Darren Ferguson is now focused on winning the final three games of the season after Preston secured safety last week with the 3-2 victory over Scunthorpe United.
Coventry have been unable to record a victory in their last eight outings but the Sky Blues are just one point behind the Lilywhites in the league table. However, Darren Ferguson has his sights set on a perfect end to the season and is now pushing for a top half finish.
Speaking to pne.com before Saturday's trip to the Ricoh Arena, Ferguson said:
"I think that Coventry have sort of hit a similar bad run at the same time as ourselves. They may seem to think they need another win but personally on 52 points I think that they are fine.
"Coventry is a hard place to go, Chris has done a good job there, I have seen them myself two or three times and we know it will be a hard game.
"We are obviously are on 53 points and are fine in terms of safety; it is still a big game though. The lads have looked a little more relaxed in training and they are going in with the mentality that we want to win the last three games.
"We want to finish in the top half, if not the top ten. I think that I came in at 16 or 17th, so to get into the top ten would be good and that is the way that we are looking at it."
Ahead of the game, Ferguson is sweating on the fitness of Adam Barton he was forced off at half time against Scunthorpe.
"Adam Barton could be struggling, he is still a bit dizzy and apart from that we are alright. Youl has obviously got more things to worry about and we understand that there are more important things than a game of football.
"I had a conversation with Youl the other day and it is as or when with him, it is his decision when he needs to come back and I'll speak to him when he gets back home. Obviously he has got more things to concentrate on."
Last Saturday's victory was a huge boost for North End with Ferguson feeling that it was time to try something new. The Gaffer has already confirmed that Bailey Wright will be in the squad for tomorrow's game and he believes that the young players that featured last week reacted well to the pressure.
"It was a big call; I felt that they handled it well and that it was the right time to do it. I think there needs to be young players coming through at this Club; I have said that from day one. It is not the be all and end all but it is an important part of where I want to take the Club.
"It is not just about managing a set of first team players, I have got to manage the whole Club and have a look at what is going on down below in terms of the youth ranks.
"I have been really happy with that and the youth staff should take a lot of credit for it. I felt that the way I wanted to play and the energies that they bring to us showed that it was the right time to do it.
"I'm not patting myself on the back, it is up to the players who took to it fine and I think that the senior players really responded to the young lads coming into the team.
"Callum Davidson was excellent helping them on, big Jon Parkin and Andy [Lonergan] really encouraged them and that it is important, you need that and all credit to the senior ones who really helped the young lads out, I'm sure the young ones will say that."
Ferguson has also praised the efforts of the youth team collectively who could tie up the league tomorrow. The Preston manager has admitted that he may be tempted to prize away some of Jamie Hoyland's key assets and include them on the trip to Coventry.
"They had a great 3-2 win against Burnley, I think Jamie was concerned with how many young lads I was taking but I have had a good chat with him and the most important thing is getting them through.
"The bonus is if you win the league but it is always about getting players through into the first team. That is the youth department's job and it is my job then to pick them, they need one win from three so I'm sure they will get it."
