[themaclad]

COVENTRY CITY 2 RUDONI, THOMAS PRESTON NORTH END 1

Attendance: 26,493 (1,151 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr O Langford.

Well we had to lose to them sometime much to the delight of their fans and Leeds born Josh Inglis who hammered England bowling attack yesterday, Josh apparently is a Cov fan.
Looks a narrow defeat it wasn't, second best for large parts of this game only Steff came out with plus marks, Potts from the bench didn't do too bad either, trouble was all their players were n their game.
Started fairly well looked the side more likely in the first 20 minutes, but they soon started to probe, Ellis twice went close and the Japanese lad, Sakamoto was giving young Meghoma a torrid afternoon.
They took the led on the half hour ball in from the left easy header for Rudoni, the second six minutes later was just an abysmal piece of football from us, weak header by Thomas bounced towards goal and bounced past Woodman who really should have done better.

Three changes at half time, mattered not Woodman made up for his error in the first have by saving us on maore than one occasion and how Coventry didn't score during one manic 60 seecond period when they had about five chances to score is beyond belief.
With about ten minutes to go we scored Potts down the right Keane scooped it over the keeper counted although he looked offside.
A bit of panic set in and we had two great chances to nick a point, both fell to Riis, first effort tame ane the second about ten yards out he didn't get a good connection to a Potts cross really should have scored.
So twenty game in the league against the Sky Blues came to an end.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom felt too many of his players had an off day in the defeat against Coventry City.

North End were beaten 2-1 by the Sky Blues on the road, with headers from Jack Rudoni and Bobby Thomas giving the hosts a two-goal lead at the break.

Will Keane’s 82nd-minute finish made things interesting in the late stages, but Hecky’s side couldn’t find a leveller, which he feels would have earned a ‘pinched’ point.



He said: “I felt sort of five minutes before they scored the first goal, I felt the game slipping so we needed to change something. I could feel it coming and then from that moment we were second best for large parts.

“Then it would have just been the lads’ character and spirit which would have got us a point at the end if we’d have got one. There’s lots of things I’m disappointed with.

“Too many of our players had an off day today all at once and it makes the game difficult for you when that happens. It looked a game too far, you know, with our schedule. It really did.

“Then when you put that together with too many not good enough with the ball, it did look like a game too far in terms of physicality. I know when I watch it back I'll be of the same opinion, so we have to make sure we use this free week well now because we've then got to go into another five games in two weeks block which will be important to get as much out of it as we can.”

The manager praised his side during the week for their recent away performances, in particular for the way they’ve made games difficult for their hosts.

However, he didn’t feel they did that at the CBS Arena, where the goals conceded were disappointing and Keane’s strike was the team’s first shot on target of the afternoon.

Hecky said: “We played with not the same energy and intensity as we always do and we didn't have the same quality with the ball that that brings us so they were the differences, so you have to find a different way to win.

“We tried at half-time to get more bodies higher up and we wanted to be more direct but it took it until the 79th minute before we played the pass down the side and got one of our front players in running and then the second time we do it we score.

“After that point, we could make it a little bit difficult for them and keep playing that way. So that's another disappointing thing where we sort of ignored what we felt was important at half-time and then we gave ourselves too little time to rescue a point.”

SHOE SALESMAN

Frank Lampard was delighted with his side’s performance, as they beat Preston North End 2-1 at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Goals from Jack Rudoni and Bobby Thomas proved to be enough on the day, as City beat North End for the first time in the league since 2007.



Reaction to the game and ending the club’s record against Preston North End…

“I’m happy for the club and the fans, it’s a nice to put the ghost to rest. It was new to me, but it’s a nice thing and a nice feeling for the fans, when you have something like that over you and we put it to rest.

“The main thing today was three points obviously and beating a difficult team. They can be difficult, but I thought we dominated for most of the game if I’m honest.

“So, I’m really pleased with that, and we gave a real confident performance.”



Preston’s late goal setting up a nervy ending…

“It happens when you don’t get the third, fourth or fifth, that we could have got on another day, you always know that they can get one chance.

“They hardly threatened us all afternoon and they get a goal and then get a feeling and then we’re all nervous in the stadium, it can happen.

“It was important that we dug in, which we did do. I’m not holding that against the players, sometimes you don’t convert those chances.”



Delighted with the first half performance…

“First half was outstanding, a complete performance. We played the game in their half, counter-pressing, winning the ball back, staying there and using the attacking players that we had on the pitch, with the system change and we worked on it throughout the week a lot and the players really took on the messages.”



Changing formation this afternoon…



“We’ve had to be adaptable in the last eight or nine games because of injuries to big players at the top end of the pitch.

“So, we’ve adapted and showed another side to our game and the players have really taken it on board and we’ve got results.

“When we have everybody fit, we have different ways we can approach games and today we wanted to be really positive, against what we knew would be a back five.

“We wanted to pin them back and have a lot of the ball and they don’t always make it easy for you, but I think from our manner we let them know it was going to be played in their half and we’re going to put pressure on you.”



The goals from Jack Rudoni and Bobby Thomas…

“Great assist for Ephron. It’s a good cross and it’s a great header from Rudi, to get the direction and power on it.

“We attacked really well and there was a real sharpness in our game.

“The corner, I will give credit to the set-piece boys because they work really hard for and against, Aled (Williams) and JD (John Dempster), their work is amazing and when we score one, with a clear situation JD had worked on with Bobby and Grimesy and the team, then it’s a real positive for the coaching staff.”



Jamie Paterson’s Coventry City debut…

“We all know Jamie and his Coventry background, and it was a dream come true for him, so I’m happy for him.

“He hasn’t played many minutes for a long time, so I would imagine he was feeling being on a proper pitch, playing the game and feeling the nerves playing for his boyhood club.

“He did well, it allowed us to give Ephron a bit of a rest after just coming back in and Pato gives us a different option.”



Haji Wright being close…

“He was close but I knew he wouldn’t be if I’m honest. He needs match fitness because he’s been out for a while now.

“The injury is good and he is looking better, sharp. I haven’t worked with him before and I only had seen things from before, but he is going to be a big plus for us when he’s back.”