Preston got their season back on track with the perfect away performance at Coventry.

Having lost four in a row - their worst run of the season - North End looked on the verge of blowing their chances of the play-offs but they looked every inch a top-six side as they strolled to victory at the Ricoh Arena.

Paul Simpson's got off to an ideal start when Chris Sedgwick scored his first of the season in the eighth minute.

Sedgwick then crossed for David Nugent to score his 17th of the campaign - and first in five matches since he scored on his England debut in the 3-0 win over Andorra last month.

Three minutes after the restart Brett Ormerod widened the gap further and he then added another with 10 minutes of the second half gone.

That saw the home fans heading for the exits and they even called for striker Kevin Kyle to be sent off when he handled deliberately midway through the second period.

Coventry had the better of an open start to the game but the visitors, who had lost the previous five on their travels, took the lead with the first real shot of the afternoon.

Nugent clipped the ball wide to full-back Graham Alexander on the right flank near halfway and the North End skipper passed to Sedgwick, who ran unchallenged before firing past Andy Marshall from the edge of the area.

Despite shading possession, the hosts rarely looked like creating anything and Kyle's sliced shot was their first effort on goal.

Sedgwick has played the majority of the season in central midfield but was relishing his return to the right flank.

And with 16 minutes gone, his outrageous dummy fooled Jay Tabb before his cross found Nugent six yards out for the striker to head home relatively easily.

Matt Hill also shot well over for the visitors, while Adam Virgo should have done better at the other end after being picked out at the far post by Stephen Hughes' free-kick.

Preston's Callum Davidson drove just over and Hughes had a free-kick turned around the post by North End debutant goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.

Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie threw on Dele Adebola and Leon McKenzie at the break and two minutes after the restart, Kyle glanced a Colin Cameron corner wide of goal.

However, North End went straight down the other end and scored to kill the game.

Davidson's clipped cross was met by Ormerod and the Preston striker produced a simple finish.

Coventry seemed unable to keep hold of the ball and a mix-up between Robert Page and Marshall gave Ormerod the most straightforward goal of his career from six yards to register his ninth of the season.

North End never had to get out of second gear and stroked the ball around effortlessly.

Coventry did not manage an effort on goal in response and Preston were content to conserve energy for what are sure to be some important games to come.

Teams

Coventry Marshall, Virgo, Page, Ward, Hall, Osbourne, Cameron,Hughes, Tabb (McKenzie 46), Kyle, Mifsud (Adebola 46),McKenzie (Fadiga 69).

Subs Not Used: Steele, Turner.

Booked: Hughes, Osbourne, McKenzie, Kyle.

Preston Henderson, Alexander, St. Ledger,Chilvers (Wilson 46), Hill, Sedgwick, Soley (Whaley 79),Davidson, Pugh, Nugent (Agyemang 60), Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Ricketts.

Booked: Davidson, Sedgwick, Pugh.

Goals: Sedgwick 8, Nugent 17, Ormerod 49, 56.

Att: 21,117

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).