Preston 3-2 Coventry City: North End come from behind to beat Sky Blues

Preston North End won for the first time in eight Championship games as Coventry City’s terrible record at Deepdale continued.

Haji Wright put the visitors ahead after 33 minutes, only for Preston to be 2-1 up by the break thank to two goals in quick succession.

Jay Dasilva failed to clear his lines with a header and the loose ball fell to Duane Holmes whose right-footed shot found the bottom left corner.

Coventry skipper Kyle McFadzean was then adjudged to have brought down Milutin Osmajic and home captain Alan Browne put away the penalty.

Osmajic looked to have made the game safe with a third for Preston after 71 minutes, only for Wright to give the Sky Blues hope with his second goal after 83 minutes – but Ryan Lowe’s men hung on to return to the Championship’s top six.

This was a fourth consecutive defeat for Mark Robins’ side, who remain 20th, still five points clear of the relegation zone, but now 10 points adrift of the play-off places.

Coventry have enjoyed one win at Preston – but only in a League Cup second-round first-leg tie in September 2000. And they have a dreadful record against North End, home or away.

Preston have not lost to the Sky Blues in their past 20 league meetings. Coventry’s last league win in the rivalry came in September 2007.

After picking up 19 points from their first seven league games of the season, Preston had gathered just three points in seven games before the visit of the Sky Blues – and had fallen away.

It looked like it might be a happier visit for once when, after Coventry’s top scorer Matt Godden had seen a header cleared off the line, his side went ahead.

Defender Joel Latibeaudiere knocked down, Godden’s shot was parried by Freddie Woodman, and Wright kept his head to score. But the hosts then turned it round by the break with their two quickfire goals.

Coventry had their chances to level, substitute Ellis Simms firing straight at Woodman, who then tipped Ben Sheaf’s fierce drive over.

But Preston got their third when Liam Millar’s floated cross was nodded home from close range by Osmajic.

Even then, the Sky Blues still had chances as Wright was wide with a long-range effort and Simms lashed against the side-netting before substitute Josh Eccles fired at Woodman – and Wright was again there to tap home. But it was not enough to turn the game round for a second time.

Who’s next?

Preston’s next game is the Lancashire derby with 15th-placed Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park next Friday night.

Coventry are also in derby action, at home to a fellow Midlands side, improving Stoke City at the CBS Arena.

Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

“It was like a basketball match at one point, but we ended up taking three points off a very good team, which has got to be pleasing.

“Coventry are a well coached team with a fantastic manager and some quality players. We know they’re in a false position. I said that to Mark Robins at the end.

“I said to the lads if you want to beat a quality side like Coventry you have to outrun them and out perform them and they’ve worked their socks off.”

Coventry City boss Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

“Stupid mistakes have crept in as we’re a little bit nervy, having now lost four on the bounce. But in the second half we looked a bit more like us.

“We were livelier, more in control and looked a threat and Haji Wright has got two goals for us, which is obviously a plus. And Ellis Simms looked powerful when he came on.

“You know it’s close to happening for us and the fans are staying with us. Hopefully this is just our poor period of the season. We still have a really good chance of turning this round.”