COVENTRY City remain winless and at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table after losing 1-0 against Preston North End on their return to the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The Sky Blues had the better chances and hit the woodwork on three occasions only for Emil Riis Jakobsen to score the decisive goal on 73 minutes.
And the result leaves Coventry bottom of the table with one point from their opening four Championship matches.
Preston created the game’s first chance when Greg Cunningham’s low shot from distance was well-saved by Ben Wilson low down to his left.
It was then Coventry’s turn to try their luck as Callum Doyle blasted a powerful effort towards goal from 25-yards out which was pushed away by North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
And the Sky Blues came within a whisker of taking the lead later in the half when Jake Bidwell curled an effort inches wide of the post.
City were denied again soon after when Bidwell’s near post header from a corner was deflected onto the post and behind by a Preston player on the line.
Mark Robins’ side continued to dominate the chances and struck the woodwork again in the second half when Martyn Waghorn’s shot was deflected onto the crossbar with Woodman beaten.
However, Preston would ultimately take the points against the run of a play when a blocked shot fell at the feet of Jakobsen who produced an emphatic finish past Wilson from 10-yards out.
City hit the bar again in the closing stages courtesy of Bidwell’s looping header before the Sky Blues failed to force the ball home from a goalmouth scramble.
Preston almost sealed the win at the death when Jakobsen was sent through on goal only for Wilson to make a good save when one-on-one.
Coventry are next in action away at Norwich City on Saturday, September 3 with kick-off at 3pm at Carrow Road.
