City slipped to a heavy defeat at the Ricoh Arena after a lacklustre display against play-off chasing Preston North End.

Early goals from Chris Sedgwick and David Nugent and a second-half brace from Brett Ormerod inflicted a third defeat in four outings on the Sky Blues, who struggled to recover from their early blows.

Boss Iain Dowie was forced into two changes to his side with Colin Cameron replacing the suspended Michael Doyle in midfield and Michael Mifsud stepping-in for the injured Leon McKenzie, who was still named among the substitutes.

The visitors took full advantage of City's sluggish opening as they looked to end an unprecedented run of four straight defeats and drew first blood inside eight minutes.

Winger Sedgwick was allowed to cut infield from the right before sending a low shot beyond a hapless Andy Marshall from just inside the area.

And Sedgwick was again heavily involved when Preston doubled their tally in the 17^th minute. The former Rotherham man twisted his way past Jay Tabb and sent over a teasing cross for England international Nugent to send a firm header into the bottom corner.

City fought back, but Adam Virgo diverted Marcus Hall's left-wing cross wide before Stephen Hughes saw a fierce free-kick saved by 'keeper Wayne Henderson.

However, their task was made almost impossible after the break when Ormerod swept home a third goal at the back post from a Callum Davidson cross despite City appeals for offside before poaching his second on the hour.

The striker was on hand to tap into an unguarded net after a calamitous mix-up involving 'keeper Marshall and Robert Page allowed the ball to fall into his path six yards from goal.

The introduction of Khalilou Fadiga midway through the half injected an impetus into the Sky Blues' attack with Kevin Kyle and another substitute, Dele Adebola, coming within inches of connecting with two pin-point crosses from the Senegalese international.

Adebola went close again with six minutes remaining when he beat the onrushing Henderson to Hughes' lob into the box, but the ball trickled wide of the target.

To make matters worse, Fagida, who had replaced substitute Leon McKenzie after the striker lasted just 23 minutes, was also stretchered from the pitch in the dying seconds.