PRESTON NORTH END 2-2 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy (GK), Adams, Edjenguele, Wood, Christie, Jennings, Bailey, Baker (c), Moussa, Fleck (Barton 89), Clarke. Subs: Dunn (GK), Cameron, Bell, J. Clarke, Thomas, O'Donovan.
Preston North End: Stuckmann, Connolly, Davies (Buchanan, 84), Byrom (Procter, 71), Robertson, Wright, Wroe, King, Cummins (Garner, 83), Monakana, Holmes. Subs not used: Taylor, Huntington, Beardsley, Beavon.
HT PNE 1-1 CCFC FT PNE 2-2 CCFC ATT 8474
Goals Gareth Cummings 29, Leon Clarke 37, Chris Robertson OG 52, Nicky Wroe 60.
Referee D.Coote Booked Davies, Jennings, Moussa
Man Of The Match – Steve Jennings, William Edjenguele, Cyrus Christie and James Bailey got nominations in our car.
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Coventry City's Deepdale hoodoo continued with a 2-2 draw away to Preston North End.
City, who have a 77% success rate against teams they have played against in a minor cup and the league in the same season, travelled up to a Deepdale ground where they have never won a league match, on a sunny day.
Thankfully, the snowplough's had been out and we are able to Preston easily as there was more snow in Coventry than there was in Preston.
We saw Mark Robins bring Franck Moussa in for Gary McSheffrey, who was omitted from the squad along with Stephen Elliott and City in their yellow kit took to the pitch with good support from the travelling support, which had come from as far away as Kent, Cambridgeshire, Berkshire and London, who delighted in reminding the home fans in a poor crowd about what happened the last time the sides met.
The game started off at a fast pace with Cummins heading wide before Moussa won a corner after a one -two was deflected. Preston had a fifth minute corner. Jack King headed down but Carl Baker was on the line to head away.
Six minutes later, a stunning Baker shot from the edge of the area was pushed over for a corner. Then, Leon Clarke had a powerful header saved but the whistle had already gone.
Preston's teenage left back on his debut was having a torrid time as another City corner followed when Clarke again had a header pushed over.
City with Steve Jennings and James Bailey pulling the strings in midfield, were all over a Preston team whose supporters were complaining pre-game about their poor home record.
The handful that is Franck Moussa fired over before Baker was fouled in the 19th minute, giving Steve Jennings a free kick which Stuckmann got down to.
King fired well over and Clarke drilled a shot at the keeper just before the Sky Blues won a 26th minute corner which the home defence somehow managed to scramble away.
Graham Westley and his sidekick Dino Maamria, who strutted around in a pair of shorts, continued to be their animated selves, arguing at every opportunity with the match officials, but in the 29th minute, they were punching the air in delight when Monakana crossed from the right and Gareth Cummings bundled home from three feet out.
City had two shots wide but in the 37th minute, Moussa got into the area. A step over saw the ball played across to Leon Clarke who turned and fired low into the net to draw City level, sparking some wild scenes in the Bill Shankley away end.
Lee Holmes just missed the far post by a matter of inches but this was a good forty five minutes from the Sky Blues.
City were back at it as the second half started. With Edjenguelle commanding at the back, Carl Baker attacked down the right in the 52nd minute and cut the ball ball back for Chris Roberts on to kick the ball from four yards past his own keeper.
The City fans went ballistic and the taunting of Graham Westley and his sidekick went up to the next level.
Preston had a two minute spell of pressure and Murphy had to punch away But on the hour mark, the Lillywhites equalised when King headed down and Nicky Wroe banged in.
Stuckmann's celebration at the end nearest the City fans saw him give the biggie to the City fans and this meant he spent the rest of the match being abused by an excellent turn out of 765 City fans.
Steve Jennings became the target for Preston players to try and get sent off and this caused the Sky Blues not to play with as much freedom as they had done in the first half when the temperatures were a lot warmer.
Preston, who were getting the better of the decisions from Mr Coote, should have scored in the 76th minute following a free kick but thankfully the header was wide.
Baker had a shot blocked and Bailey fired tamely at Stuckmann but City could not find a way through and will look back at this game as one they should have won.