ALWAYS GRIM UP NORTH!

SKY BLUES UNABLE TO 'END' THEIR DEEPDALE CURSE - EVEN AGAINST 10 MEN

- By ANDY TURNER Sky Blues Reporter

HOPES were higher than ever that this was the year the Sky Blues would finally break their Preston hoodoo by securing their first league win at the 24th time of asking.

Buoyed by an incredible travelling army of 4,902, what could possibly go wrong for the league leaders as they looked to bounce back from the weekend's blip at Ipswich?

And when North End went a man down shortly before halftime it felt like it was merely a matter of time before City made their numerical advantage count.

A smart tactical change at half time saw winger Ephron Mason-Clark replace centre-half Luke Woolfenden and the visitors laid siege on the Lilywhites’ goal and eventually got their reward from a Jack Rudoni-assisted own goal.

But a momentary lapse at the other end saw the home side pull level to deny a historic victory in Lancashire.

And so, if confirmation was needed, it’s fair to say that the footballing gods have decreed Coventry City shalt never win at Deepdale.

Here are some of the other big talking points from the 1-1 draw...

KAINE NOT ABLE TO SHINE

It was a big night for Kaine Kesler-Hayden on his first return to Preston where he'd been voted player of the year in May after an outstanding season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The halftime chatter in the press room, however, as it no doubt was on the home terraces, was how the fullback looked a shadow of his former self.