David Thompson hit two wonder goals against Preston at Highfield Road this evening but they were not enough to give the Sky Blues victory.

The draw stretches Coventry’s unbeaten run in the league under Roland Nilsson to 11 games but they could count themselves fortunate to take anything from the match which David Moyes’ side dominated.

The Sky Blues could not have asked for a better start as Thompson continued his recent run of form in front of goal to give them the lead on five minutes.

The former Liverpool winger cut in from the left and drilled a brilliant shot from the edge of the area that flew past Teuvo Moilanen in the Preston goal and into the corner of the net.

City had started in confident mood and Thompson could and probably should have made it two on 12 minutes when he received a pass from Jay Bothroyd but this time he drove straight into the arms of Preston’s Finnish keeper.

North End began to come into the game and Andy Goram was forced to make a fine save when Mark Rankine tried his luck from the edge of the area with a sweet left foot drive.

The ex-Wolves man then dummied a Jon Macken cross which gave David Healy a clear shot on goal, but the former Manchester United striker fluffed his effort wide.

The visitors were by far the better side and limited the Sky Blues to long range shots from Moroccan midfielder Youssef Safri.

Preston finally forced their equaliser right on half-time when Chris Lucketti rose to head home Graham Alexander’s corner.

City began the first half in positive fashion and Thompson was looking to add to his goals tally.

He hit a fine volley from the edge of the area which was saved at the second attempt by Moilanen.

At the other end, Macken latched on to a mistake by the usually reliable Gary Breen and chipped Goram but Breen managed to get beyond his goalkeeper to clear off the line.

Laurent Delorge was then forced to kick clear as Alexander’s effort looked destined for the corner of the net.

But just as City looked like crumbling under the pressure they took the lead.

Thompson received a pass from substitute Tomas Antonelius and, after skipping past a Preston defender, drove a belting shot into the top corner of the net.

But the Sky Blues, who boast the meanest defence in the division, allowed Preston to equalise again.

Skipper Sean Gregan swung in a cross from the right hand side and substitute Richard Cresswell headed home to earn his side a share of the spoils.

COVENTRY CITY:
Andy Goram; Richard Shaw, Muhamed Konjic, Gary Breen, Marc Edworthy, David Thompson, Lee Carsley, Youssef Safri  Laurent Delorge (Tomas Antonelius, 73) Lee Hughes, Jay Bothroyd (Jairo Martinez, 52)
Subs not used: Gary Montgomery, Runar Normann, Gavin Strachan

PRESTON NORTH END:
Teuvo Moilanen, Graham Alexander, Chris Lucketti, Ryan Kidd,  Colin Murdock, Sean Gregan, Lee Cartwright, Mark Rankine, Paul McKenna, Jonathan Macken, David Healy (Richard Cresswell, 37)
Subs not used: David Lucas, Adam Eaton, Iain Anderson, Kevin Gallacher

GOALS:
Coventry - Thompson (5, 76)
Preston - Lucketti (41), Cresswell (78)

REFEREE:

BOOKINGS:
Coventry - Carsley (44, foul), Saw (56, foul), Safri (88, foul)
Preston - Kidd (15, foul)

ATTENDANCE: 15,755

COVENTRY LEAGUE POSITION: 2nd with 31 points