Preston's Simon Whaley scored the only goal of the game and his first for the club as Coventry were beaten 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena.

Whaley netted before half-time to keep the Deepdale club's promotion push on track while ending the Sky Blues 12-game unbeaten run on home turf.

After a cagey opening 10 minutes the home side launched the first attack of note as Stern John burst into the North End box but saw his low cross batted away by goalkeeper Carlo Nash as Gary McSheffrey and Dele Adebola loitered with intent inside the six-yard box.

But the visitors squandered a glorious chance to take the lead after Chris Sedgwick's shot was blocked by Ady Williams, who saw the ball loop towards an unmarked Marcus Stewart at the back post where the striker headed across goal and wide.

Patrick Agyemang fired wide of the Coventry goal moments later and as Preston sought to tighten the screw further, Williams blocked a Whaley shot.

At the other end Jamie Scowcroft tested Nash with a long-range dipping effort but the North End saved comfortably ahead of the visitors taking the lead after a sweeping move which transformed defence into attack on the half-hour.

After defending a City free-kick, the visitors swept upfield along their right flank where Agyemang sprayed a pinpoint pass inside for Whaley.

The £250,000 purchase from Bury during January still had plenty of work to do but after taking advantage of Andy Whing's slight slip, Whaley fired low from 25 yards to beat Coventry Marton Fulop.

At the other end the Sky Blues wasted a chance to restore parity five minutes before half-time when John was presented with the ball after an intricate build-up, only for Nash to save the Trinidad & Tobago's side-footed effort.

With both sides having emerged unchanged for the second half, Preston were soon on the offensive once more as Tyrone Mears robbed John near the halfway line and galloped forward before finding Stewart on his right.

This time the eventual shot was blocked by Robert Page but Coventry remained on the back foot and manager Micky Adams was prompted to replace Adebola with Don Hutchison and Whing with Richard Duffy after 55 minutes.

Three minutes later and Preston boss Billy Davies introduced Dave Hibbert as replacement for Stewart ahead of a period of Sky Blues pressure as Hutchison and Dennis Wise - back after a two-game suspension - began to exert some influence over midfield.

But it was Wise who was left cursing after failing to apply any sort of contact when inches from the Preston goal, following a left-wing cross from Stern John.

Next, Scowcroft forced a corner which preceded a McSheffrey shot collected low down by Nash before John fired over late in the day.

Teams

Coventry Fulop, Whing (Duffy 55), Page, Williams, Hall,Scowcroft, Wise (Heath 90), Doyle, McSheffrey,Adebola (Hutchison 55), John.

Subs Not Used: Ince, Impey.

Booked: Williams.

Preston Nash, Mears, Davis, Mawene, Alexander, Whaley,Sedgwick (Stock 66), McKenna, Jarrett, Agyemang (Wilson 79),Stewart (Hibbert 58).

Subs Not Used: Ward, Lewis Neal.

Booked: McKenna, Stock, Mears.

Goals: Whaley 30.

Att: 21,023

Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).