Coventry City 3 - 0 Preston North End

Leaders Coventry beat Preston to go eight points clear



Coventry City swept aside out-of-form Preston North End to move eight points clear at the top of the Championship table.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's heavily deflected shot gave the Sky Blues a 17th-minute lead.

Brandon Thomas-Asante chested in a second, after Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen had clawed away Ellis Simms' hooked effort.

And Matt Grimes' second-half penalty made it a perfect night for Frank Lampard's team, as nearest rivals Middlesbrough slipped up against Charlton.

The home supporters erupted into chants of "we're going to win the league" when news of Boro's defeat filtered through and off the back of their performance against the Lilywhites, that looks likely.

The Sky Blues controlled the tempo and direction of the game from the moment they took the lead, although Iversen can feel hard done by with the first two goals.

First, Sakamoto's shot wrong-footed him after hitting the left calf of North End captain Ben Whiteman, and then he made a brilliant save to turn Simms' hooked shot on to the bar, only for the ball to rebound straight to Thomas-Asante.

Preston may also be frustrated by the penalty award, as Ephron Mason-Clark was sent sprawling under minimal pressure from Pol Valentin.

But even without that, there was little doubting where the points were going, as Coventry secured a sixth win in a row in the manner of potential champions.

They had chances to extend their margin of victory, most notably when Josh Eccles blazed widly over late on when well placed.

Preston, on the other hand, looked exactly like a team with only one win in 11 Championship matches.

Their bright spots were few and far between, barring headers from Whiteman and Milutin Osmajic, which were both saved by Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire:

"We dominated the game by the way the lads approached it - the overall performance, the focus, the quality of the play, the creation of chances, the goals and the comfort that we felt.

"They worked brilliantly from minute one to the end against what was a tricky opposition on paper. This is not a bad team at all, Preston.

"We've still got work to do but the points and the goals is great recognition to this point and we need to continue for another nine games.

On winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto:

"He's in great form. And wingers should score goals in the modern day, it's an important part of their game.

"The all-round stuff that Tats gives us is incredible - everyone who watches him week-in, week-out sees the work ethic, the 1v1 ability, being a team player, and the goals.

"He's hungry to score. He deserves the luck with the way he's playing at the minute.