Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner hands out the scores from the CBS Arena
21:56, 11 Mar 2026Updated 02:40, 12 Mar 2026
Brandon Thomas-Asante of Coventry City celebrates a goal 2-0.
Coventry City scored twice in a dominant first half to put them on course for a sixth consecutive Championship victory to keep them firmly at the top of the table.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto opened the scoring in the 17th minute when his powerful shot from just outside the D took a wicked deflection off Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman to beat Daniel Iversen at his near post.
Brandon Thomas-Asante then doubled the lead just after the half hour from a corner which saw Ellis Simms denied by a brilliant save onto the crossbar, only for the City striker to pounce on the loose ball and chest it over the line.
Aside from an early Whiteman header from a free-kick, which forced Carl Rushworth into a good save at his near post, North End barely laid a glove on the Sky Blues who were well worth their lead at the break.
Matt Grimes extended the scoreline in the 50th minute from the penalty spot, coolly slotting into the bottom corner and sending the keeper the wrong way after Ephron Mason-Clark was fouled as he went past Pol Valentin in the box.
Frank Lampard made four changes on and just after the hour as he sought to manage his squad through the three game week, with Southampton the visitors on Saturday.
Winger Jahnoah Markelo followed in the 79th minute as the hoe fans enjoyed their evening, singing, “We’re going to win the league,” as the game played out with their team firmly in control.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto of Coventry City celebrates with team-mate Matt Grimes after scoring the opening goal
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
CARL RUSHWORTH: 8
Made a good early save to deny a Ben Whiteman header at his near post and commanded his area well, coming out to catch high balls into the box. Oozed class throughout with good feet, handling and positioning that had the fans singing “England’s number one” again.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8
Defended almost effortlessly in a really accomplished display both defending and going forward.
LUKE WOOLFENDEN: 7.5/8
A cool, calm and collected presence at the back from where he distributed the ball well and never gave North End’s strikers a sniff.
LIAM KITCHING: 7.5/8
Aggressive and determined from the off and had a hand in the second goal with a far post header from the corner. Solid throughout.
JAY DASILVA: 7.5
Hit a couple of stray passes early on but quickly grew into the game and worked well with Mason-Clark attacking down the left flank. Decent throughout.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto of Coventry City scores the opening goal
MATT GRIMES: 8.5
Calm and functional presence in midfield where he helped recycle the ball time and again alongside Onyeka. Dropped into the back, almost operating at a left centre-back of the three at times while Van Ewijk and Dasilva got forward like wing-backs. Send in the corner for the second goal and hit a string of crosses into the box. Coolly slotted home City’s third from the penalty spot. A real captain’s performance.
FRANK ONYEKA 7.5/8
Frequently won the ball and intercepted passes while adding a physical presence on his return to the midfield. Tested the keeper in the sixth minute with a brilliantly struck volley that was tipped over the bar and had a hand in the opening goal with a long diagonal into the box.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 8
Gave City the 17th minute lead when he hit a deflected shot from outside the box to beat Iversen at his near post. Put in an incredible shift, covering so much ground and tracking back to win the ball.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 8
Back in the starting line-up and deployed in the number ten role where he was lively from the start and was alert and alive in the box to chest home the loose ball from a Simms effort that was saved to double City’s first half lead.
Brandon Thomas-Asante of Coventry City scores his team’s second goal
EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 8
A threat down the left wing from the start where he gave full-back Pol Valentin a difficult evening, the defender eventually brining him down in the box for City’s second half penalty.
ELLIS SIMMS: 7.5
Had a hand in the second goal when he was denied himself by a brilliant save that pushed his shot onto the bar and out for Thomas-Asante to score. Lots of hard running and a real handful for the PNE defenders. Deserved a goal.
Ellis Simms of Coventry City and Jordan Storey of Preston North End
SUBSTITUTES:
KAINE KESLER-HAYDEN (60 mins, for van Ewijk): 6.5
Slotted in enthusiastically against the club where he was named player of the year last season, making marauding runs as City looked to increase their scoreline.
VICTOR TORP (60 mins, for Onyeka): 6.5
Organised and functional in the middle of the park as City managed their comfortable three goal advantage.
ROMAIN ESSE (60 mins, for Sakamoto): 6
Lively on the right and had a decent shot at goal, albeit comfortable for the keeper.
JOSH ECCLES (66 mins, for Mason-Clark): 6.5
Loads of hard work and effort from the local lad who attempted to get on the scoresheet when he lifted a shot just over the bar. Should have scored late on when he lifted it over from aboput eight yards out.
JAHNOAH MARKELO (79 mins, for Thomas-Asante): 6.5
Caught the eye with some decent runs down the left and excellent crosses into the box.
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Jake Bidwell, Haji Wright, Jamie Allen.
PRESTON (3-4-1-2): Daniel Iversen; Odeluga Offiah, Jordon Story, Andrew Hughes; Pol Valentin, Ali McCann, Ben Whiteman, Thierry Small; Alfie Devine; Milutin Osmajic, Daniel Jebbison.
Subs (not used): David Cornell (GK), Lewis Dobbin, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Moran, Kitt Nelson, Brad Potts, Michael Smith, Jordan Thompson, Andrija Vukcevic.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Sakamoto (17) Thomas-Asante (34), Grimes (50, pen)
NORTH END:
REFEREE: Lewis Smith.
ATTENDANCE: 27,835 (358 away)
NEXT UP: Southampton (h) Saturday, March 14 (12.30pm).
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