Match ends, Preston North End 1, Bristol City 1.
PrestonPreston North End1Bristol CityBristol City1
Bristol City fought back to draw at fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Preston to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of League One.
Jermaine Beckford's overhead kick went wide for Preston and City's Aaron Wilbraham hit the bar early on.
North End took the lead in the second half when Beckford scored from Paul Gallagher's assist.
The Robins retaliated immediately with Wilbraham heading in Aden Flint's flick on to earn City a point.
Bristol City need just one more win to guarantee Championship football next season while Preston are five points clear of third-placed MK Dons with five games to go.
Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol:
"It could have been three and maybe if you look at it with their goalkeeper [Sam Johnstone] being man of the match, he's pulled out three fantastic saves today - one from Kieran Agard at the end with a cross-shot and another two from Aaron Wilbraham.
"How he's kept the two out from Wilbraham I don't know.
"So with him getting man of the match, it probably says a lot about our performance today.
"I thought we were good in a pretty hot atmosphere for us."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 3-5-2
- 34Johnstone
- 5Clarke
- 6Wright
- 22KingBooked at 30mins
- 7HumphreySubstituted forWisemanat 84'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 24Johnson
- 19Welsh
- 12Gallagher
- 3Laird
- 14GarnerSubstituted forRobinsonat 84'minutes
- 10BeckfordSubstituted forDaviesat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Wiseman
- 8Kilkenny
- 9Davies
- 15Woods
- 18Little
- 21Stuckmann
- 27Robinson
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fielding
- 22Ayling
- 4Flint
- 3Williams
- 24Tavernier
- 7Smith
- 21Pack
- 15FreemanSubstituted forElliottat 90'minutes
- 23Bryan
- 19AgardSubstituted forEmmanuel-Thomasat 82'minutes
- 18Wilbraham
Substitutes
- 5Osborne
- 8Elliott
- 10Emmanuel-Thomas
- 11Wagstaff
- 12Saville
- 13Richards
- 17Cunningham
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 16,441
Match Stats
Home TeamPrestonAway TeamBristol City
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 1, Bristol City 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Callum Robinson (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Kevin Davies replaces Jermaine Beckford.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Wade Elliott replaces Luke Freeman.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Derrick Williams.
Post update
Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Aden Flint.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marlon Pack (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Scott Wiseman (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Scott Wiseman (Preston North End).
Post update
Luke Freeman (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Callum Robinson replaces Joe Garner.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Scott Wiseman replaces Chris Humphrey.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Bristol City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaces Kieran Agard.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Sam Johnstone.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kieran Agard (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt missed. Joe Bryan (Bristol City) left footed shot from long range on the left is too high.
Post update
Foul by Bailey Wright (Preston North End).
