Tatsuhiro Sakamoto opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a deflected shot, followed by Brandon Thomas-Asante, who netted the second after Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen tipped Ellis Simms’ effort onto the bar.

Matt Grimes secured the win with a second-half penalty, marking a perfect night for Frank Lampard’s team as their nearest rivals, Middlesbrough, stumbled against Charlton.

The home fans erupted in chants of “we’re going to win the league” when news of Boro’s defeat came through, and based on their dominant display, that seems more than likely.

Coventry controlled the game after taking the lead, though Iversen might feel unlucky about the first two goals. The deflection on Sakamoto’s shot wrong-footed him, and though he made a brilliant save on Simms, the rebound fell perfectly for Thomas-Asante.

Preston may also dispute the penalty awarded for Ephron Mason-Clark’s tumble under minimal pressure from Pol Valentin. Regardless, it was clear where the points were headed, as Coventry secured their sixth straight win, showcasing their championship potential.

They had chances to increase their margin, notably when Josh Eccles shot over the bar from a good position.

Preston, meanwhile, looked every bit a team struggling with just one win in 11 matches, with few highlights apart from headers from Whiteman and Milutin Osmajic that were both saved by Coventry’s goalkeeper, Carl Rushworth.