Robins chirping as Sky Blues seal deal

BOSS Mark Robins believes steering Coventry to survival is the biggest achievement of his managerial career.

The Sky Blues are certain to play secondtier football next season despite this defeat.

Alan Browne’s second-half penalty proved the difference at St Andrew’s after Coventry keeper Ben Wilson misjudged a bouncing ball and fouled Ched Evans in the box.

And Robins believes ensuring the club’s Championship status tops last season’s League One title.

He said: “What we’ve achieved is nothing short of a miracle, it’s absolutely huge.

“This is the biggest achievement I’ve had in my managerial career.

“It’s been so tough, credit to all the players because they’ve put an unbelievable amount of effort in and the fact they’ve stood up in the last week and won three games is testament to them.

“It’s so much beyond winning League One last season, all the things we had to go through this season is unprecedented, to compete on the back of that is nothing short of a miracle.

“They deserve all the plaudits and everything that comes their way because over a fouryear period this club has been absolutely magnificent.”

Preston, who also confirmed their survival, had a penalty shout turned down before their 67thminute breakthrough that earned them back-to-back wins.

North End’s interim head coach Frankie McAvoy said: “Our task was to stay in the Championship and I think we’ve done all right.”

COVENTRY: Wilson 6; Dacosta 6 (Dabo

(74th) 6), Rose 7, McFadzean 7, Hyam

7, McCallum 6; James 6, Hamer 6 (Eccles (61st) 6), O’Hare 6 (Bakayoko

(74th) 6); Biamou 6 (Godden (62nd) 6), Gyokeres 6 (Walker (62nd) 6)

PRESTON: Iversen 6; Van den Berg

6, Storey 6, Lindsay 7, Hughes 7, Barkhuizen 7; Ledson 6, Browne 7, Whiteman 6 (Potts 79th); Evans 6 (Bayliss 90th) Maguire 6 (Riis Jakobsen

(66th) 6)

STAR MAN: Liam Lindsay

REF: A Woolmer