Match Preview: Coventry City (A)

22 February 2024

PNE will look to make it 21 league matches unbeaten against Coventry City when they head to the West Midlands on Friday night.

Match Details

Date: Friday 23^rd February, 7.45pm kick-off
Venue: Coventry Building Society Arena
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Away kit

Supporter Information

Tickets will remain on sale online until 11am on matchday, while sales will continue in person and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 12 noon. Collections can be made from Deepdale until 2pm.

Supporters who haven’t collected from the stadium can then do so on the night in Coventry from turnstiles one to five.

Tickets will also be available to buy from the same location on the night, however only cash payments will be accepted. Once inside the stadium, only card payments are accepted.

Following arrests and FA charges in recent weeks, supporters are reminded that any form of discrimination, abuse, anti-social behaviour and pitch encroachment is completely condemned by the club, and these behaviours may lead to serious sanctions.

Fans attending the game are advised to take a look through Coventry City's guide for visiting fans.

Who’s Available?

Duane Holmes and Kian Best are back in training, and both of them should be in the matchday squad, however what part they might be able to play is yet to be decided.

Ched Evans has had a clear out of his knee and is expected to be back fit following the March international break.

Meanwhile, Brad Potts also remains out as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury.

Opposition Focus

After a stuttering start to the season, Coventry City have really kicked into gear since the end of November, having lost just twice in their previous 21 outings.

That remarkable run of form has seen them surge up the table to just outside the Play-Off spots, and Mark Robins will be hoping his side can stay there and go one better than last season, when they were beaten in a Wembley final against Luton Town.

Despite losing arguably their two top performers from last term – Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer – the Sky Blues have strengthened accordingly, adding their current two top scorers, Haji Wright and Tashuhiro Sakamoto, among others.

A Recent Clash

North End secured the club’s 2,000^th league win against Coventry City back in October, with Duane Holmes, Alan Browne, and Milutin Osmajić on the scoresheet.

Follow The Action

Coventry City have opted not to stream this match live on iFollow to supporters inside the UK and Ireland, however fans overseas can watch live.

Commentary will be available for supporters around the world, with Guy Clarke and David Buchanan on the mic. Click here to subscribe.

There will also be extensive coverage of the fixture on social media and here on the website.

Match Officials

Referee: Andy Davies
Assistant Referees: Greg Read and James Wilson
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone

Andy Davies will take charge of a North End fixture for the first time since January 2022 on Friday night.

PNE have won just once in the 12 matches which Davies has taken charge of, with that victory being a 2-1 win over Derby County in the Carabao Cup in 2020.

So far this season, Davies has refereed 18 matches, showing 72 yellow cards and one red.

Match Reports

Match Report: Coventry City 0 PNE 3

23 February 2024

An electric first-half display saw Preston North End run away with a 3-0 victory away to Coventry City and make it 21 league games unbeaten against the Sky Blues.

The in-form Emil Riis opened the scoring inside the first 60 seconds and he then turned provider for Will Keane on the 20-minute mark.

A Bobby Thomas own goal in the 38^th minute put PNE in a mightily strong position at half-time, and Ryan Lowe’s men were then comfortable in the second half to extend the unbeaten run to six.

North End got off to an incredible start as Ben Whiteman’s early corner short to Alan Browne was crossed into Riis, who headed home in front of the travelling fans inside the opening minute for his fourth goal in as many games.

PNE were playing some superb football and were well on top, and in the 20^th minute had a second to show for it. It was almost Riis on the scoresheet again as he cut onto his left foot but saw a shot saved, however he then won the ball back in the box and Keane took a touch before turning to fire through the legs of Ben Wilson.

The second-best Sky Blues created their best opportunity yet in the 34^th minute as Josh Eccles fired a first-time effort over from 16 yards, and he would rue that four minutes on.

Whiteman sent the lively Riis on his way down the left and he bent the ball round the corner for Mads Frøkjær to run on to, and although he couldn’t make a connection, defender Thomas inadvertently found the back of the net.

North End were in dreamland but needed Freddie Woodman in the first minute of stoppage-time to ensure they had a three-goal lead at the break, as he stuck out a strong left foot to deny Callum O’Hare what looked like a sure goal, and Andrew Hughes then threw himself in front of Haji Wright’s follow-up.

Coventry made a switch at the break as they looked to try and find a way back into the match, but Woodman’s comfortable 58^th-minute stop to deny Joel Latibeaudiere was the best they could muster in the opening stages of the half.

Woodman then had to be at his best to just about keep out a low Milan van Ewijk cross in towards his near post which could easily have caught the ‘keeper off guard.

PNE’s defence kept answering everything being asked of them, while there were olé’s coming from the away end, such was North End’s quality on the ball to see out the 3-0 victory.

Coventry City line-up: Wilson; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Dasilva (Bidwell, 45); Eccles, Latibeaudiere; Sakamoto (Palmer, 31), O’Hare (Torp, 73), Wright (Godden, 73); Simms. Subs not used: Collins, Kelly, Kitching, Tavares, Lusala.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Browne (Seary, 90+3), Whiteman, McCann, Millar (Cunningham, 74); Frøkjær (Ledson, 88); Riis (Osmajić, 74), Keane (Woodburn, 88). Subs not used: Cornell, Stewart, Whatmough, Mawene.

Attendance: 24,500 (946 PNE pre-sales).

Referee: Mr A Davies.

Ticket News

Coventry City Ticket Details

31 January 2024

Tickets for Preston North End’s away match against Coventry City in February are on sale.

North End will visit the Coventry Building Society Arena for a 7.45pm kick-off on Friday 23rd February, and the club have been allocated 1,517 tickets for this fixture.

Tickets will remain on sale online until 11am on matchday, while sales will continue in person and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 12 noon. Collections can be made from Deepdale until 2pm.

Supporters who haven’t collected from the stadium can then do so on the night in Coventry from turnstiles one to five.

Tickets will also be available to buy from the same location on the night, however only cash payments will be accepted. Once inside the stadium, only card payments are accepted.

Fans attending the game are advised to take a look through Coventry City's guide for visiting fans.

Ticket Prices

Adult (22-64) £30
Senior (65+) £25
Young Adult (18-21) £25
NUS/Armed Forces £25
U18s £20

Please note, supporters may be held back after the final whistle due to crowd control.

Refund Info

The match was initially set to take place on Saturday 24th February but has been brought forward due to Coventry City playing in the Emirates FA Cup on Monday 26th February.

Any supporters who bought tickets and/or club coach travel for this fixture and cannot attend on the new date, can obtain a full refund in person at the ticket office, by calling 0344 856 1966, and by emailing ticketoffice@pne.com. All refunded tickets must be returned before 5pm on Thursday 22^nd February.

Disabled Supporter Information

There are five tickets available for wheelchair users, and each comes with a complimentary carer ticket where required. A carer ticket is also available for ambulant disabled supporters.

All disabled fans will pay in accordance with their relevant age bracket above.

Coach Travel

Coach travel for this fixture is priced at £17 per Ambassador and £19 per non-Ambassador.

Coaches will leave both Deepdale and Leyland at 2.30pm.

Car Parking

Supporters travelling to the match by car can book parking in advance here.

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