Coventry late show stuns Preston

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Coventry scored two injury-time goals to progress to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section final with a 3-2 win over Preston.



Steven Jennings put City in front four minutes before half-time, poking home from close range after William Edjenguele had headed Carl Baker's free-kick across goal.

Preston equalised from a corner in the 67th minute as Luke Foster rose highest to meet John Welsh's deliver and his header hit defender Blair Adams on the way in.

The visitors thought they had won it 10 minutes from time. Stuart Beavon was allowed to cut in and shoot on his left foot and his 18-yard strike deflected off Richard Wood, wrong-footing Joe Murphy, and into the net.

But Baker levelled two minutes into time added with a low strike at the back post after good work from Franck Moussa.

Leon Clarke then completed the unlikely turn around, walking the ball in for his first City goal after Steve Simonsen parried Baker's initial 20-yard shot.

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Coventry's comeback against Preston unbelievable - Robins



Coventry City boss Mark Robins dubbed it an 'unbelievable' night as his never-say-die Sky Blues struck twice in injury time to reach the Johnstone's Paint Trophy northern final.

Preston North End looked set to go through at the Ricoh Arena when they led 2-1 three minutes into injury-time.

But goals from Carl Baker and Leon Clarke turned the game on its head.

"It was an unbelievable game, an unbelievable night, an unbelievable two minutes," Robins told BBC Sport.

"This is what the game's all about, the sort of night that gives you heart attacks.

"We thought we were going out," he told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. "But the reaction from the crowd when the fourth official held up the sign saying there was five minutes of injury time gave us that bit of energy we'd lacked all night.

"And we used our 'get out of jail free' card."

The 12,655 who turned up to witness the last-gasp triumph made this the Ricoh's second biggest gate of the season, beaten only by the 15,185 for the New Year's Day home defeat by Shrewsbury Town.

And there are sure to be even more when Coventry play the winners of next Tuesday night's Crewe-Bradford northern semi-final (15 January, 19:45 GMT) for a place in the Wembley final on 7 April.

After Gary McSheffrey had cut inside to fire just wide and Clarke had gone even closer on his full home debut, pulling a good chance just wide, the home side broke the deadlock four minutes before the break.

William Edjenguele knocked down Baker's free-kick for Steven Jennings to steal in at the far post and clip home his second of the season.

But Coventry were left cursing those earlier missed chances when Preston pulled level on 68 minutes, Luke Foster's header ricocheting in at the near post from John Welsh's right-wing corner.

Baker's free-kick then clipped the top of the bar before Preston got a lucky break at the other end to take the lead with 10 minutes left.

A hopeful left-foot shot from Stuart Beavon hit Edjenguele to totally wrongfoot Joe Murphy and sneak inside the Coventry keeper's left upright.

But Coventry were not finished, stunning North End with two strikes at the death, after North End had been handicapped by a knee injury to Steve Simonsen, who was forced to stay on as the visitors had made all their substitutions.

First Baker blasted home through Simonsen's legs before Clarke was first to the rebound when the Preston keeper clumsily parried Baker's shot.


Graham Westley: Preston North End manager

"What does not kill you makes you stronger," admitted a shell-shocked Preston boss Graham Westley after his side's second knockout trophy exit in five days, following Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Millwall.

"We can't afford after this to go away feeling sorry for ourselves.

"Instead, we have to harness the pain we are feeling at the moment and use it to our advantage going forward."