City are currently 17th and need at least a point from their remaining three matches to ensure their place in the Championship next season.
"To finish mid-table would be a good season for us because it would be progress, maybe a bit slow and painful at times but progress none the less," said Coleman to Sky Blue Player at the club's weekly Press Conference.
"You look at us eight games ago and we are around the play-offs and while we lost to the likes of West Brom and Cardiff and Reading it was the results against Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth that let us down.
"If we had taken more points from those games we would have been in the mix now.
"We know why there is a bit of a doom and gloom feeling because we dangled the carrot of the play-offs and then when people were ready to take a bite we took it away with the results in the last eight games.
"But if we can finish this season strong and then strengthen the squad again in the next transfer window we will be in a much better position for next season where we can hit the ground running with a deeper squad coming fresh off a full pre-season together.
"First and foremost though we need to look at picking up points. We know Preston will pose a tough task but although we may be lacking in a bit of confidence of late we are still the same team and I want to see the lads approach the weekend with a smile on their faces."
"We know why there is a bit of a doom and gloom feeling because we dangled the carrot of the play-offs and then when people were ready to take a bite we took it away with the results in the last eight games.
"But if we can finish this season strong and then strengthen the squad again in the next transfer window we will be in a much better position for next season where we can hit the ground running with a deeper squad coming fresh off a full pre-season together.
"First and foremost though we need to look at picking up points. We know Preston will pose a tough task but although we may be lacking in a bit of confidence of late we are still the same team and I want to see the lads approach the weekend with a smile on their faces."