Coventry’s victory maintained their sixth place in the table. Hughes had already picked up a yellow card when he appeared to punch the Grimsby defender Alan Neilson five minutes from time and the referee, Paul Danson, dismissed him.The Coventry manager, Roland Nilsson, said: “I didn’t see the sending-off because everybody was watching the ball, but I have spoken to Lee and he’s sorry.”His shirt was pulled and he threw his hand out and it hit the defender’s nose You can’t do that and there’s no excuses. You have to learn to calm yourself down in games where it’s physical and players are grabbing you.”Nilsson added: “It was a great result for us. We knew it was always going to be difficult because of the conditions but I think we’re back on track.”Coventry had made three changes to the side that overwhelmed Bradford 4-0 on Sunday and they were soon into their stride as Hughes forced a low block from the goalkeeper, Danny Coyne, only for Lee Mills to send the rebound well wide. The Blundell Park pitch had passed an inspection two hours before kick-off, but was clearly hard under foot as both sides struggled to stay on their feet.

But it was the Sky Blues who coped with the conditions best as Youssef Safri and Hughes both came close.Grimsby should have broken the deadlock and they finally came into the game, but Magnus Hedman pulled off a brilliant block to deny Danny Butterfield. Mick Boulding then had a great chance, but was slow to react as a Grimsby corner flashed across the face of goal.Hughes eventually gave Coventry the lead five minutes before the break. Latching on to a Lee Mills flick-on, he nipped in between Coyne and Tony Gallimore and sent a neat lob into the unguarded net.Thirty seconds after the break David Thompson could have wrapped the game up for the visitors only to be denied by a block from Coyne.The Sky Blues let another glorious chance slip when Menno Willems brought down Thompson in the box for a clear penalty – but Hughes, so cool in the first half, ballooned his spot-kick over the bar.Hughes’ agony continued when he fired into the crowd after a mistake by the Grimsby captain, Paul Groves, as Coventry began to keep possession against a poor home side. Five minutes from time Hughes’ mixed afternoon was completed when he was sent off after an unsavoury incident which left Neilson with a bloody nose.The Grimsby manager, Lennie Lawrence, whose side have now won once in their last 20 games, said: “The story goes on and on. The lack of goals has become a massive problem and we finished with five forwards and still couldn’t do anything right.”Grimsby Town: Coyne; Ford, Gallimore, Neilson, Chapman, Groves, Butterfield, Burnett, Willems, Jevons, Boulding. Substitutes: Croudson, Coldicott, Jeffrey, Christopher Thompson, David Smith.Coventry City: Hedman; Antonelius, Quinn, Fowler, Shaw, Konjic, Thompson, Safri, Hughes, Mills, Chippo.

Substitutes: Joachim, Goram, Martinez, Davenport, Normann.Referee: P Danson (Leicester).. Preston dented Wolves’ promotion hopes yesterday as they hit back from a goal down at half-time to become the first team this season to score three goals against David Jones’ team. A quick free-kick by Alex Rae opened up Preston’s defence for Dean Sturridge to lob brilliantly over the advancing David Lucas with his left foot. It was the striker’s fifth goal for the club and the first since he completed his permanent move from Leicester City on Monday.Wolves occasionally threatened to give themselves the security of a second goal but Preston were always busy and impressive in their build-ups.A through-ball by Paul McKenna teed up David Healy for a low left-foot shot that the Wolves goalkeeper Michael Oakes saved brilliantly to his left. Lucas attempted to clear from Sean Gregan’s routine back pass but succeeded only in enabling Blake to charge it down, the ball cannoning in off the chest of the Welsh international.It appeared to be the lucky break Wolves needed but they again found themselves behind in the 73rd minute when Alexander’s corner from the right was headed goalwards by Healy and turned over the line by the leg of the Preston captain Gregan.Wolves produced a late onslaught but the best they could do was a comfortably saved 20-yard effort from Paul Butler.Wolves: Oakes, Muscat, Butler, Pollet, Naylor, Newton, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Blake, Sturridge.

Substitutes not used: Robinson, Roussel, Connelly, Camara, Murray.Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Gregan, Edwards, Cartwright, Rankine, McKenna, Anderson, Macken, Healy. Substitutes not used: Moilanen, Skora, Keane, Basham, Eaton.Referee: P Alcock (Halstead).. The Second Division’s bottom team Cambridge United fought back for a shock victory after the leaders Brentford had gone 1-0 up inside five minutes. Brighton and Stoke were both grateful for the Cambridge victory, joining Brentford – who stay top on goal difference – on 45 points.In the Third Division nearly 14,000 fans turned out as the leaders, Plymouth Argyle, opened new stands built as part of the redevelopment of Home Park. However, the celebrations were muted as Torquay fought back for a 2-2 draw, allowing Luton to close the gap at the top..