Miracle is top Mark

MARK ROBINS believes steering Coventry to survival is the biggest achievement of his managerial career.

The Sky Blues’ Championship future was assured, despite defeat to Preston.

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

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

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 in an unbelievable amount of effort and the fact they’ve stood up in the last week and won three games is a testament to them.

“It’s so much beyond winning League One last season. The game was horrific, you could see the energy we’ve used over the last three games has just taken everything out of us.”

Chances were few and far between but Coventry should have gone ahead when Max Biamou touched the ball over from close range.

Preston had a penalty shout turned down before their 67th-minute breakthrough that secured back-toback wins for the first time this year.

Interim head coach Frankie Mcavoy said: “Our task was to stay in the Championship and win as many games as we could with eight games to go and I think we’ve done all right”

COVENTRY: Wilson 6; Dacosta 6 (Dabo 74, 6), Rose 7, Mcfadzean 7, Hyam 7, Mccallum 6; James 6, Hamer 6 (Eccles 61, 6), O’hare 6 (Bakayoko 74, 6); Biamou 6 (Godden 62, 6), Gyokeres 6 (Walker 62, 6). Unused subs: Marosi, Burroughs, Shipley, Allen

PRESTON: Iversen 6; Van den Berg 6, Storey 6, Lindsay 7, Hughes 7, Barkhuizen 7; Ledson 6, Browne 7, Whiteman 6 (Potts 79); Evans 6 (Bayliss 90) Maguire 6 (Jakobsen 66, 6).

Unused subs: Ripley, Huntington, Cunningham, Potts, Molumby, Gordon, Sinclair.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Liam Lindsay. Made some excellent blocks and clearances, helping his side earn a clean sheet.

REFEREE: Andy Woolmer 3.