Coventry City's trips to Lancashire this week have not proved fruitful whatsoever as they have come away with just one point out of a possible six.

The Sky Blues produced a comeback at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday to draw 2-2 after being two goals down at half time, but they could not pick up any points at Deepdale last night against Preston North End.

Cov took a lead into the interval thanks to Tyler Walker's effort, but they were pegged back in the second half thanks to Patrick Bauer's header before Emil Riis fired in the winner with a powerful effort five minutes later.

Let's look at three things we learnt about Mark Robins' side as they slipped to another disappoint result on the road.

Away form desperately needs to be addressed

As just mentioned, Coventry's away form is a world away from what they're doing back at home at the once-known Ricoh Arena.

Cov have won every single league match at home this season but have been successful just once on their travels whilst losing four times.

They cannot go the whole season with form like that on the road if they want to be a play-off team in May so Robins needs to find the formula that makes it click like it does at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

 

 

 

 

Gyokeres shouldn't have started

After joining permanently from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer, Viktor Gyokeres has been Coventry's talisman this season with nine goals in 12 matches before the clash with North End.

However he was a major doubt going into the match after picking up a hefty knock on his ankle just days before against Rovers - however he shook it off seemingly to start.

The Swede never looked himself though and he was taken off as part of a triple change in the second half when Coventry were looking for a way back into the match, which suggests that he was definitely not fully fit and perhaps should not have started the game.

5-3-2 has its weaknesses

Robins has been fairly rigid in his tactical approach to matches, rarely shifting from the 5-3-2 that has been very successful for him over the years at the Sky Blues.

But in the second half they were penned back by Preston for the first 25 minutes of the half which is where the hosts did their damage.

It was especially down the flanks where Coventry seemed to be exposed most, with the cross for Bauer's header coming on the wide right side of the pitch whilst Emil Riis was fed down the left channel for his goal.

Coventry need to do better defensively in these areas, especially away from home, if they are to challenge for the play-offs but fortunately for them they are back on home soil this weekend where they will look to extend their 100 per cent record.