[themaclad]

LAST TIME OUT



FORM GUIDE

PNE 12 BRIZZLE 6

After scoring on his North End debut on Wednesday evening as a substitute, Cameron Archer will be hoping for a place in the starting XI this weekend.

Elsewhere, Josh Earl could come in to the matchday squad after stepping up his return to training, but he wasn't quite ready to play a part in the midweek victory.

Manager Ryan Lowe will provide further updates on team news in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

The Opposition


Bristol City sit 16th in the Championship on their arrival at Deepdale, with experienced manager Nigel Pearson in the dugout.

He’s been left frustrated this season with his side’s lack of consistency, highlighted by the fact they are yet to achieve back-to-back victories in the league this term.

A factor in their up-and-down form has undoubtedly been their tough luck with injury, and that could continue this weekend, as former PNE midfielder Matty James is one of a few key players who could miss out.

Key Stats

PNE are unbeaten in the last eight home meetings against Bristol City, with the last defeat at Deepdale against the Robins coming in 2011.

That was also the last time North End failed to score against the side from the south west at home, netting 15 in those eight games.

In Andreas Weimann, the visitors have one of the most in-form strikers in the division, with the Austrian having scored seven in his last six Championship games.

Our Last Meeting


Neither side could break the deadlock the last time these two faced in each other, back in September 2021 at Ashton Gate.

North End had much the better of the chances, with Sean Maguire coming closest, striking the crossbar just before the half-time break.

Ben Whiteman and Daniel Johnson were among those who also came close, but PNE had to settle for a point.

Man In The Middle


John Busby will referee his first ever Preston North End first team fixture this weekend.

Busby, formerly an assistant referee, joined the National Group Referees List in 2016 and was added to the Select Group 2 List ahead of this season.

So far this term, he has taken charge of 22 matches, showing 87 yellow cards and four red.

MACS VIEW

For the first time in a while there seems to be connection between the fans and the club, the opening of the Kop for home fans being a start, the fanzone being another. On the pitch for the first time since long before lockdown there seems to be progress, switching the midfield three in front of the defensive midfielder protecting the back for seems to have been a positive.
City were woeful at home for weeks this season but had a good away record. Weimann scoring for fun this season, Chris Martin writes songs, played cricket for New Zealand and scores goals for City. They have added Tim Klose to the squad this week will be experience. Tough but winnable

[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Riis 2 Bristol City 2 Martin Semenyo

PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Bauer, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Ledson, Cunningham; Riis, Archer (Evans, 79). Subs not used: Ripley, Lindsay, Rafferty, Sinclair.

Bristol City line-up: O’Leary; Kalas, Klose, Pring; Dasilva (Cundy, 82), Massengo, Scott (Vyner, 84), O’Dowda (Williams, 64); Martin, Weimann, Semenyo. Subs not used: Bentley, Wells, Conway, Benarous.

Attendance: 11,936 (523 away fans)

Fair play to City probably disappointed not to take all three points in this cracking game, they thoroughly dominated the first half and in truth should easily have been two up but were denied at the death by a superb North End goal
Not an easy day to play footbal a strong gusty wind swirling round the stadium, one change Archer for Evans. City have not won at Deepdale for years although the canny little sods keep doing their best.
We were not at the races in the first half City hustled and harried us played excellent football took control of midfield and deservedly lead at the break , fine goal as well Semanyo, Weimann fed the ball through to Martin, control, turn bottom right 1 up.
The outsatnding Scott and Massengo bossed us, up front the wylie Martin and the dangerous Semenyo pus the wing back flare of Dasilva put us under the cosh, they really should have been two up, break down the left hand side ball across to Weimann five yards out managed somehow not to hit the target, little did we know how pivotal that would be.
Two changes at half time McCann and Earl for Ledson and Cunningham, early Archer shot over, his next was more accurate forced O'Leary into a save, didn't hold the shot Riis netted off the covering defender. We were on top although never really got a scoring chance as City began to rally, and bega to look dangerous again. Evans for Archer but it was down the other end the goal came, Massengo penetrating run, we back off, pass to Semenyo past Iversen at the near post.
Up against with little time to play Browne was inches away from connecting at the back post. City had chances to increase the lead, a three on two break was stopped and we were well into injury time when they had a two on one break, McCann's takle was excellent, Van Den Berg's pass to Potts was going like the clappers as was Potts first time cross, first time volley by Riis level wonderful goal.
Basically the last kick off the game,point gained in my book credit them though they looked a decent side.

Preston North End manger Ryan Lowe:

"I won't accept the first-half performance from the players and the lads know that. But despite that, I was really pleased with the reaction of the players in the second half. We freshened it up after the break and I'm really pleased with the reaction. We weren't quite at it first half and we were disappointed with large parts of it.

"[Cameron] Archer is going to be a star for us, the fans have taken to him already and he'll get goals for us. It was a great tackle to start the move for the second goal and we've gone from one end to the other for the equaliser and that is pleasing."

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I thought we played very well. We've conceded some late goals this season - we had chances to run the ball into the corners and kill the game but we didn't. But the referee has got to get that right. How he can't give a free-kick is absolutely mind-blowing. It's a disappointing end to what was a very good performance and I thought we showed some very good qualities today.

"It's a good job we're scoring goals because we're conceding too many. But I thought actually we looked quite assured today at the back. We should really see the game out but I can't really fault the application and desire to win the game but we should have been more ruthless with the chances we had. Those things together make it a bit of a head-scratcher, but I thought there were loads of positives."

[themaclad]