The Sky Blues suffered defeat on the road against Preston North End in Sky Bet Championship action.

Haji Wright scored twice for City either side of half-time, but goals from Duane Holmes, Alan Browne and Milutin Osmajic gave North End all three points.

Nine minutes into the first half and the first shot on target of the game fell to the hosts. A counter-attack from a City corner enabled Preston to break, with Milutin Osmajic forcing Ben Wilson into a first save of the afternoon.

Moments later, a ball into the City box was met by the head of Liam Lindasy, only for the centre-back to glance the ball wide of goal.

The Sky Blues had their first glimpse of goal fall to the returning Matty Godden, as he found space and from a tight angle, pulled an effort wide.

However, next time that Godden found space, he forced Freddie Woodman into a superb stop, which fell directly into the path of Haji Wright, who slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.

The lead would last only a few minutes as Duane Holmes fired in from just inside of the area, after the ball was cleared only as far as the midfielder.

Preston would take the lead a minute later after Kyle McFadzean was adjudged to have fouled Milutin Osmajic in the area and Alan Browne stepped-up to convert the ball from the spot past Wilson.

City were in search of a leveller before the break, with Ben Sheaf producing a strike from the edge of the area which Woodman stopped.

HALF-TIME: Preston North End 2-1 Sky Blues

At the break, Mark Robins made two changes, introducing Josh Eccles and Ellis Simms, with the latter forcing Woodman into a save at his near post ten minutes into the second half.

City were on the attack as they looked to get back into the game and they came close through Ben Sheaf, but his effort was tipped over the bar.

Shots were raining down on the PNE goal, this time it was Sheaf who had two bites at the cherry, firstly hitting Godden and then dragging one narrowly wide.

The hosts lead was doubled 20 minutes from time when Liam Millar picked out the head of Multin Osmajic and he headed past Wilson.

The Sky Blues kept pushing and they pulled one back 10 minutes later, as Wright scored his second of the game, reacting to a Josh Eccles strike which was pushed back into the path of the striker.

FULL-TIME: Preston North End 3-2 Sky Blues

Goals: Haji Wright x2, Duane Holmes, Alan Browne, Milutin Osmajic

Yellows: Kyle McFadzean

Sky Blues Xl: Ben Wilson (GK); Bobby Thomas, Kyle McFadzean (46' Eccles), Liam Kitching; Joel Latibeaudiere, Ben Sheaf, Jamie Allen (60' O'Hare), Yasin Ayari (46' Simms), Jay Dasilva (60' Bidwell); Matty Godden (83' van Ewijk), Haji Wright.

Subs: Brad Collins (GK), Jake Bidwell, Milan van Ewijk, Luis Binks, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Josh Eccles, Callum O'Hare, Ellis Simms, Bradley Stretton.

PNE Xl: Freddie Woodman (GK); Brad Potts, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Ben Whiteman, Kian Best (77' Brady), Duane Holmes (84' Woodburn), Alan Browne (C), Milutin Osmajic (84' Keane) , Liam Millar, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen (68' Evans).

Subs: David Cornell, Patrick Bauer, Ryan Ledson, Ben Woodburn, Ched Evans, Robbie Brady, Will Keane, Layton Stewart, Noah Mawene.