The Sky Blues continued their miserable record at Deepdale
Coventry City’s miserable record at Preston North End continued as they slipped to their ninth Championship defeat of the season.
The Sky Blues have never won a league game at Deepdale and failed on their 19th attempt as poor defending allowed the Lilywhites to capitalise with goals in each half from Daniel Johnson and Sean Maguire.
City took a cautious approach from the kick-off with five players strung across the back line and holding a good shape as North End showed all the early initiative, forcing two corners in the opening five minutes at Deepdale.
But it was City who had the first shot on goal when Gus Hamer tried his luck from a good 35 yards out, sending it straight to the opposition keeper Declan Rudd as the visitors grew into the game nicely, forcing corners of their own on ten and 15 minutes.
The Sky Blues played some nice one touch football with midfielders Jamie Allen, Callum O’Hare and Hamer linking up well in Preston’s half but found themselves a goal down in the 18th minute when Ben Sheaf was caught in possession, robbed by attacking midfielder Daniel Johnson who pulled wide of goalkeeper Ben Wilson and defender Kyle McFadzean to pick his spot.
The setback came against the run of play, with Coventry by far the more enterprising side in the final third - a theme that continued to the break, albeit City were unable to create any clear cut chances to get themselves back on level terms.
Fankaty Dabo was their best outlet, having the beating of his opposite number down the right where he sent in some decent crosses, the best of which in the opening 45 saw Matty Godden head down to Allen who couldn’t get his shot off in time.
Dabo continued to cause problems after the break when he cut into the box and forced the keeper to palm away a testing cross-cum-shot from the right as the Sky Blues went in search of an equaliser.
Ryan Giles sent in a decent centre which O’Hare headed over the bar but disaster struck again in the 53rd minute when City failed to defend a free-kick which dropped into the six yard box where they had more than enough time and opportunity to clear it before Sean Maguire poked it over the line.
It really was dreadful defending from a side who had tightened up over the last ten games, and Robins responded by making two substitutions with Max Biamou and Jordan Shipley going on for Sheaf and O’Hare.
The home side seemed to go up a gear after their second goal, knocking the ball about crisply and enjoying plenty of possession which prompted further changes for the Sky Blues with Sam McCallum and teenager Will Bapaga replacing Giles and Allen.
Hamer tested the keeper from outside the box as City continued to chase the game, with McCallum hitting a follow up shot that the keeper dealt with comfortably but it was all a case of too little too late.
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 11:34 pm
