Not quite a must win game at this stage in the season but both sides could do with a win to boost confidence. North End on the back of three defeats on the bounce in the league need to be more posits at home and playing with the formation that ended yesterday's game is the way to go. However he will match up with City's formation which I think is 352. City also having an uncertain start although did get a good win at Boro . Two of the best sides in League 1 last season should be a decent game
On any other night City's manager Steve Cotterill would have been satisfied with a point although on last night's motorway journey home he would probably be reflecting on how they didn't manage to win. City had enough chances to win two games but poor finishing, great defending and outstanding goalkeeping by North End's keeper Pickford saved a point for the home side. A disappointing crowd of just under 10000 saw last seasons promoted sides share the points in a 1 all draw. An a very open and entertaining first period saw plenty of good football but with limited goal mouth action. North End matching City's 352 looked slightly more at ease than they had done on Saturday however after the initial period of play City's faster pass and movement game began to cause the home side problems, Freeman, Ayling and the tall Kodija were a handful especially Freeman whose dead ball deliveries were absolutely top notch. City forced a string of corners which were dealt with by the defenders not with ease though with the ball being whipped in under the crossbar from either side of the pith. A couple of last ditch tackles by Wright saved dangerous situations if he was beaten Pickford plucked everything out of the air. Freeman was denied by a fine save by Pickford who touch the ball round the post. Little was seen of the North End attack although close to half time Garner launched a missle from 30 yards which hit the bar and rocketed up into the Lancashire air.City piled on the pressure before half time but could not get a break through. North End started well in the second half with Johnson forcing Fielding to save with his legs,the ball was never fully cleared and ended up at the feet of Kilkenny fully 30 yards from goal. Kilkenny North End's equivalent of Ray Wilkins in respects of all passes goal sideways or backwards, however with acres of space Killa curled in an absolute stormer, in respects to his former side Killkenny celebrated wildly being buried under a mountain of bodies on the Deepdale turf. City for the next 10 minutes struggled as confidence surged through the home team. A second goal would not come and City began to get on top again, Pickford saved well from Williams? but had no chance with a close range shot from Kodija which flashed past him and the waiting Wilbraham at the back post before continuing it's way out for a throw in. Corner after corner City had and it was almost a matter of time before the City goal came. Nine minutes from time Freeman was given far too much space whipped over an inch perfect cross Wilbraham didn't miss. Only one team was going to win and they would have done had City substitute Agard not seen his header superbly saved by Pickford and a Freeman header from five yards failed to hit the target. There was almost a sting in the tails Garner's neat header from a Browne cross was well saved by Fielding if that had gone in Cotterill's head would have exploded if that had gone in. A lucky point for North End but a point it was. Preston North End 1 Bristol City 1 Att 9900
Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill paid tribute to his side after what he felt was a "magnificent" performance against Preston. City struck late to earn a 1-1 draw at Deepdale but Cotterill felt his side deserved all three points. "I'm very proud and very pleased with the players' performance," Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol. "We were magnificent, some of the football was brilliant. To come away [without a win], we are disappointed." Neil Kilkenny opened the scoring with a long-range shot which Cotterill thinks he will not better in his career. But the manager also paid tribute to Aaron Wilbraham whose header levelled matters on Tuesday. "Their goal was a wonder strike," he said. "I don't know if he has scored a goal like that in his career and he probably won't score another one. For us to be 1-0 down was a travesty. We were superb tonight, we've been good all season and we have not quite got the points our performances have merited. "I was pleased for Aaron Wilbraham. It was bullet header from a cross that was fired at him like a cannon. Saturday was probably his worst game, he's probably had about 60 or 70 games, so he's not due another bad one until next season." Preston boss Simon Grayson: "Overall I thought we played well. It was like a basketball game at times. "We're just pleased to have stopped the rot because when we've lost the games against the three top teams as we have the next thing you want to do is at least get a point on the board. "Overall we're satisfied with what we've done."
