PRESTON NORTH END 3-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Date 19/09/09 At Deepdale Championship

Team
Westwood, Cranie (Eastwood 84), Hall, Turner, Wright (Ward 69), McIndoe, Cork (Cain 76), Osbourne, Clingan, Best, Morrison SNU Ireland, Grandison, Clarke, Gunnarsson

Preston
Lonergan, Jones, Chilvers, Collins, Nolan, Sedgewick, Chaplow (Shumulikoski 69), Carter, Wallace, Brown (Parkin 26), Mellor (Elliott 64). SNU Henderson, Hart, Mawhene,

HT PNEFC 0-1 CCFC FT PNEFC 3-2 CCFC ATT 11,230
Goals Sammy Clingan (19), Chris Brown (49 & 67), Neil Mellor (54)
Referee D.Deadman Booked Morrison
Man Of The Match Sammy Clingan took the votes in our car with nomination for Marcus Hall

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Today was Coventry City's ninth visit to Deepdale for a league game and for the ninth time, we came back without a victory after a 3-2 defeat.

It did look like the Sky Blues were to have their day in the first half as an unchanged City side were the better team for the opening 35 minutes.

In front of an excellent turn out of well over a thousand City fans who had made their way up a busy M6, City played Michael McIndoe in attack alongside Leon Best and Clinton Morrison when we attacked and 4-5-1 with Best the lone striker when we defended.

In the 18th minute, the City fans in the Kop stand were going mental when Sammy Clingan scored with a stunning free kick from about 28 yards out. The Ulsterman did as Adebayor did last week at Man City but Clingan ran down to the City fans to celebrate.

Another free kick a minute later, saw Best get in a header at Lonergan. The Preston keeper was clearly the home side's best player as twice he used his legs to deny Leon Best and keep his side, who looked very ordinary at this point in the match.



Clinton Morrison picked up another point-less booking after the referee reacted to the crowd.

Things had looked good but slowly Preston started to get back in to the game.

Chris Brown had a couple of chances after good defending from Marcus Hall conceded corners but at the break City were still ahead.

Last week, we witnessed a Jekyll and Hyde performance against Bristol City and within five minutes of the second half, it was more of the same.

A 49th minute free kick conceded by Cranie, was not defended and with players queuing up to shoot, Chris Brown was allowed space and time to volley the ball into the net.

Five minutes later and Preston took the lead. They countered after another poor City corner and the ball was squared to Neil Mellor who gratefully accepted an easy chance to beat the helpless Westwood.

With McIndoe now on the right flank, City worked a good move on the hour mark that finished with Clinto Morrison sweeping an Isaac Osbourne cross onto the cross bar from eight yards.

Two all would have set City up nicely but in the 67th minute, Preston went further in front after Keiren Westwood dropped a corner and Chris Brown banged in.

At Blackpool, a third goal for the home side signalled a large walk out but bar a handful, the Sky Blue Army remained in the hope that City could get back in the match.

Elliott Ward and Ashley Cain were sent on. A neat 81st minute one two gave Leon Best room inside the area but Lonergan saved again.

Freddie Eastwood came on and even managed three shots.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added on and with around thirty seconds left, Coventry pulled another goal back thanks to Clinton Morrison hooking the ball past Lonergan from a long ball but it was too late and City left Deepdale still not having won a league game there.