Preston fans vent anger, Mason-Clark gets called a ‘cheat’, and cameraman ‘drama’ before the game causes a stir on social media.
Coventry City moved eight points clear at the top of the Championship table, thanks to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s deflected shot on the 17th-minute, Brandon Thomas-Asante chested effort for a second, and Matt Grimes’ second-half penalty, which Preston were left frustrated by.
The home fans sang “we’re going to win the league” after news came in of Middlesbrough’s 1-0 defeat to Charlton, with Millwall now just a point behind 2nd place Boro.
Coventry’s Ephron Mason-Clark has been labelled a ‘cheat’ after he sprawled out on the pitch under minimal pressure from Pol Valentin.
🚨North End fans in the away end at Coventry giving the players/staff their thoughts last night.
🔵 You know it’s bad when the die hards have even turned.#pnefc pic.twitter.com/Vfu1kOXuOb
— North End Podcast (@nepdailypod) March 12, 2026
Speaking to Football Insider after the game, former FIFA referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett said: “I can fully understand the referee from his position judging this as a foul and the award of a penalty kick.
“When we review the replays and the opportunity of a clearer viewing angle, you can see that there is no contact and the player has gone to ground in a clear act of simulation.
“Instead of the correct award of a yellow card for his action of cheating, he is instead rewarded with a penalty kick.”
🚨North End fans in the away end at Coventry giving the players/staff their thoughts last night.
🔵 You know it’s bad when the die hards have even turned.#pnefc pic.twitter.com/Vfu1kOXuOb
— North End Podcast (@nepdailypod) March 12, 2026
A clip has seen been posted by Anthony Hornsby, who captioned it: “Who the HELL do you think you are
@SkyFootball?!? 🤬
“Your production team physically pushing our media team out the way for a shot when he was lining it up for himself, cretins.
“This is why everybody hates you. 😡 We care 1000x more about club coverage than yours. #pusb”
It has since gone on to get over 6,000 likes, over 600,000 views, and produced quit ea mixed reaction on Twitter alone.
Who the HELL do you think you are @SkyFootball ?!? 🤬
Your production team physically pushing our media team out the way for a shot when he was lining it up for himself, cretins. This is why everybody hates you. 😡 We care 1000x more about club coverage than yours. #pusb pic.twitter.com/SjviouWTWE
— Anthony ‘Operation Premiership’ Hornsby (@Anthony_Hornsby) March 11, 2026
Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:
“When you go 3-0 down, it’s tough. We knew it was going to be a difficult place to come because they are really at it and they didn’t disappoint.
“They were really hungry from minute one, how they competed when they lost the ball. We weren’t brilliant with the ball all night but I thought we were a bit loose early on with their pressure.
“With the first goal, you can say they’ve earned their luck but the second goal we are disappointed with. We lost three first contacts, really, in the box, Dan [Iversen] makes a good save, but that hunger and drive is why they are up there and scoring all the goals.
“And, listen, it’s not a penalty. Their lads have said that. That sort of took the game away from us. I felt good about the second half, we thought we’d get that little bit of luck, and that made it a tough night.
“We felt we had one at the other end but it didn’t come.”
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire:
“We dominated the game by the way the lads approached it – the overall performance, the focus, the quality of the play, the creation of chances, the goals and the comfort that we felt.
“They worked brilliantly from minute one to the end against what was a tricky opposition on paper. This is not a bad team at all, Preston.
“We’ve still got work to do but the points and the goals is great recognition to this point and we need to continue for another nine games.
On winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto:
“He’s in great form. And wingers should score goals in the modern day, it’s an important part of their game.
“The all-round stuff that Tats gives us is incredible – everyone who watches him week-in, week-out sees the work ethic, the 1v1 ability, being a team player, and the goals.
“He’s hungry to score. He deserves the luck with the way he’s playing at the minute.
Here’s the social media reaction…
@PaulxCrompton: Nothing wrong there. The sky guy was already doing his shot and the media walked into his line of movement.
@CrashOf47: Nah, clutching at straws here. Sky Sports pay for the coverage. The lad was in their way. Wasn’t pushed – was pretty gently guided out of the way with an apology afterwards.
@A_J_R92: This really isn’t that deep. Don’t get in the way of broadcast cameras if you’re filming for digital and social. The Sky guy gestures an apology after moving the lad out of the way, too
@SPFLWatch: Not being one to defend Sky but as club media you are always supposed to give the Host Broadcast space and not get in their shot.
@Wescott_1_: The ones who pay the bills so they can get that footage. Also he was hardly pushed
@jayjstars: What ? Just moved so didn’t get hit by the camera and apologised after ? Soft
@A_J_R92: Nonsense. I shoot video and photo for live sport to be used on digital and social channels – you are expected to work around broadcast cameras. They pay millions to be rights holders. The Sky fella gestures an apology to the club videographer as soon as he moves him
@rtl104: Club media, in fact all media, are clearly briefed by their own clubs/employers that broadcast cameras take priority. I’d say it was out of order for the videographer to be near them in the first place when he clearly can see them. Was gracious of Sky to apologise at all.
@robsum58: He’s guiding a cameraman gently tapped the guy so he didn’t run into him and apologised immediately 🤷♂️
@iAmKudaMaynard: As someone who works in the space – I can explain that this isn’t as deep as it appears. We get in each other’s way a lot. It’s hard not. We tap each other and sometimes shove but it does go anywhere after. However the general rule is to not block broadcasters line of sight or supporters line of sight. All photographers and videographers are told and know to mind operating height and operating line of sight. Broadcasters allow the league to be what it is. Fans pay good money to watch games. We all have a job to do but we have to find ways of working around each other. Club media will do exactly what Sky did to press photographers and press videographers too. As they are higher than them on the priority chain. The press dudes will do this to ball boys. Ball boys do this to stewards. And on and on.
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