for Dowell, 72)
26. Nunez (on for Hernandez, 79)
46. Gibbs (on for Sara, 72)
Bookings: Sara (44), Hanley (55), Giannoulis (62)
Goals: Pukki (14, 69), Dowell (16, 28)
Head Coach: David Wagner
PRESTON NORTH END (5-4-1):
Substitutes:
25. Cornell (GK)
2. Fernandez (on for Storey, 29)
3. Cunningham
5. Bauer
7. Delap (on for Woodburn, 29)
11. Brady (on for Diaby, 73)
15. Parrott (on for Johnson, 73)
Bookings: Cannon (59), Brady (74), Ledson (80)
Goals:
Manager: Ryan Lowe
KEY MOMENTS
14 - GOAL NORWICH (Pukki): Hernandez' loose touch falls for Sara, who tees up Pukki to calmly pass into the top corner.
16 - GOAL NORWICH (Dowell): The visitors advance into the box again and Aarons back-heels to Dowell, who smashes in off the post.
18 - Hughes' cross finds Cannon, but his header tamely drops wide.
20 - Dowell flashes a low cross across the box and Pukki should score but misses his kick. The ball then falls for McLean to strike well from distance, but his effort is deflected wide for a corner.
28 - GOAL NORWICH (Dowell): Krul rolls the ball out to Giannoulis, who drives beyond his marker and finds Sargent. The American plays Pukki through and he squares for Dowell to roll into an empty net.
33 - Krul chips the ball out to Cannon who should make more of the opportunity, but he scuffs his effort.
35 - Fernandez rolls the ball out to Diaby with Delap waiting to tap home, but the defender blasts his cross out for a goal kick.
39 - The ball falls for Fernandez in the Preston box, but Aarons blocks his shot well.
40 - Sara rolls into Sargent on the edge of the box but the American's effort is soft.
Half time - Preston North End 0-3 Norwich City
46 - Delap races clear of Omobamidele and should score, but his finish is straight at Krul.
47 - Giannoulis charges forward and picks out Sargent in space in the box, but he curls well over.
49 - Hernandez repeats the same trick, but once again Sargent fails to add his name to the scoresheet.
49 - Delap's deflected pass finds Cannon, whose effort is tipped onto the bar by Krul.
51 - Pukki races clear on the break and goes for goal, but is denied by a good Woodman save.
70 - GOAL NORWICH (Pukki): Aarons sends a targeted long ball Pukki's way and he holds up well before turning Fernandez and poking beyond Woodman for 4-0.
77 - McLean seizes possession and drives towards goal, but his shot is straight at Woodman.
86 - Sargent's flick finds Idah to drive forward and fire into the side netting.
Full time - Preston North End 0-4 Norwich City
PLAYER RATINGS
Krul 6, Aarons 8, Omobamidele 6, Hanley 6, Giannoulis 8, Dowell 9, Sara 8, McLean 8, Hernandez 7, Pukki 9, Sargent 6. Subs: Gibbs 6, Sinani 5, Idah 5, Sorensen 5, Nunez 5.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 39pc-61pc
Shots: 9-20
On target: 2-8
Corners: 4-7
Fouls: 17-11
Injury time: 2 mins/1 min
REFEREE: Stephen Martin
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here