Preston moved up into the play-off zone with this victory, hitting back after going a goal down early on.

Coventry looked the better team in the opening stages with wing-back Andrew Whing getting a lot of the ball down the right, but nine minutes elapsed before the first shot at goal.

That came from Claus Jorgensen who fired wide, but he did much better with his next opportunity after 14 minutes. Michael Doyle got to the byline on the left and crossed for the Danish midfielder to head home his first goal of the season.

But midway through the half Preston drew level with their first scoring attempt, which came from the penalty spot. Matthew Hill was fouled by Adrian Williams, giving Graham Alexander the chance to convert past Luke Steele.

And almost immediately North End went ahead as Richard Cresswell produced a terrific finish from an Eddie Lewis cross to take his goals tally for the season to 16.

Richard Duffy, the only player booked in the opening half, ambitiously tried to restore parity with a long-range shot which flew wide and in stoppage time Jorgensen went close to a second goal when he fired over the crossbar from a Doyle cross.

Less than a minute into the second period Whing was shown the yellow card for a foul on Hill that resulted in the free-kick from which Preston extended their lead. Chris Sedgwick curled it into the penalty area and defender Chris Lucketti headed home.

Coventry striker Gary McSheffrey's name also went into the notebook following a challenge on Youl Mawene, as did that of Cresswell for arguing over a foul he was adjudged to have committed on Dean Leacock.

Sky Blues manager Micky Adams sent on Graham Barrett for Richard Shaw to try and get back into the game and while the former Arsenal man was not directly involved, a goal in the 72nd minute came soon after his introduction. Jorgensen took a corner from the left and McSheffrey netted from close range.

That meant a nervy end to the game for the Lilywhites and hearts were in mouths when Barrett got his head to a Stephen Hughes corner, but the ball drifted wide and Preston held out comfortably in stoppage time.

Teams

Preston Lonergan, Alexander, Mawene, Lucketti, Hill, Sedgwick (Davis 90), Etuhu, O'Neil, Lewis, Cresswell (Nugent 79), Agyemang (Smith 84).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Davidson.

Booked: Cresswell.

Goals: Alexander 22 pen, Cresswell 23, Lucketti 48.

Coventry Steele, Whing, Duffy, Shaw (Barrett 61), Williams, Leacock, Doyle, Hughes, Jorgensen (Wood 85), McSheffrey, Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Shearer, Reid, Osbourne.

Booked: Duffy, Whing, McSheffrey.

Goals: Jorgensen 14, McSheffrey 72.

Att: 13,691

Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).