This fixture sees the two teams who have spent more time in the Championship coming head to head with each other. The Sky Blues were relegated in 2001, the year after PNE won promotion to the same level and both teams have been at the second tier ever since.

Eighteen months ago the visitors were close to going out of business until the intervention of Ray Ranson so Coventry's good start to the season, engineered by former Fulham gaffer Chris Coleman is further notice of a revival of sorts in the East Midlands.

Preston North End v Coventry City
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 19th September 2009, 3pm kick-off
Deepdale

Gaffer's Team News

"They want to turn it around, they know that's not how we normally go about our business and want to put it right but there's no doubt that every team is going to lose games in this division as we saw the other night when Sheffield United and Newcastle United lost for the first time so we know it's going to happen, how you respond to that is the most important thing and I expect that response from the players. They're a terrific group they've shown great character in the time that I've been here and I don't see why that won't change.

"All seventeen from Tuesday are fit and available, that will be our squad, unfortunately that looks like being the total number of our squad for the next four or five weeks because we only have three injuries but they're medium to long-term, Callum and Paul have hamstring injuries and Barry has a broken leg so we're not expecting any of them back in the next couple of weeks and we're down to our last seventeen. It's not a massive problem, last year we would have had one sitting in the stand, this year we don't, we'll get on with that, we don't particularly need to bring in somebody else although it's something we might look at."

The Opposition

Tuesday's excellent win over Sheffield United was the Sky Blues first league three points in five games and jumped them back into the top ten.

Chris Coleman's men took all the plaudits in the opening stages of the season with cracking wins over Ipswich Town and Barnsley. Defeats to Blackpool, Hartlepool and Swansea tarnished that good start but the win against the Blades perhaps signals a return to form for the East Midland outfit.

The form of strikers Clinton Morrison and Leon Best has been the main reason for City's impressive performance, the duo have scored seven of Coventry's eight goals so far, and North End's defenders will be eager to reduce the number of set-pieces around the area considering the power Best can generate from a free-kick.

New signings Sammy Clingan and Michael McIndoe have fitted in well into the Sky Blues midfield and the Scotsman is a proven Championship performer that PNE fans should keep an eye on. At the back, the departures of Scott Dann and Daniel Fox appear to have not had to great an impact with replacements Martin Cranie and Patrick Van Aanholt slotting in admirably in the City back four.



Manager's View

"There were times the other night when we played some good football and times when we just dug in and tried to stop Sheffield United doing what they are good at, we have got to approach games like that, where we are not so open and bitty.

"We have to grind results out because it is all about points. And that pleased me about the other night - when we had to dig deep we did it. All the lads did well and we must carry it on.

"We have to go up to Preston and we must come back with something, it is as simple as that. It would be difficult to drop anyone and I imagine I would have one or two knocking on my door if I changed it. So I am not going to try to be a little bit coy and say the team could be different because it is probably not going to be. They have all done enough to stay in the team."

Chris Coleman commits to the same eleven as Tuesday night on Coventry's official website

Player's View

"When we turn up with the kind of work ethich and quality that we did on Tuesday we can match anybody in this division and mid-week showed we got a our just rewards dor doing just that.

"The good thing is there is a hell of a lot more to come from this team, I know there is. Preston are a very good footballing side, they have a reputation built on that but we know we are nowhere near our best yet and the main aim is to try and take the positives from Tuesday's game up to Preston and try to get a result."

Michael McIndoe tells the Coventry Telegraph there is more to come from his new team

Head-to-Head

PNE's all time record versus Coventry City W11 D9 L9

PNE's all time league record versus Coventry City W11 D9 L6



Last Meeting

Preston North End 2 Coventry City 1
Turner o.g. 38, Parkin 72, Morrison 17
Coca-Cola Championship
Saturday 14th March 2009
Deepdale

PNEBetting.com Odds

PNE 4/5 Draw 5/2 Coventry City 7/2

PNEBetting.com's Selected Bet

Ross Wallace to score first in a 2-0 win for North End - 60/1

All odds are courtesy of pnebetting.com - PNE's official online bookmaker

PNE Player

Coverage starts from 2pm on Central Radio and PNE Player of the afternoon's action. For those in the Preston, Chorley, Leyland area you can listen on 106.5 FM and for anyone outside the PR1 postcode area PNE Player is the place to listen to the action. Sean Gregan will be on hand to offer this thoughts on the game before the kick-off and after the game there will be the usual Lilywhites Live phone-in where you can have your say.

Any final thoughts?

Lonners made his debut against Coventry approximately eight years ago to the day so the game is ample reminder of how far our number one has come. Also remember tomorrow's matchday programme is on sale around the ground for £3 and is available to pre-order from MyPNE.com now - interviews with Brian McBride, Coventry legend Dietmar Bruck, Lawro and Neil Mellor all feature so don't miss out on getting your copy.