Preston 1 Coventry 0 - 09/02/2008
Preston 1 Coventry 0 - 09/02/2008
Preston North End: Andy Lonergan, Liam Chilvers, , Matthew Hill, Paul McKenna, Chris Sedgwick, Simon Whaley, Billy Jones, Darren Carter, Karl Hawley (Brett Ormerod 80), Chris Brown (Neil Mellor 87)
Subs not used: Youl Mawene, Richard Chaplow, Grzegorz Szamotulski
Goals: Sean St. Ledger 21
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Elliott Ward, Marcus Hall (Scott Dann 81), Arjan De Zeeuw, Stephen Hughes (Michael Hughes 45), Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Julian Gray, Michael Doyle, Robbie Simpson (Michael Mifsud 55), Leon Best,
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Liam Davis
Booked: Arjan De Zeeuw 90
Attendance: 11857
Referee: M Pike
Teamtalk
Struggling Preston moved out of the Championship relegation zone for the first time since Christmas after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Coventry.
Defender Sean St Ledger gave the Lilywhites a deserved half-time lead after heading home his first goal of the season in the 21st minute.
And despite Coventry pushing forward for most of the second half, St Ledger's goal proved enough to secure Preston's fourth straight home win and take them above Sheffield Wednesday.
The Lilywhites have also climbed to within two points of Coventry, whose spirited second-half performance did not reflect a side which has slipped towards the drop zone after a run of five successive away defeats in the league.
Eager to maintain their recent home form, Preston impressed from the outset and went close in the 11th minute when Chris Brown nodded down a Liam Chilvers free-kick for midfielder Darren Carter to fire narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Brown, who like Chris Sedgwick returned from suspension, was also off target with a long-range effort before Leon Best led a Coventry break in the 14th minute.
The Sky Blues striker laid the ball wide for Michael Doyle and Preston defender Chilvers did well to turn the ball over from inside his own six-yard box.
Best then headed wide from a deep cross by Marcus Hall, making his first appearance since November after being sidelined with an Achilles problem, but Preston managed to take the lead moments later.
Carter played a short corner to Paul McKenna and took the return pass to hit an inswinging cross from the Preston right, and St Ledger stole in at the back post to head home from six yards.
The visitors continued to look menacing on the break and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan did well to hold on to a fierce 25-yard strike from Isaac Osbourne just after the half-hour mark.
Brown then fired straight at Coventry keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos from Karl Hawley's pull-back before playing in left winger Simon Whaley, who was denied by a fine one-handed save from Konstantopoulos.
The visitors made a positive response and within five minutes of the restart, Best worked enough room to unleash a stinging 20-yard strike which Lonergan managed to turn out for a corner.
Whaley then fired into the side-netting for Preston from Hawley's lay-off while Coventry's Jay Tabb had a shot blocked after good build-up play between Best, Hall and substitute Michael Mifsud.
The game remained in the balance as Mifsud's 25-yard effort forced Lonergan into action, before Hawley fired too close to Konstantopoulos after Carter broke for Preston.
St Ledger then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double Preston's lead when he sent an unmarked header straight at Konstantopoulos from McKenna's 75th-minute free-kick.
Preston had a scare when Matthew Hill's tackle on Best almost sent the ball wide of Lonergan, and although substitute Neil Mellor fired over from McKenna's pull-back in stoppage time, Coventry failed to fashion another opening in the closing stages.
CCFC
Coventry City's winless league run at Deepdale continued as the Sky Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End.
Sean St Ledger's neat header on 21 minutes gave the Lilywhites all three points on an afternoon when City failed to capitalise on the chances they created.
Michael Mifsud and Leon Best went close but it was not to be for the Sky Blues despite sustained pressure in the second half.
Iain Dowie made two changes to the side which beat Barnsley 4-0 at the Ricoh Arena last weekend.
Danny Fox was unavailable due to gastric flu, so Marcus Hall came into the side at left-back. Hall only returned to action in the reserves in midweek after a long spell out because of an Achilles injury.
Robbie Simpson started up front in place of Mifsud, who was rested after playing for Malta in midweek. The diminutive striker had to be content with a place on the bench.
Andy Marshall returned to the bench for the Sky Blues.
In a scrappy affair on a sunny afternoon in Lancashire, both sides failed to carve out any real opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
That changed 60 seconds later when Darren Carter collected the ball in the middle of the park and fired a shot inches wide of Konstantopoulos' post.
The Sky Blues began to find their rhythm shortly after and nearly went a goal to the good courtesy of Preston's Liam Chilvers. Following Michael Doyle's cross, the defender almost headed the ball into his own net.
Shortly after, Best flashed a header just wide but all the good work was undone on 21 minutes when Preston took the lead. Carter's accurate cross found St Ledger at the far post, who guided his header into the bottom corner.
The goal did not seem to give Dowie's side renewed impetus and the Lilywhites created the better of the opportunities midway through the first half namely through Paul McKenna with a header.
Isaac Osbourne tried his luck with a shot from range but it was a comfortable save for keeper Andy Lonergan. Chris Brown nearly doubled North End's lead on 40 minutes when he found himself in acres of space yet the striker could only manage a tame shot which Konstantopoulos comfortably saved.
Konstantopoulos kept the Sky Blues in the game on the stroke of half-time with a magnificent save to deny Simon Whaley. The shot stopper showed his agility to get down well to Whaley's goal bound strike.
City emerged from the interval revitalised with Michael Hughes replacing Stephen Hughes.
Best's rasping drive stung the hands of Lonergan, who did well to tip the ball over the bar. Mifsud was brought into the action on 56 minutes to freshen up the attack and it worked.
A goal mouth scramble emerged following good work from the combination of Mifsud and Best. Yet somehow the Sky Blues could not find a way past a resolute Preston rear guard.
The pace of Mifsud was causing Alan Irvine's side problems and Jay Tabb went close following Best's neat turn inside the penalty area.
The Maltese striker was at the heart of all the Sky Blues' good work and the impish forward tested the agility of Lonergan with a fierce low shot from 20 yards.
St Ledger should have furthered the Lilywhites' advantage on 75 minutes when he escaped his marker but the defender could only guide his free header into the grateful hands of Konstantopoulos.
Three minutes of stoppage time were added but City could muster that all important equaliser.
4thegame
Preston North End moved out of the relegation zone with their fourth successive home win, an important 1-0 victory against Coventry City.
Man of the match, Sean St Ledger, scored the all-important goal after 21 minutes when Darren Carter's right-wing corner was taken short to Paul McKenna.
He passed the ball back to Carter who hit an inch-perfect cross to St Ledger who was running in from the left to head home from six yards into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner of the net.
It was his first goal of the season, second goal for Preston and third goal of his career.
Carter, seven minutes later, hit over a similar cross and St Ledger again had a six-yard header which was saved by the Coventry keeper.
Isaac Osbourne had a 25-yard right-foot shot from the left channel saved by Preston's Andy Lonergan before Karl Hawley found Chris Brown and his 12-yard right-foot shot was saved by Coventry keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Preston captain McKenna then found Brown with a cross and he hit a left-foot volley from inside the penalty area which the keeper saved.
Brown found Simon Whaley just before half-time and his ten-yard right-foot shot from the left of the penalty area was pushed around the post for a right-wing corner by the Coventry keeper.
In the 50th minute, Leon Best had a 25-yard right-foot shot which Preston keeper Lonergan tipped over the bar for a corner.
Sky Blues captain Michael Doyle was on target with a 25-yard left-foot shot from inside the right channel but this was also saved by the Preston keeper.
Michael Mifsud hit a 25-yard right-foot shot which Lonergan dived to his right to save and Hawley had an effort for Preston from 20 yards that was also saved.
McKenna then found St Ledger with a free-kick but the goalscorer's eight-yard header was straight at the keeper.
Preston North End: Andy Lonergan, Liam Chilvers, , Matthew Hill, Paul McKenna, Chris Sedgwick, Simon Whaley, Billy Jones, Darren Carter, Karl Hawley (Brett Ormerod 80), Chris Brown (Neil Mellor 87)
Subs not used: Youl Mawene, Richard Chaplow, Grzegorz Szamotulski
Goals: Sean St. Ledger 21
Coventry City: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Elliott Ward, Marcus Hall (Scott Dann 81), Arjan De Zeeuw, Stephen Hughes (Michael Hughes 45), Jay Tabb, Isaac Osbourne, Julian Gray, Michael Doyle, Robbie Simpson (Michael Mifsud 55), Leon Best,
Subs not used: Andy Marshall, Liam Davis
Booked: Arjan De Zeeuw 90
Attendance: 11857
Referee: M Pike
Teamtalk
Struggling Preston moved out of the Championship relegation zone for the first time since Christmas after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Coventry.
Defender Sean St Ledger gave the Lilywhites a deserved half-time lead after heading home his first goal of the season in the 21st minute.
And despite Coventry pushing forward for most of the second half, St Ledger's goal proved enough to secure Preston's fourth straight home win and take them above Sheffield Wednesday.
The Lilywhites have also climbed to within two points of Coventry, whose spirited second-half performance did not reflect a side which has slipped towards the drop zone after a run of five successive away defeats in the league.
Eager to maintain their recent home form, Preston impressed from the outset and went close in the 11th minute when Chris Brown nodded down a Liam Chilvers free-kick for midfielder Darren Carter to fire narrowly wide from 20 yards.
Brown, who like Chris Sedgwick returned from suspension, was also off target with a long-range effort before Leon Best led a Coventry break in the 14th minute.
The Sky Blues striker laid the ball wide for Michael Doyle and Preston defender Chilvers did well to turn the ball over from inside his own six-yard box.
Best then headed wide from a deep cross by Marcus Hall, making his first appearance since November after being sidelined with an Achilles problem, but Preston managed to take the lead moments later.
Carter played a short corner to Paul McKenna and took the return pass to hit an inswinging cross from the Preston right, and St Ledger stole in at the back post to head home from six yards.
The visitors continued to look menacing on the break and Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan did well to hold on to a fierce 25-yard strike from Isaac Osbourne just after the half-hour mark.
Brown then fired straight at Coventry keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos from Karl Hawley's pull-back before playing in left winger Simon Whaley, who was denied by a fine one-handed save from Konstantopoulos.
The visitors made a positive response and within five minutes of the restart, Best worked enough room to unleash a stinging 20-yard strike which Lonergan managed to turn out for a corner.
Whaley then fired into the side-netting for Preston from Hawley's lay-off while Coventry's Jay Tabb had a shot blocked after good build-up play between Best, Hall and substitute Michael Mifsud.
The game remained in the balance as Mifsud's 25-yard effort forced Lonergan into action, before Hawley fired too close to Konstantopoulos after Carter broke for Preston.
St Ledger then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double Preston's lead when he sent an unmarked header straight at Konstantopoulos from McKenna's 75th-minute free-kick.
Preston had a scare when Matthew Hill's tackle on Best almost sent the ball wide of Lonergan, and although substitute Neil Mellor fired over from McKenna's pull-back in stoppage time, Coventry failed to fashion another opening in the closing stages.
CCFC
Coventry City's winless league run at Deepdale continued as the Sky Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End.
Sean St Ledger's neat header on 21 minutes gave the Lilywhites all three points on an afternoon when City failed to capitalise on the chances they created.
Michael Mifsud and Leon Best went close but it was not to be for the Sky Blues despite sustained pressure in the second half.
Iain Dowie made two changes to the side which beat Barnsley 4-0 at the Ricoh Arena last weekend.
Danny Fox was unavailable due to gastric flu, so Marcus Hall came into the side at left-back. Hall only returned to action in the reserves in midweek after a long spell out because of an Achilles injury.
Robbie Simpson started up front in place of Mifsud, who was rested after playing for Malta in midweek. The diminutive striker had to be content with a place on the bench.
Andy Marshall returned to the bench for the Sky Blues.
In a scrappy affair on a sunny afternoon in Lancashire, both sides failed to carve out any real opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.
That changed 60 seconds later when Darren Carter collected the ball in the middle of the park and fired a shot inches wide of Konstantopoulos' post.
The Sky Blues began to find their rhythm shortly after and nearly went a goal to the good courtesy of Preston's Liam Chilvers. Following Michael Doyle's cross, the defender almost headed the ball into his own net.
Shortly after, Best flashed a header just wide but all the good work was undone on 21 minutes when Preston took the lead. Carter's accurate cross found St Ledger at the far post, who guided his header into the bottom corner.
The goal did not seem to give Dowie's side renewed impetus and the Lilywhites created the better of the opportunities midway through the first half namely through Paul McKenna with a header.
Isaac Osbourne tried his luck with a shot from range but it was a comfortable save for keeper Andy Lonergan. Chris Brown nearly doubled North End's lead on 40 minutes when he found himself in acres of space yet the striker could only manage a tame shot which Konstantopoulos comfortably saved.
Konstantopoulos kept the Sky Blues in the game on the stroke of half-time with a magnificent save to deny Simon Whaley. The shot stopper showed his agility to get down well to Whaley's goal bound strike.
City emerged from the interval revitalised with Michael Hughes replacing Stephen Hughes.
Best's rasping drive stung the hands of Lonergan, who did well to tip the ball over the bar. Mifsud was brought into the action on 56 minutes to freshen up the attack and it worked.
A goal mouth scramble emerged following good work from the combination of Mifsud and Best. Yet somehow the Sky Blues could not find a way past a resolute Preston rear guard.
The pace of Mifsud was causing Alan Irvine's side problems and Jay Tabb went close following Best's neat turn inside the penalty area.
The Maltese striker was at the heart of all the Sky Blues' good work and the impish forward tested the agility of Lonergan with a fierce low shot from 20 yards.
St Ledger should have furthered the Lilywhites' advantage on 75 minutes when he escaped his marker but the defender could only guide his free header into the grateful hands of Konstantopoulos.
Three minutes of stoppage time were added but City could muster that all important equaliser.
4thegame
Preston North End moved out of the relegation zone with their fourth successive home win, an important 1-0 victory against Coventry City.
Man of the match, Sean St Ledger, scored the all-important goal after 21 minutes when Darren Carter's right-wing corner was taken short to Paul McKenna.
He passed the ball back to Carter who hit an inch-perfect cross to St Ledger who was running in from the left to head home from six yards into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner of the net.
It was his first goal of the season, second goal for Preston and third goal of his career.
Carter, seven minutes later, hit over a similar cross and St Ledger again had a six-yard header which was saved by the Coventry keeper.
Isaac Osbourne had a 25-yard right-foot shot from the left channel saved by Preston's Andy Lonergan before Karl Hawley found Chris Brown and his 12-yard right-foot shot was saved by Coventry keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Preston captain McKenna then found Brown with a cross and he hit a left-foot volley from inside the penalty area which the keeper saved.
Brown found Simon Whaley just before half-time and his ten-yard right-foot shot from the left of the penalty area was pushed around the post for a right-wing corner by the Coventry keeper.
In the 50th minute, Leon Best had a 25-yard right-foot shot which Preston keeper Lonergan tipped over the bar for a corner.
Sky Blues captain Michael Doyle was on target with a 25-yard left-foot shot from inside the right channel but this was also saved by the Preston keeper.
Michael Mifsud hit a 25-yard right-foot shot which Lonergan dived to his right to save and Hawley had an effort for Preston from 20 yards that was also saved.
McKenna then found St Ledger with a free-kick but the goalscorer's eight-yard header was straight at the keeper.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 9:31 pm
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