By pnefans.co.uk
February 5 2005

Goals from Alexander, Cresswell and Lucketti see northend take all 3pts today and back into the playoffs although a late McSheffrey goal makes for a tense finish... Preston North End 3
Graham Alexander 22(pen)
Richard Cresswell 23
Chris Lucketti 48
(bookings: Cresswell 60 (yellow))

Coventry 2
Claus Jorgensen 14
Gary McSheffrey 72
(bookings: Duffy 13, Whing 47, McSheffrey 54 (yellow))

Attendance 13,691

Preston moved back into the play-offs with a hard fought 3-2 victory over a struggling Coventry City side.

Micky Adams' Coventry side took an early lead through midfielder Claus Jorgensen, but goals from Graham Alexander, Richard Cresswell and Chris Lucketti put Preston in command before Gary McSheffreys strike forced an anxious Deepdale crowd to hold on.

Coventry took the lead after 14 minutes when Jorgensen headed in Michael Doyles cross from the left, but Preston quickly drew level when Alexander fired in from the penalty spot after Adie Williams tripped Matt Hill.

Within a minute North End themselves took the lead as Richard Cresswell brilliantly converted Eddie Lewis' cross. To Coventrys frustration they were restricted to long range efforts most noticabley from Richard Duffy and goalscorer Jorgensen as they tried to get back into the game.

Preston extended their advantage less than a minute after the interval, Chris Sedgwick curling a free-kick into the area for Preston captain Lucketti to head past a stranded Luke Steele, as he was caught in 'no mans land'.

Coventry gave themselves hope when Jorgensens corner was back healed accross the box from Adebola and turned in from two yards by McSheffrey but they missed their only chance to equalise when Graham Barrett headed wide from Stephen Hughes corner, to the relief of the Preston fans.