City Deserve Their Rub Of The Green

Preston North End manager Graham Westley bemoaned a ‘blatant’ offside decision against his side as they were the victims of a dramatic late Coventry City fightback in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Thursday night.

Those who left early at the Ricoh Arena would have spent the rest of the night regretting their exit after injury time goals from Carl Baker and Leon Clarke sparked great scenes amongst another healthy JPT crowd.

A replay of Clarke’s winner on the big screen drew gasps followed by relieved chuckles from the home fans as the striker and two of his teammates looked offside when the ball rebounded off the PNE goalkeeper. After that, however, most people seemed to be of the opinion that City’s spirit and determination meant they deserved the rub of the green.

Mark Robins felt his side had not played well against difficult opponents but City still created a number of good chances and had suffered their own misfortune for the visitors’ deflected second goal.

The manager’s substitutions also played a key role. Conor Thomas, Franck Moussa and Stephen Elliott had all an impact during their time on the pitch and it was they who sparked the final push which led to the dramatic ending.

‘Typical’ City would have been the cry had it remained at 1-2 but the reaction of the crowd to going a goal behind showed that belief in the manager and his players (and in the slow improvement off the field) is building.