Coventry City player ratings as Sky Blues fail at the 23rd attempt at Preston

Coventry City's Ben Sheaf and Preston North End's Ali McCann battle for the ball
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Coventry City extended the winless run at Deepdale to 23 league games as they lost 1-0 to Preston North End in today’s televised lunchtime kick-off in Lancashire.

Oliver Dovin kept City in the game in the first half with two terrific saves to deny North End No.9 Emil Riis as the home side looked the more threatening in front of goal.

Ellis Simms and Ben Sheaf sent City’s only two attempts on goal wide in the opening 45, while Josh Eccles sliced an early second half effort well wide of the keeper’s left-hand post and Norman Bassette volleyed agonisingly off target.

READ MORE: 'I'm not stupid' - Mark Robins on Coventry City's fortunes amid Doug King's expectations

READ MORE: Ben Sheaf makes summer transfer admission amid contract update and Premier League ambitions

North End finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute when a corner dropped to Robbie Brady at the back post. The player then lifted the ball into the area where Riis pounced from close range to give the home side the lead.

Substitute Haji Wright had the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute but the goal was ruled out for hand ball in the box. Bobby Thomas was then denied by a brilliant save from the keeper in stoppage time as City attempted to fidn an equaliser.

Coventry City's Ellis Simms (right) in action during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale Stadium, Preston
Coventry City's Ellis Simms (right) in action during the Sky Bet Championship match at Deepdale Stadium, Preston -Credit:PA

STARTING FORMATION: 5-3-2

OLIVER DOVIN: 7

Make a crucial save with his out-stretched boot to deny Emil Riis the opening goal in the 9th minute and then pulled off a brilliant reaction stop to deny the striker again - Riis hitting a powerful effort that looked in. Exposed for the goal when it came.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 5

Operated as a wing-back but didn’t get much joy getting forward in the opening half when he was ineffective by his usual high standards. Dusted off his long throw. Played Bassette in for a great chance that went wide in the second half. Eventually subbed.

BOBBY THOMAS: 6

Good in the air and alert to danger to the right of the back three, keeping things relatively tight in the opening half. Made a decent block to deny Riis and made a good sliding tackle to stop an attack. Denied a goal at the death by a brilliant save.

JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 7.5

Deployed at the heart of the back three where he read the game well and mopped up at the back, keeping things nice and simple in the first half. Great block at the end and defended well throughout.

LUIS BINKS: 6.5

Calm and controlled in possession and knocked the ball about well, always offering himself to Dovin in space. Made a couple of decent blocks and helped get City up the pitch with a decent range of passing.

JAY DASILA: 5

Deployed at left wing-back, Dasilva got stuck in early in a feisty game but rarely got forward in the first half when City were limited to just two attempts, both failing to hit the target. Played with more freedom and got forward more after the break without really hurting North End.

Preston North End's Stefan Teitur Thordarson (left) and Coventry City's Jack Rudoni
Preston North End's Stefan Teitur Thordarson (left) and Coventry City's Jack Rudoni -Credit:PA

JOSH ECCLES: 6

Tidy and efficient on the ball on the right of a midfield three and played a delightful reverse pass into the box for Bassette to run onto, only for the striker to go down in the area but no foul was given. Sliced a good chance wide at the start of the second half.

BEN SHEAF: 5.5/6

Work-man-like in the middle of the park where he held things together. Had a decent early chance but sent his shot wide. Gave the ball away in the final third that invited a counter attack from which North End almost scored just shy of the hour.

JACK RUDONI: 6

Deployed on the eft of a midfield three, he looked comfortable in the position early on when he sent in a teasing cross which Simms stretched to head and sent just wide. Worked hard but set-piece deliveries could have been better.

NORMAN BASSETTE: 6

Targeted early on by Ledson who was punished with a yellow card for a professional foul to stop the lad breaking free. Was frustrated again when he was dragged back by a North End player as he attempted to beat him in a foot race. Used his pace to good effect to try to press and force errors. Volleyed wide of the far post when he should really have scored early after the break. Good shift.

ELLIS SIMMS: 5

Worked hard, got into decent positions and tracked back to help win back the ball. Had one decent chance in the first half when Rudoni sent in a cross from the left and he headed wide with all the goal to aim at. Should have done better really. Replaced just after the hour.

Coventry City's Milan van Ewijk (left) and Preston North End's Robbie Brady
Coventry City's Milan van Ewijk (left) and Preston North End's Robbie Brady -Credit:PA

SUBSTITUTES:

HAJI WIRGHT (63 mins, for Simms): 5.5

Struggled to get into the game but had the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for a hand ball. Had a second chance at the back post from a corner but lifted over the bar.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (63 mins, for Bassette): 5.5

Made a lively start, nipping about in the final third looking to get on the end of threaded passes.

VICTOR TORP (79 mins, for Rudoni):

Sent in one decent corner from which Haji had a decent chance.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (79 mins, for Van Ewijk):

Lively contribution when he went on as City were chasing the game.

Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Liam Kitching, Ephron Mason-Clark, Harvey Broad, Fabio Tavares.

PRESTON (4-2-3-1): Freddie Woodman; Kaine Kesley-Hayden, Liam Lindsay, Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes; Ryan Ledson (60 mins, for Sam Greenwood), Ali McCann; Mads Frokjaer, Stefan Thordarson (68 mins, fro Duane Holmes), Robbie Brady; Emil Riis.

Subs (not used): Dai Cornell (GK), Jack Whatmough, Layton Stewart, Jeppe Okkels, Kian Best, Kitt Nelson, Josh Bowler.

GOALS:

NORTH END: Riis (72)

SKY BLUES:

REFEREE: J Smith

ATTENDANCE: 15,907 (2,595 City)

NEXT UP: QPR (a), Tuesday, October 22 (7.45pm).

Who was your man of the match at Preston? Click HERE to have your say.