Preston 4-0 Coventry

Roland Nilsson played down the incident

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Preston hammered Coventry to boost their hopes of securing a play-off place.

The game was marred when an away fan ran on to the pitch and clashed with Coventry player-manager Roland Nilsson and goalkeeper Magnus Hedman.

The supporter allegedly threw punches at both Nilsson and Hedman.

A 34-year-old man from Nuneaton was arrested by officers from the Lancashire Constabulary following the incidents.

Preston dominated the first half of the match and went into the break two goals up, thanks to strikes from Clyde Wijnhard and Dickson Etuhu.

The game was killed off with late goals from Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Cresswell.

Preston leapfrog Coventry

Nilsson named himself in the starting line-up for the first time since September in a bid to bring some experience and stability to the Sky Blues defence.

The home side took the game by the scruff of the neck and it took four minutes for them to take the lead when a corner from Rob Edwards fell to Wijnhard who headed home.

The Sky Blues went two down after 27 minutes when a third Edwards' corner in quick succession found the head of Etuhu.

Preston continued in the same vein in the second half and they should have increased their lead through Etuhu shortly after the restart.

Coventry responded with a weak shot from Nilsson while Bothroyd's left-footed effort went wide.

The points were already going to Preston but the Lilywhites were not about to sit back and four minutes from time Ainsworth killed off the game when he added the third.

A minute later Cresswell latched onto a pass from Wijnhard to make it 4-0.

The win moved Preston above Coventry in the First Division table.

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Preston: Moilanen, Alexander, Jackson, Gregan, Edwards, Ainsworth, McKenna, Etuhu, Keane, Wijnhard, Cresswell. Subs: Lucas, Anderson, Eaton, Healy, Rankine.

Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Konjic, Carbonari, Hall, Chippo, Healy, Eustace, Safri, Trollope, Bothroyd. Subs: Montgomerey, Betts, Quinn, Thompson, Hughes.

Referee: R Pearson (Peterlee)