Emil Riis’ first goal of the season was enough to earn Preston North End three points away to Coventry City as the unbeaten start to the league campaign continued.
Riis came on as a second-half substitute and opened his account in emphatic style on 73 minutes, and that proved to be the difference as PNE kept a seventh successive Championship clean sheet.
Ryan Lowe made three changes from the weekend’s draw to Cardiff City, as Ali McCann, Ben Woodburn and Ched Evans came in for Alan Browne, Daniel Johnson and Ryan Ledson.
Greg Cunningham had the first real opportunity of the game, as he drove forward with the ball and fired a low, left-footed effort at goal, and Ben Wilson had to dive to his left to tip it around the post.
After Cunningham then had a penalty shout waved away, Woodburn came close on a couple of occasions, firstly heading inches wide on the end of a Ben Whiteman corner, before hitting a 20-yard strike over the bar a few minutes later.
Freddie Woodman was called into action just after the half-hour mark, as Callum Doyle stepped into midfield and unleashed a strong shot at goal, which the goalkeeper did well to reach and parry away from danger.
There was then a hugely contentious moment on 36 minutes as McCann played Troy Parrott through on goal and he was brought down just outside the area by goalkeeper Wilson, who was only shown a yellow card for the challenge, which prevented the striker rounding him for what was potentially a tap-in.
A minute before the break, Robbie Brady produced a crucial block at the front post to keep out Jake Bidwell’s header, and in turn ensured PNE went into the break goalless.
On the other side of half-time, Woodman had his crossbar to thank as Waghorn’s deflected effort looked like it was sneaking in before striking the woodwork.
Ben Whiteman soon had a chance to open the scoring himself as the ball rolled out kindly to him on the edge of the box, but he sent his effort into the stands.
Riis was brought off the bench in the 66th minute and seven minutes later found himself on the scoresheet, as Parrott’s blocked shot landed at the feet of the Dane, who slammed home to open the scoring.
The hosts almost immediately had an equaliser as a looping Bidwell header hit the crossbar and bounced away from goal.
North End had a big chance to double their lead in the closing stages as Parrott was sent through on goal, but a slip cost him his chance and he played it to Riis, who was just beaten to it by a defender.
Riis then could have had another in the final minute of normal time, sent through on goal by Fernández, but 'keeper Wilson came out on top.
Nevertheless, PNE held on for yet another clean sheet and extended their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Coventry City line-up: Wilson; Rose (Tavares, 89), McFadzean, Doyle; Eccles (Dabo, 67), Allen, Sheaf (Hamer, 67), Bidwell; Waghorn (Palmer, 67); Godden, Gyökeres. Subs not used: Moore, Panzo, Walker.
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Potts (Fernández, 66), Whiteman, McCann, Woodburn (Browne, 57), Brady; Evans (Riis, 66), Parrott. Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Johnson, Ledson.
Attendance: 18,913.
Referee: Mr J Busby.