[themaclad]

Who would have thought as were bumbling around the bottom of the table early in the season that if we win on Saturday we could be within three points of the club presently in sixth position who incidentally we are playing on Saturday.

That club is Bristol City who having gone on a staggeringly long unbeaten run have now lost the last three on the bounce, loittle Lee Johnson's teams tend to go from feast to fallow so will be intersting to see whst happens between now and the end of the season with the team from Bristol whether he can get them back on track.

City lost 2-1 at home to Bimingham last night to compound matters Johnson was also suspoended from the touchline after picking up four yellow cards.

City made slow progress at the start of the season having sold some key players and it took a while for the new ones to be in however they have had a decent season up to date and lie handily placed in the table but as I said can they push on.

We will have to make a change on Saturday as Pearson gets one of his regular holidays due to card rage it's his third ban this season, the last one at Christmas we struggled for results but that was compounded by the fact we had hardly any fit players bit different this time, personal view Johnson will replace him.

A pivotal period coming up for both clubs should be a decent game.

Team News: Bristol City

Midfielder Ben Pearson is suspended, missing the first of two games for accumulating ten cautions this season.

However, there are plenty of options available to the manager to replace his No.4, with Ryan Ledson amongst those waiting in the wings as a possible deputy.

Darnell Fisher is expected to be available, having missing out on the win at The Den due to a hip injury, however, club captain Tom Clarke came in and scored in the victory over the Lions and could retain his place.

North End’s four outfield long-term injured, Robinson and Moult (both hamstring) and Harrop and Bodin (both ACL) are all making good progress, with the first two getting closer to a return to training possibly some time in the middle of next month.

Connor Ripley (ankle) is still also ruled out for an extended spell, but there are no fresh injury concerns for the manager as the Robins arrive in PR1.
Lee Johnson was able to include Andreas Weimann (back) and defender Jack Hunt (calf) in their clash with Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

Whilst he made three changes in the game, none of them were down to injury and therefore he should have the same squad available to face the Lilywhites.

Goalkeeper Frank Fielding has been ruled out for a spell with a broken hand, whilst Korey Smith remains some way from a return following a knee injury, but the rest of the squad are fit and available.

Ref Watch: Bristol City

For the second time this season, Jeremy Simpson will take charge of the Lilywhites at Deepdale, as we face Lee Johnson’s high-flying Bristol City.
The Carnforth referee last took charge of us for the October clash at home to Rotherham United, prior to which he had not officiated the Lilywhites since January 2018, when he was the match official for the draw at Millwall, his second North End game of 2017/18, his first the 1-0 home win over Queens Park Rangers in December 2017.

This will be Jeremy’s third Robins game of the season, having refereed their 4-2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion and their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground earlier this year.

In 2016/17, the select group two match official took the role for our Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and the Lilywhites’ Roses victory over Huddersfield Town in October, as well as acting as fourth official at two home games.
He also was in charge when North End took on Stoke City at PR1 in pre-season that year, and is an experienced official, with plenty of Championship action under his belt.

This weekend he will be assisted by Adam Matthews and Mark Dwyer, whilst Carl Boyeson will be the fourth official.

[themaclad]

Preston North End 1 Johnson Bristol City 1Diedhiou

PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Hughes, Ledson, Storey, Davies, Potts, Gallagher © (Barkhuizen, 74), Maguire, Browne, Johnson (Stockley, 87), Potts (Nmecha, 80). Subs not used: Crowe, Earl, Rafferty, Huntington.

Bristol City line-up: Mäenpää (O’Leary, 65), Webster, Brownhill, Diedhiou, O’Dowda (Semenyo, 53), Weimann, Kelly (Dasilva, 60), Paterson, Pack ©, Kalas, Hunt. Subs not used: Wright, Taylor, Eliasson, Palmer.

Attendance: 12,683 (870 Bristol City fans)

Referee: Mr J Simpson

Of the two managers suspect Lee Johnson will be more satisfied than Alex Neil, it keeps City six points above us and for the first time since both clubs got promnoted City actually did not lose.
A scrappy game in the main apart from the last 15 minutes when it was end to end.
Early chance or City when I think it was O'Dowda got into a good position and fired wide when probably should have done better. our chances mainly came from set plays, keeper Maenpaa got lucky when failing to come for a corner Browne headed over, we had a couple of Maguire shots from distance whichdidn't trouble the keeper. City had a bit more of the bakll got into good positions didn't have any quality on the final ball, at one point Mr Simpson inadveratntly set up two Bristol attacks by getting in the way of home players. We also looked slightly disjointed the formation didn't look right Barkhuizen surpringly left out.
We took the lead a couple of minutes before half time, Kelly hacked down Browne close to the dead ball line, Gallagher with a clever short free kick, Johnson first time shot 1 up.
Dominated the early stages of the second half before the balance of the game changed thanks to the substitution of Kelly. The full back already having been booked obstructed Browne on another day might have got a ssecond yellow, on came DaSilv who posed us lots of problems. City also have to change keeper but we rarely tested the new man's O'Leary until far too late in the game.
City in my view deservedly drew level our epic failings at a corner were exposed again, Diedhiou turning nicely to fire home from close range although Neil thinks he may have been offside.
Rudd stopped us going behind pulling off a fine one hnded save from substitute Semenyo's effort whilst Diedhiou effort on goal hit Davies on the back.
End to end at the end Storey and Barkhuizen went close and with the final action of 6the game Stockley couldn't quite get a shot away.
Didn't deserve to win but unbeaten run hits 9 games and it's Deadwood Park at high noon next Saturday.

City boss Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was a really tough game for both teams. It was a little bit cagey in the first half and they won more individual duels inside and outside the box and that disappointed me a little.

"But I thought second half we were the better side, we took the game to them and got the ball forward with more intent.

"It was the third game in a week, away from home, so it was a really good effort from the boys and it's a good point given all the situations and scenarios of the day."

Preston boss Alex Neil: "We are still in the hunt and I've told the lads that, and we hope we are still in that position with three or four games to go.

"A lot of the players are disappointed because they really wanted the three points.

"Whoever was going to get the first goal would be a big factor I felt, and it is disappointing for us that we did not get the win."