Coventry City 0 - 1 Preston North End

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Coventry City 0 - 1 Preston North End

Postby dutchman » Sat Apr 24, 2021 5:29 pm

Sky Blues lose but mathematically safe

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Coventry City were beaten by Preston North End but have been confirmed as mathematically safe from the threat of relegation after Derby’s defeat by Birmingham.

Ben Wilson kept City in the game in the first half with a couple of saves, one brilliant to deny a shot that looked to be heading for the top corner, while Max Biamou and Matty James went close at the other end, albeit neither able to test the keeper.

But the Sky Blues keeper conceded a second half penalty, converted by Alan Browne, to hand the Lilywhites the full three points in City’s penultimate ‘home’ game at St Andrew’s.

It was a scrappy start to the game with very little football played by either side in the first ten minutes with a physical Preston kicking and heading a string of hopeful forward balls away.

City were forced to defend a number of early long throws and free-kicks from the left flank while the home side’s biggest threat themselves came from Sam McCallum’s throw-ins, the second of which resulted in the first chance of the game on the 20 minute mark when Gus Hamer drilled the ball into the box and Biamou stretched to get a foot to it and somehow lifted it over the bar.

A good move from the right then resulted in the ball falling lose to McCallum who struck a lovely first time shot that took a deflection over the bar.

But just as the Sky Blues suddenly came to life with a far more determined approach, enjoying 63 per cent of possession, so North End made their presence felt with two shots from outside the box that required Ben Wilson to make impressive saves.

The goalkeeper first dropped to his left to deny a low effort from Ben Whiteman and then, minutes later, he flung himself to his right to push away a deflected Ryan Ledson effort that looked a certain goal.

And the Lilywhites went close again on 36 minutes when a long throw from the right was flicked on to the far post where striker Sean Maguire touched it wide.

Biamou turned smartly to hit a powerful shot on the half volley but defender Jordan Storey got his body in the way to block the angled effort in a game in which Coventry enjoyed more of the ball but Preston had created the better chances.

City, however, finished the half the stronger with James sending a lovely shot from outside the box goalwards, watching as it dipped over the bar at the last second.

The referee had a big call to make early in the second half when Wilson dived at Ched Evans’s feet, the striker going to ground and screaming for a penalty along with his team-mates but Andy Woolmer was having none of it and pointed for a goal kick.

Evans then attempted to catch the keeper off his line from distance but Wilson managed to back pedal to take the speculative shot firmly in his grasp.

Mark Robins made a triple substitution on the hour, swapping his front two of Biamou and Gyokeres for Matty Godden and Tyler Walker, but the visitors grabbed the lead from the penalty spot minutes later when Wilson was judged to have fouled Evans as they challenged for a bouncing ball in the box.

Woolmer pointed straight to the spot this time, leaving skipper Alan Browne to send the keeper the wrong way and give Preston a 67th minute lead.

Fankaty Dabo and Amadou Bakayoko then added more of an attacking threat when they were thrown on as City were chasing the game, desperately searching for an equaliser.

That didn’t come but Sky Blues fans could finally rest easy as Derby’s loss against Blues means Robins’s men were finally confirmed as safe.

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Re: Coventry City 0 - 1 Preston North End

Postby dutchman » Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:09 pm

Browne penalty gives Preston win

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Alan Browne's penalty midway through the second half was enough to earn Preston North End back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2021 against Coventry City.

The breakthrough came when Ched Evans was brought down by Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Preston had the best of the chances, as Wilson made first-half saves to deny Ben Whiteman and Ryan Ledson, and also gathered Evans' 35-yard effort.

Coventry were aiming for a fourth consecutive league win - something they had not achieved in the second tier since 2002.

But Preston's defence held firm as the Sky Blues looked fairly unthreatening throughout.

Both teams are now mathematically safe after results elsewhere.

North End have kept clean sheets in four of their last five games, three of them away from home.

Browne's winner means they have now picked up 11 points from their six games under interim boss Frankie McAvoy, following last month's sacking of Alex Neil.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins told BBC CWR:

"It's a real disappointing day in terms of the game but put that to one side - because what we've achieved [confirming Championship status after promotion] is nothing short of a miracle.

"This is the biggest achievement I've had in my managerial career. It has been so tough. Credit to all the players, because they have put an unbelievable amount of effort in.

"The game was horrific. The energy we've used over the last three games has just taken everything out of us. There was effort and commitment, but there was no urgency. It was a dead game, a 0-0 other than a horrific mistake that we made."

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