A close-range finish from Chris Brown proved the difference as Preston's impressive start to the season continued with victory over Coventry.
After a curling 35-yard free-kick from Sammy Clingan had given the visitors the lead, Brown slotted home from Chris Sedgwick's low cross to level.
Neil Mellor rifled in from Billy Jones' centre before Brown latched on to Richard Chaplow's pass for his second.
Clinton Morrison's volley was too late to deny Preston a win and fourth place.
Preston manager Alan Irvine: "It was vitally important for us to win, we didn't want everyone linking Sean St Ledger's departure with us not being able to get results.
"I said today that we needed to be braver to take the ball, be prepared to take responsibility rather than hope somebody else might take it, might turn things around.
"The lads showed great character to dig deep."
Coventry boss Chris Coleman: "Overall in the 90 minutes we had the better chances. We should have done better with some of our chances.
"We are better than that defensively. I think we were tired from Tuesday, we were affected by that, unfortunately.
"We gifted Preston with two goals, gave them away. They are a good enough team, they don't need to be given any presents."
90:00+4:25 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+3:38 GOAL - Clinton Morrison:Preston 3 - 2 Coventry Clinton Morrison fires in a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Preston 3-2 Coventry.
90:00+3:19 Darren Carter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Isaac Osbourne. Direct free kick taken by Isaac Osbourne.
90:00+2:06 The ball is delivered by Ashley Cain, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
90:00+1:29 Isaac Osbourne decides to take a short corner, Michael McIndoe crosses the ball, Jon Parkin makes a clearance.
90:00+0:49 The offside flag is raised against Jon Parkin. Marcus Hall takes the indirect free kick.
90:00+0:41 Michael McIndoe crosses the ball, Billy Jones makes a clearance.
90:00+0:22 The assistant referee signals for offside against Leon Best. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
Correction - 89:43 Freddy Eastwood takes a shot. Blocked by Neill Collins.
89:43 Freddy Eastwood takes a shot. Neill Collins gets a block in.
88:26 Ashley Cain has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.
88:00 Michael McIndoe delivers the ball, save made by Andy Lonergan.
Correction - 87:20 Substitution Jon Parkin is brought on as a substitute for Chris Brown.
Correction - 87:20 Chris Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Isaac Osbourne.
87:20 Free kick taken by Isaac Osbourne.
87:20 Substitution Jon Parkin replaces Chris Brown.
87:20 Unfair challenge on Isaac Osbourne by Chris Brown results in a free kick.
86:53 The ball is sent over by Isaac Osbourne, save made by Andy Lonergan.
86:16 Clinton Morrison sends in a cross, clearance made by Liam Chilvers.
85:52 Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Andy Lonergan gets a block in.
83:30 Free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
83:30 Substitution Freddy Eastwood is brought on as a substitute for Martin Cranie.
83:30 The assistant referee flags for offside against Leon Best.
83:08 Chris Brown produces a cross.
82:47 Michael McIndoe crosses the ball, clearance by Eddie Nolan.
82:04 Centre by Sammy Clingan, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.
81:37 Corner taken by Michael McIndoe from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Andy Lonergan.
81:22 Leon Best takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
80:58 Stephen Elliott challenges Elliott Ward unfairly and gives away a free kick. Keiren Westwood restarts play with the free kick.
78:48 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Wallace on Michael McIndoe. Sammy Clingan crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Eddie Nolan.
76:40 Substitution Ashley Cain on for Jack Cork.
74:35 Centre by Marcus Hall, save made by Andy Lonergan.
73:38 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan from the left by-line, Andy Lonergan makes a save.
Correction - 73:19 The ball is swung over by Clinton Morrison, blocked by Billy Jones.
73:19 Darren Carter delivers the ball, blocked by Jack Cork.
72:12 Leon Best gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Chilvers. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
71:54 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Michael McIndoe, clearance by Eddie Nolan.
71:18 Sammy Clingan fouled by Chris Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.
69:29 Free kick crossed by Marcus Hall, Billy Jones manages to make a clearance.
69:29 Substitution Veliche Shumulikoski replaces Richard Chaplow.
69:29 Substitution Stephen Wright goes off and Elliott Ward comes on.
69:29 Foul by Richard Chaplow on Michael McIndoe, free kick awarded.
68:09 Michael McIndoe takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
67:04 Richard Chaplow provided the assist for the goal.
67:04 GOAL - Chris Brown:Preston 3 - 1 Coventry Chris Brown scores a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Preston 3-1 Coventry.
66:41 Corner from the right by-line taken by Richard Chaplow,
66:19 Eddie Nolan crosses the ball, Chris Brown takes a shot. Marcus Hall gets a block in.
65:49 A cross is delivered by Eddie Nolan, clearance made by Marcus Hall.
65:34 The ball is swung over by Ross Wallace, blocked by Jack Cork.
64:48 Substitution Stephen Elliott joins the action as a substitute, replacing Neil Mellor.
64:27 Michael McIndoe produces a cross.
63:44 Shot from just outside the area by Neil Mellor goes over the bar.
62:33 Sammy Clingan crosses the ball, Neill Collins makes a clearance.
62:16 Billy Jones takes a shot. Blocked by Sammy Clingan.
61:38 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, blocked by Martin Cranie. Unfair challenge on Stephen Wright by Richard Chaplow results in a free kick. Keiren Westwood takes the free kick.
60:22 Darren Carter takes a shot.
59:56 Michael McIndoe delivers the ball, Neill Collins makes a clearance.
59:05 The ball is swung over by Leon Best, blocked by Neill Collins. Corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan, Neill Collins makes a clearance.
58:44 Chris Brown takes a shot. Save made by Keiren Westwood.
58:36 The ball is sent over by Ross Wallace, clearance made by Ben Turner.
58:24 Michael McIndoe delivers the ball, Andy Lonergan makes a save.
57:44 Michael McIndoe fouled by Eddie Nolan, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Michael McIndoe from the free kick.
Correction - 57:21 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Michael McIndoe played to the near post, Eddie Nolan manages to make a clearance.
57:21 Corner taken by Michael McIndoe from the left by-line played to the near post, Eddie Nolan manages to make a clearance.
57:04 Jack Cork takes a shot. Blocked by Neill Collins.
56:50 Sammy Clingan takes a shot. Blocked by Liam Chilvers.
56:12 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick, Keiren Westwood makes a save.
55:48 A cross is delivered by Marcus Hall.
54:52 The assist for the goal came from Billy Jones.
54:52 GOAL - Neil Mellor:Preston 2 - 1 Coventry Neil Mellor grabs a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Preston 2-1 Coventry.
54:49 Billy Jones crosses the ball,
53:53 Michael McIndoe takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Chris Sedgwick manages to make a clearance.
53:39 Isaac Osbourne sends in a cross, clearance made by Liam Chilvers.
52:45 Ross Wallace produces a cross.
52:19 The referee blows for offside against Leon Best. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
51:33 Eddie Nolan produces a cross, Header from close in by Chris Brown misses to the right of the goal.
49:32 Assist by Chris Sedgwick.
49:32 GOAL - Chris Brown:Preston 1 - 1 Coventry Chris Brown scores a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Preston 1-1 Coventry.
49:28 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick,
48:59 Martin Cranie challenges Ross Wallace unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darren Carter. Centre by Billy Jones, Ben Turner makes a clearance.
48:08 The referee blows for offside against Michael McIndoe. Andy Lonergan takes the free kick.
47:10 Leon Best is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
45:39 Foul by Martin Cranie on Ross Wallace, free kick awarded. Eddie Nolan restarts play with the free kick.
45:19 The ball is swung over by Chris Sedgwick, save by Keiren Westwood.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:06 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+0:57 The ball is delivered by Chris Sedgwick, save by Keiren Westwood.
45:00+0:37 Ross Wallace delivers the ball.
44:03 Ross Wallace produces a cross, Stephen Wright manages to make a clearance.
43:35 Ross Wallace crosses the ball.
43:16 Ross Wallace takes the outswinging corner, Ben Turner manages to make a clearance.
43:10 A cross is delivered by Neil Mellor, Martin Cranie gets a block in.
42:06 The offside flag is raised against Leon Best. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
41:12 A cross is delivered by Richard Chaplow, Chris Brown has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
40:43 Corner taken right-footed by Richard Chaplow from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Clinton Morrison.
40:35 The ball is crossed by Eddie Nolan, Marcus Hall manages to make a clearance.
38:40 Chris Sedgwick delivers the ball, save by Keiren Westwood.
37:04 Ross Wallace produces a cross, clearance by Leon Best.
36:37 Corner taken by Ross Wallace, clearance made by Marcus Hall.
36:24 Ross Wallace takes a shot. Blocked by Martin Cranie.
32:56 Isaac Osbourne concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Carter. Ross Wallace delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing.
31:58 Foul by Marcus Hall on Billy Jones, free kick awarded. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
30:31 Free kick taken by Eddie Nolan.
30:31 Booking Clinton Morrison goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
30:18 Leon Best is ruled offside.
28:03 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sammy Clingan from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Chris Sedgwick.
27:52 Leon Best takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
27:30 Ben Turner concedes a free kick for a foul on Neill Collins. Direct free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
26:49 Michael McIndoe takes the inswinging corner, Eddie Nolan makes a clearance.
26:37 Leon Best takes a shot. Andy Lonergan makes a save.
25:47 Neil Mellor has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
23:19 Leon Best challenges Liam Chilvers unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Lonergan.
22:09 Ross Wallace produces a cross, save by Keiren Westwood.
21:43 Corner taken by Ross Wallace, Chris Brown takes a shot.
21:33 Ross Wallace sends in a cross, Martin Cranie gets a block in.
21:20 Billy Jones produces a cross, Keiren Westwood manages to make a clearance.
20:13 Unfair challenge on Leon Best by Liam Chilvers results in a free kick. The ball is delivered by Michael McIndoe, Leon Best takes a shot. Save by Andy Lonergan.
18:58 GOAL - Sammy Clingan:Preston 0 - 1 Coventry Sammy Clingan finds the net with a shot from the free kick from 35 yards. Preston 0-1 Coventry.
18:13 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Cork by Neill Collins.
16:53 The official flags Leon Best offside. Andy Lonergan takes the indirect free kick.
16:06 Ross Wallace challenges Martin Cranie unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sammy Clingan takes the free kick.
14:45 A cross is delivered by Neil Mellor.
13:48 Eddie Nolan delivers the ball.
11:25 Foul by Chris Brown on Clinton Morrison, free kick awarded. Martin Cranie takes the free kick.
10:35 The ball is sent over by Martin Cranie, clearance made by Neill Collins.
8:26 A cross is delivered by Jack Cork, clearance made by Liam Chilvers.
7:49 Ross Wallace produces a cross, clearance by Ben Turner.
6:58 The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael McIndoe. Andy Lonergan restarts play with the free kick.
4:45 Leon Best has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
4:25 Eddie Nolan delivers the ball, Keiren Westwood makes a save.
3:18 Keiren Westwood takes the direct free kick.
3:18 Booking Chris Brown receives a yellow card.
3:09 Foul by Chris Brown on Keiren Westwood, free kick awarded.
2:19 The ball is swung over by Michael McIndoe.
1:47 The ball is swung over by Martin Cranie, clearance by Liam Chilvers.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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