Coventry has still not won a game at Preston as they produced one of the goalless football scores of the weekend in the Championship. Both teams generated chances during an intriguing match, but a clinical finish was plainly lacking. The Sky Blues’ three-game winning streak was ended by a well-organized North End side that is now unbeaten in four games. The visitors created the first opportunity at Deepdale after a tense first ten minutes. Callum Doyle’s powerful left-footed shot from 25 yards was smartly pushed away by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman after Jake Bidwell touched the ball well. The visitors took control of the game, and Jamie Allen was unlucky when his well-struck volley from Doyle’s cross fizzed narrowly over the top.
North End, looking to build on their first home league win in four months the previous Saturday, finally got a foothold and nearly scored after 20 minutes. Ched Evans, who had returned to the starting lineup after serving a four-game suspension, shot into the side-netting after meeting a clipped pass in from Daniel Johnson. As Allen ran clear of the Preston backline a minute later, Coventry should have taken the lead, but he shot a poor effort straight at a grateful Woodman. Evans was plainly keen to impress as the half-hour mark approached, given to his recent forced absence. On the turn, the Welshman fired a shot that deflected off a defender and just cleared the crossbar.
The hosts scored the first goal of the second half. Johnson delivered a deep cross for Brad Potts, who guided a dismal shot wide of the angle of the post and crossbar. As Ryan Lowe’s side attempted to get some momentum, Alan Browne saw a glancing header saved by Ben Wilson as he rose to meet Alvaro Fernandez’s cross. Wilson, the goalkeeper, was also sharp when diving full-length to stop Johnson’s curling strike. Around the 70-minute mark, chances were dwindling and defenses were on top, albeit Preston still appeared to be the more likely to break through. They nearly broke the deadlock with 15 minutes remaining when defender Bambo Diaby’s overhead kick went over.
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