Tavares comes up trumps for Robins

SUBSTITUTE Fabio Tavares conjured up a

98th-minute equaliser as Coventry produced another late, late show at home.

Daniel Johnson’s

89th-minute penalty looked to have won it for Preston but Tavares had other ideas.

The Portuguese forward, 21, was thrown on in desperation by Sky Blues manager Mark Robins and four minutes later he delivered.

When a free-kick wasn’t cleared, he found space in the box to curl one into the far corner for his first goal for the club.

The drama was too much for the benches, though, with North End manager Ryan Lowe and Sky Blues assistant Adrian Viveash booked after a clash.

And Lowe was angry about how Tavares’ goal came in time added after two Coventry supporters had run onto the pitch before Johnson’s spot-kick, causing a three-minute delay.

“It’s hard one to take,” he said.

“We have been penalised for their fans running on to the pitch.”

Robins said: “To draw in the circumstances felt a real relief and then we celebrated a goal I don’t think they wanted us to celebrate.”

For the first 80 minutes Preston were much the better side – only for goalkeeper Simon Moore to keep them at bay.

When he was beaten, Liam Lindsay headed wide after rising highest from a corner.

But Lindsay was then sent off in the 84th minute for a second yellow card after fouling Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Tavares’ late goal means the Sky Blues remain three points off the top six.

COVENTRY: Moore 8; Hyam 6, Rose 6, Clarke-Salter 6; Kane 5 (Dabo (64th) 3), Sheaf 6, Hamer 6, Maatsen 6; O’Hare 5 (Tavares 90th); Gyokeres 5, Waghorn 6 (Bidwell (63rd) 5)

PRESTON: Iversen 6; van den Berg 7, Lindsay 4, Hughes 6; Potts 6, Browne

6, Whiteman 7, Johnson 6, Earl 6 (Riis Jakobsen (73rd) 5); Evans 7 (Ledson

90th), Archer 6 (Diaby 90th)

STAR MAN: Simon Moore

REF: K Stroud