Match Day Thread Bristol City v Preston North End Ashton Gate 11/9/21

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Ashton Gate is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. and the Bristol Bears. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it currently has an all-seated capacity of 27,000.
Ashton Gate was the home of Bedminster F.C. until their 1900 merger with Bristol South End who played at St John's Lane, and the merged club played at St John's Lane until the end of the 1903–04 season, when they moved to Ashton Gate.[2]

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The Dolman Stand at a Bristol City home game vs rivals Bristol Rovers
The ground has also played a part in the history of rugby in the city. Bristol played there on a number of occasions since the 1920s, one occasion being on 27 December 2006 when they defeated local rivals Bath Rugby 16–6 whilst selling out the stadium for an all-time record Premiership crowd outside of Twickenham. Several rugby internationals have been held, starting with England versus Wales in 1899. 100 years later, the All Blacks took on Tonga in a 1999 Rugby World Cup pool match. As of the 2014–2015 season, Bristol Rugby permanently moved to Ashton Gate.

It has hosted three England under-21 international friendlies. The first was against Italy on the 12th February 1997 with Darren Eadie scoring the winner in a 1-0 win in front of a crowd of 13,850. [3] The second was against Romania's under-21s on 21 August 2007. It ended in a 1–1 draw with Matt Derbyshire giving the hosts the lead on the eighth minute but Joe Hart's 25th minute own goal gifted the visitors a draw but they had Cristian Scutaru sent off on the seventy second minute for a second bookable offence. There were 18,640 in attendance. The third was against Uzbekistan's under-21s on 10 August 2010. The hosts beat the visitors 2–0 with Danny Rose scoring on the 64th minute and Martin Kelly scoring on the 78th minute. There were 9,821 in attendance. It will also host the 2021 National League play-off Final after it was moved from Wembley Stadium to avoid clashes with UEFA Euro 2020 matches.

FAMOUS BRISTOL PERSON

William Child (1606 – 23 March 1697) was an English composer and organist.

Born in Bristol, Child was a chorister in the cathedral under the direction of Elway Bevin. In 1630 he began his lifetime association with St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, becoming first a lay-clerk and, from 1632, Master of the Choristers there until the dissolution of the chapel in 1643. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, Child was re-appointed to St. George's, became Master of the King's Wind Music and a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal.

Works
His output of church music is understandably considerable, including a set of psalms (1639), many anthems and 17 service settings. He was often influenced by the Italian 'tastes' of his time, but also wrote anthems in more conventional English forms.

Little secular music of Child survives, namely, a number of catches and instrumental pieces.
Unfortunately due to death William will not be at the game

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FORM GUIDE

As clubs have now played 5 games Macs mystic form guide now kicks in

Brizzle 11 PNE 6

LAST TIME OUT

CARDIFF CITY 1 BRISTOL CITY 2

LAST MEETING

BRISTOL CITY 2 PNE 0

 

OPPOSITION MANAGER

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As manager of Carlisle United, Pearson helped to keep the club in the Football League at the end of the 1998–99 season.[3] He signed goalkeeper Jimmy Glass on loan, who scored an injury-time goal against Plymouth Argyle, saving the club from relegation to the Football Conference at the expense of Scarborough.[8] The match was Pearson's last in charge of the Brunton Park outfit.

In 1999, he was recruited as Stoke City's first team coach by Gary Megson.[3] Although Megson was sacked later that year by the club's Icelandic consortium, Pearson was kept on for a further two years under Guðjón Þórðarson, before being sacked in 2001.[9]

Pearson moved to West Bromwich Albion in November 2004 as assistant manager to Bryan Robson,[10] and took over as caretaker manager when Robson left the club in September 2006.[11] Albion won three and drew one of his matches in charge, before stepping down from the role in preparation for the arrival of new manager Tony Mowbray.[12]

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Pearson as assistant manager of Newcastle United in 2006
On 19 October 2006, he was linked with the Sheffield Wednesday manager's position but instead took over as assistant manager of Newcastle United, replacing Kevin Bond, who was dismissed following allegations he was prepared to take bungs for players whilst at Portsmouth.[13]

On 1 February 2007, Pearson was confirmed as assistant coach to Stuart Pearce, the England U21 team manager, until after the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[14] As Pearce's contract limited him to involvement in only one friendly before the Championship, Pearson led the under-21s in their 3–3 draw against Italy on 24 March 2007, the first game at the new Wembley Stadium.[15][16]

When Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder resigned on 6 May 2007, Pearson took charge of the remaining game of the season, away to Watford.[17] Pearson stayed on at Newcastle as a coach following the arrival of Sam Allardyce as manager at the club.[18] On 9 January, following the departure of Allardyce, he was re-appointed as caretaker manager for Newcastle's trip to Manchester United.[19] Newcastle lost 6–0, after a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, a brace from Carlos Tevez and a Rio Ferdinand goal.[20] On 16 January 2008, after Kevin Keegan had been announced as the next permanent manager of the club, Pearson took charge of the team for the 3rd round FA Cup replay against Stoke City, which Newcastle won 4–1.[21] On 8 February, Pearson left the club.[22]

Southampton[edit]
On 18 February 2008, Pearson was appointed as manager of Southampton on a rolling contract.[23] On 19 February 2008, his career at Southampton got off to a poor start, losing 2–0 at home to Plymouth Argyle in front of 17,806, the lowest recorded crowd at St Mary's Stadium.[24] On 22 February 2008, Southampton gained their first point under his managership, drawing 1–1 away to Scunthorpe United.[25]

On 4 May 2008, with only one game to go, at home to Sheffield United, the Saints were in 22nd place and facing relegation to League One.[26] After going 1–0 down, Pearson's side pulled-off a comeback to win the game 3–2, their goals scored by Marek Saganowski and two from Stern John, who was also sent-off.[27] Southampton secured Championship status for another season, at the expense of Leicester City, who could only manage a 0–0 draw with Premier League-bound Stoke City, and were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their 124-year history .[28] On 30 May 2008, Pearson was replaced by Dutch coach Jan Poortvliet after only three months in charge.[29]

Leicester City[edit]

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Pearson (right) and Milan Mandarić after winning the League One title in 2009
On 20 June 2008, Pearson was appointed as manager of Leicester City.[30] Craig Shakespeare became the club's first team coach and co-assistant manager alongside Steve Walsh (a former Chelsea chief scout, and not the former Leicester City player of the same name).[31] As well as having worked together on the West Bromwich Albion coaching staff, the two had also played together at Sheffield Wednesday. Shakespeare once said that Pearson was the best captain he had ever played under.[32] Pearson was named League One Manager of the Month for August 2008 after Leicester won three of their first four games, scoring nine goals and conceding only once.[citation needed] After the disappointing defeat of losing 3–2 away to Brighton & Hove Albion despite being 2–0 up at half-time, Leicester bounced back with a club-record 23-match unbeaten run in the league between 1 November 2008 and 7 March 2009, before finally being beaten 2–0 by Tranmere Rovers.[33] He was again named the League One Manager of the Month during that run in December 2008.[citation needed] On 18 April 2009, Leicester won 2–0 at Southend United, confirming their promotion back to the Championship as League One champions. The season finished with the club racking up their highest ever points tally of 96 points, as they lost just four of their 46 league games.[3]

Veteran full-back Chris Powell also joined Pearson's coaching staff as a player/coach in the summer of 2009,[34] as Leicester continued their upsurge in form under Pearson the following season in the Championship. Leicester completed a full calendar year of being undefeated at home, before a 2–1 defeat against Preston North End on 26 September 2009 ended the longest unbeaten home run in the country.[35] Leicester spent almost the entire season in the play-off positions and an impressive month of February saw Pearson pick up the Championship Manager of the Month award.[citation needed] Leicester finished in 5th place in their first season back in the Championship, earning a place in the Championship play-offs and a chance of back-to-back promotions.[36] They were defeated by Cardiff City following a penalty shoot-out in the play-off semifinal, despite fighting back from a 2-goal aggregate deficit in the second leg to briefly lead 3–2.[3]

At the end of the season, Pearson took a hard line on Leicester defender Wayne Brown, who had publicly said in front of his teammates – including some of ethnic minority backgrounds – that he had voted for the far-right British National Party in the general election on 6 May. He dropped Brown from the side for the play-offs.[37] During the close season, Brown left the club to sign for Preston North End.[38]

Despite his relative success in his two years at Leicester, he often had a very strained relationship with chairman Milan Mandaric and chief executive Lee Hoos. In the summer of 2010, Mandaric showed a consortium of potential club buyers round the club without Pearson's knowledge and invited Paulo Sousa to the second leg of the play-off semifinal. The club then allowed Hull City to speak to him. Pearson said: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's happening" – suggesting the club did not want to keep him. He then left Leicester to take the job at Hull City and Paulo Sousa was later appointed as his successor.[39][40]

Hull City[edit]
On 29 June 2010, he was appointed Hull City manager.[41] Despite financial difficulties following relegation from the Premier League, Pearson was still able to enter the transfer market, bringing in players such as Nolberto Solano, James Harper, Liam Rosenior, Robert Koren and Jay Simpson.[42][43][44][45] The club won their first away game in over a year at Norwich City in September. Following that victory, Pearson's club broke a 66-year-old record with 14 consecutive away games without defeat.[46] The season ended with an 11th-place finish.[3]

Hull started the 2011–12 season with the club sitting one point outside the play-offs, having a game in hand in the middle of November;[47] however, on 7 November 2011 Pearson requested permission to talk to his former club Leicester.[48]

Return to Leicester City[edit]
After Mandaric and Hoos had departed the club, Pearson was persuaded to rejoin Leicester City under their new ownership by chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn, and after days of negotiations he was finally re-appointed as manager on 15 November 2011 with Leicester sitting 12th in the Championship.[49][50] Pearson started well, taking seven points from his first three games, which took Leicester into the top six for the first time since he had last been at the club, over 18 months previously,[51] before Leicester faced the Hull City side Pearson had left just 18 days earlier. Leicester lost the game 2–1 thanks to a late Robert Koren strike, as Pearson was greeted with chants of "Judas" from the Hull fans.[52] That result also signalled a downturn in form, beginning a run which saw Leicester fail to win for 5 consecutive games.[53] However, after the new year, Pearson rang the changes for the trip to Crystal Palace in an attempt to get back to winning ways, recalling Aleksander Tunchev to play his first match of the season and bringing in reserve team player Tom Kennedy and 18-year-old youth academy graduate Liam Moore to make his first team debut for the club. His inexperienced team selection paid off as Leicester earnt a 2–1 victory to end their winless run.[54]

Pearson was sent to the stands in a 2–2 draw against his former club Middlesbrough, after the referee had allegedly "barged" into Leicester's dressing room unannounced, to which Pearson reacted angrily. The referee then left it to the fourth official to tell him he had been sent off. Pearson then appealed his sending off, saying, "I was giving my players instructions and there is no chance I will tolerate anyone coming in there who has nothing to do with my team. I'm within my rights to tell him to get out – he was telling me to hurry up. I can't wait to see the fall-out and I can't wait to appeal."[55][56] Pearson's appeal was successful, and he faced no disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA).[57] After an inconsistent season, Leicester ended the season ninth in the Championship.[58]

Leicester made a slow start to the 2012–13 season, losing three of their first five league games and suffering a surprising defeat in the second round of the League Cup at the hands of League Two side Burton Albion; however, a run of five straight victories saw Leicester sitting top of the table after 12 games and also earnt Pearson a nomination for Championship Manager of the Month in September.[59][60] However, a drop in form in mid-season saw Leicester fall to fifth. The signing of Chris Wood, though, saw a rejuvenated Leicester go on another run of five consecutive wins, with Leicester reprising 2nd place in the Championship table, behind leaders Cardiff City, and Pearson this time won the Championship Manager of the Month award for January 2013.[61] Again, a drop in form followed Leicester City's rise to second spot, and they only made the Championship play-offs on goal difference following their last gasp 3–2 win against neighbours Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season.[62] After winning the first leg against third-placed Watford 1–0, Pearson's Leicester City narrowly lost the second leg of the play-offs 3–1, after Anthony Knockaert missed a last-minute penalty which would have sent them to Wembley.[63]

The 2013–14 season saw Leicester recover from their play-off defeat of the previous season, starting well and sitting in first place at Christmas. It was during this time that the club started a club-record run of consecutive league victories, winning nine games from 21 December 2013 – 1 February 2014, which saw the club pull 10 points clear at the top of the Championship and earnt Pearson the Championship Manager of the Month award for January 2014.[64] Continuing good results, which saw Leicester play 20 league games unbeaten until the end of March, also earned Pearson the award again in March 2014.[65] Leicester ended the season as champions, winning promotion to the Premier League.[66]

In February 2015, following a home defeat by Crystal Palace in a game in which, at one point, Pearson put his hands around Palace's James McArthur's neck, while on the ground, the press reported that Pearson had been sacked. In a "night of confusion," it was reported by The Guardian that club staff, and even Pearson himself, had been told that he was sacked.[67] However, the same evening, the club issued a statement stating that such claims were "inaccurate and without foundation."[68] Following victories against West Ham United, West Brom, Swansea City and Burnley, with just one defeat, against Chelsea, during the month of April 2015, Pearson won the Premier League Manager of the Month for the first time.[69] On 29 April 2015, following a 3–1 defeat to Chelsea, Pearson was again embroiled in controversy, when he called a journalist an "ostrich", "stupid" and "daft" during a post-match news conference. He apologised for his comments the following day.[70][71]

On 16 May 2015, Leicester City confirmed their Premier League status following a goalless draw with Sunderland, becoming only the third team to escape relegation having been bottom at Christmas.[72] Leicester finished the season in 14th place.[73]

On 30 June 2015, however, Pearson was sacked, with the club stating that "the working relationship between Nigel and the Board was no longer viable." The sacking was linked to his son James's role in an alleged racist sex tape made by three Leicester City reserve players in Thailand during a post-season tour.[74][75][76] He was replaced at Leicester City by Claudio Ranieri, who took Leicester to the Premier League title the following year as 5000–1 outsiders. Sports journalists gave Pearson credit for building the team that won the title, as did player Riyad Mahrez.[77]

Derby County[edit]
After a year out of football, Pearson was appointed manager of Championship team Derby County on a three-year contract on 27 May 2016.[78] On 27 September 2016, Pearson was suspended by the club pending an internal investigation[79] following a row with owner Mel Morris.[80] It was later claimed that the row began with Pearson's objection to Morris's use of drones to observe training sessions.[81] Pearson left the club by mutual consent on 8 October 2016, with Derby 20th in the Championship.[82]

OH Leuven[edit]
After losing out on the managerial role at his former club Middlesbrough to Garry Monk,[83] Pearson was appointed as the manager of Belgian First Division B side Oud-Heverlee Leuven on 22 September 2017.[84] He was sacked on 3 February 2019.[85]

Watford[edit]
Pearson was appointed Watford manager on 6 December 2019 on a contract utill the end of the season. He was their third manager of the season after Javi Gracia and Quique Sánchez Flores.[86] On 29 February 2020, with Pearson as manager, Watford defeated league leaders Liverpool 3–0. This was the first time in 44 games that Liverpool had lost in the Premier League.[87]

On 19 July 2020, Pearson was sacked with two games remaining in the 2019–20 season. Watford were seven points adrift at the bottom of the league when Pearson took charge, and three points above the relegation zone when he was sacked.[88][89] Following Pearson's sacking, Watford went on to lose their remaining two games and were relegated.[90]

Bristol City[edit]
On 22 February 2021, Pearson was appointed manager of Bristol City on a contract until the end of the season.[91] On 29 April 2021, Pearson signed a three year contract.[92]
As manager of Carlisle United, Pearson helped to keep the club in the Football League at the end of the 1998–99 season.[3] He signed goalkeeper Jimmy Glass on loan, who scored an injury-time goal against Plymouth Argyle, saving the club from relegation to the Football Conference at the expense of Scarborough.[8] The match was Pearson's last in charge of the Brunton Park outfit.

In 1999, he was recruited as Stoke City's first team coach by Gary Megson.[3] Although Megson was sacked later that year by the club's Icelandic consortium, Pearson was kept on for a further two years under Guðjón Þórðarson, before being sacked in 2001.[9]

Pearson moved to West Bromwich Albion in November 2004 as assistant manager to Bryan Robson,[10] and took over as caretaker manager when Robson left the club in September 2006.[11] Albion won three and drew one of his matches in charge, before stepping down from the role in preparation for the arrival of new manager Tony Mowbray.[12]

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Pearson as assistant manager of Newcastle United in 2006
On 19 October 2006, he was linked with the Sheffield Wednesday manager's position but instead took over as assistant manager of Newcastle United, replacing Kevin Bond, who was dismissed following allegations he was prepared to take bungs for players whilst at Portsmouth.[13]

On 1 February 2007, Pearson was confirmed as assistant coach to Stuart Pearce, the England U21 team manager, until after the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[14] As Pearce's contract limited him to involvement in only one friendly before the Championship, Pearson led the under-21s in their 3–3 draw against Italy on 24 March 2007, the first game at the new Wembley Stadium.[15][16]

When Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder resigned on 6 May 2007, Pearson took charge of the remaining game of the season, away to Watford.[17] Pearson stayed on at Newcastle as a coach following the arrival of Sam Allardyce as manager at the club.[18] On 9 January, following the departure of Allardyce, he was re-appointed as caretaker manager for Newcastle's trip to Manchester United.[19] Newcastle lost 6–0, after a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick, a brace from Carlos Tevez and a Rio Ferdinand goal.[20] On 16 January 2008, after Kevin Keegan had been announced as the next permanent manager of the club, Pearson took charge of the team for the 3rd round FA Cup replay against Stoke City, which Newcastle won 4–1.[21] On 8 February, Pearson left the club.[22]

Southampton[edit]
On 18 February 2008, Pearson was appointed as manager of Southampton on a rolling contract.[23] On 19 February 2008, his career at Southampton got off to a poor start, losing 2–0 at home to Plymouth Argyle in front of 17,806, the lowest recorded crowd at St Mary's Stadium.[24] On 22 February 2008, Southampton gained their first point under his managership, drawing 1–1 away to Scunthorpe United.[25]

On 4 May 2008, with only one game to go, at home to Sheffield United, the Saints were in 22nd place and facing relegation to League One.[26] After going 1–0 down, Pearson's side pulled-off a comeback to win the game 3–2, their goals scored by Marek Saganowski and two from Stern John, who was also sent-off.[27] Southampton secured Championship status for another season, at the expense of Leicester City, who could only manage a 0–0 draw with Premier League-bound Stoke City, and were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their 124-year history .[28] On 30 May 2008, Pearson was replaced by Dutch coach Jan Poortvliet after only three months in charge.[29]

Leicester City[edit]

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Pearson (right) and Milan Mandarić after winning the League One title in 2009
On 20 June 2008, Pearson was appointed as manager of Leicester City.[30] Craig Shakespeare became the club's first team coach and co-assistant manager alongside Steve Walsh (a former Chelsea chief scout, and not the former Leicester City player of the same name).[31] As well as having worked together on the West Bromwich Albion coaching staff, the two had also played together at Sheffield Wednesday. Shakespeare once said that Pearson was the best captain he had ever played under.[32] Pearson was named League One Manager of the Month for August 2008 after Leicester won three of their first four games, scoring nine goals and conceding only once.[citation needed] After the disappointing defeat of losing 3–2 away to Brighton & Hove Albion despite being 2–0 up at half-time, Leicester bounced back with a club-record 23-match unbeaten run in the league between 1 November 2008 and 7 March 2009, before finally being beaten 2–0 by Tranmere Rovers.[33] He was again named the League One Manager of the Month during that run in December 2008.[citation needed] On 18 April 2009, Leicester won 2–0 at Southend United, confirming their promotion back to the Championship as League One champions. The season finished with the club racking up their highest ever points tally of 96 points, as they lost just four of their 46 league games.[3]

Veteran full-back Chris Powell also joined Pearson's coaching staff as a player/coach in the summer of 2009,[34] as Leicester continued their upsurge in form under Pearson the following season in the Championship. Leicester completed a full calendar year of being undefeated at home, before a 2–1 defeat against Preston North End on 26 September 2009 ended the longest unbeaten home run in the country.[35] Leicester spent almost the entire season in the play-off positions and an impressive month of February saw Pearson pick up the Championship Manager of the Month award.[citation needed] Leicester finished in 5th place in their first season back in the Championship, earning a place in the Championship play-offs and a chance of back-to-back promotions.[36] They were defeated by Cardiff City following a penalty shoot-out in the play-off semifinal, despite fighting back from a 2-goal aggregate deficit in the second leg to briefly lead 3–2.[3]

At the end of the season, Pearson took a hard line on Leicester defender Wayne Brown, who had publicly said in front of his teammates – including some of ethnic minority backgrounds – that he had voted for the far-right British National Party in the general election on 6 May. He dropped Brown from the side for the play-offs.[37] During the close season, Brown left the club to sign for Preston North End.[38]

Despite his relative success in his two years at Leicester, he often had a very strained relationship with chairman Milan Mandaric and chief executive Lee Hoos. In the summer of 2010, Mandaric showed a consortium of potential club buyers round the club without Pearson's knowledge and invited Paulo Sousa to the second leg of the play-off semifinal. The club then allowed Hull City to speak to him. Pearson said: "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what's happening" – suggesting the club did not want to keep him. He then left Leicester to take the job at Hull City and Paulo Sousa was later appointed as his successor.[39][40]

Hull City[edit]
On 29 June 2010, he was appointed Hull City manager.[41] Despite financial difficulties following relegation from the Premier League, Pearson was still able to enter the transfer market, bringing in players such as Nolberto Solano, James Harper, Liam Rosenior, Robert Koren and Jay Simpson.[42][43][44][45] The club won their first away game in over a year at Norwich City in September. Following that victory, Pearson's club broke a 66-year-old record with 14 consecutive away games without defeat.[46] The season ended with an 11th-place finish.[3]

Hull started the 2011–12 season with the club sitting one point outside the play-offs, having a game in hand in the middle of November;[47] however, on 7 November 2011 Pearson requested permission to talk to his former club Leicester.[48]

Return to Leicester City[edit]
After Mandaric and Hoos had departed the club, Pearson was persuaded to rejoin Leicester City under their new ownership by chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn, and after days of negotiations he was finally re-appointed as manager on 15 November 2011 with Leicester sitting 12th in the Championship.[49][50] Pearson started well, taking seven points from his first three games, which took Leicester into the top six for the first time since he had last been at the club, over 18 months previously,[51] before Leicester faced the Hull City side Pearson had left just 18 days earlier. Leicester lost the game 2–1 thanks to a late Robert Koren strike, as Pearson was greeted with chants of "Judas" from the Hull fans.[52] That result also signalled a downturn in form, beginning a run which saw Leicester fail to win for 5 consecutive games.[53] However, after the new year, Pearson rang the changes for the trip to Crystal Palace in an attempt to get back to winning ways, recalling Aleksander Tunchev to play his first match of the season and bringing in reserve team player Tom Kennedy and 18-year-old youth academy graduate Liam Moore to make his first team debut for the club. His inexperienced team selection paid off as Leicester earnt a 2–1 victory to end their winless run.[54]

Pearson was sent to the stands in a 2–2 draw against his former club Middlesbrough, after the referee had allegedly "barged" into Leicester's dressing room unannounced, to which Pearson reacted angrily. The referee then left it to the fourth official to tell him he had been sent off. Pearson then appealed his sending off, saying, "I was giving my players instructions and there is no chance I will tolerate anyone coming in there who has nothing to do with my team. I'm within my rights to tell him to get out – he was telling me to hurry up. I can't wait to see the fall-out and I can't wait to appeal."[55][56] Pearson's appeal was successful, and he faced no disciplinary action from the Football Association (FA).[57] After an inconsistent season, Leicester ended the season ninth in the Championship.[58]

Leicester made a slow start to the 2012–13 season, losing three of their first five league games and suffering a surprising defeat in the second round of the League Cup at the hands of League Two side Burton Albion; however, a run of five straight victories saw Leicester sitting top of the table after 12 games and also earnt Pearson a nomination for Championship Manager of the Month in September.[59][60] However, a drop in form in mid-season saw Leicester fall to fifth. The signing of Chris Wood, though, saw a rejuvenated Leicester go on another run of five consecutive wins, with Leicester reprising 2nd place in the Championship table, behind leaders Cardiff City, and Pearson this time won the Championship Manager of the Month award for January 2013.[61] Again, a drop in form followed Leicester City's rise to second spot, and they only made the Championship play-offs on goal difference following their last gasp 3–2 win against neighbours Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season.[62] After winning the first leg against third-placed Watford 1–0, Pearson's Leicester City narrowly lost the second leg of the play-offs 3–1, after Anthony Knockaert missed a last-minute penalty which would have sent them to Wembley.[63]

The 2013–14 season saw Leicester recover from their play-off defeat of the previous season, starting well and sitting in first place at Christmas. It was during this time that the club started a club-record run of consecutive league victories, winning nine games from 21 December 2013 – 1 February 2014, which saw the club pull 10 points clear at the top of the Championship and earnt Pearson the Championship Manager of the Month award for January 2014.[64] Continuing good results, which saw Leicester play 20 league games unbeaten until the end of March, also earned Pearson the award again in March 2014.[65] Leicester ended the season as champions, winning promotion to the Premier League.[66]

In February 2015, following a home defeat by Crystal Palace in a game in which, at one point, Pearson put his hands around Palace's James McArthur's neck, while on the ground, the press reported that Pearson had been sacked. In a "night of confusion," it was reported by The Guardian that club staff, and even Pearson himself, had been told that he was sacked.[67] However, the same evening, the club issued a statement stating that such claims were "inaccurate and without foundation."[68] Following victories against West Ham United, West Brom, Swansea City and Burnley, with just one defeat, against Chelsea, during the month of April 2015, Pearson won the Premier League Manager of the Month for the first time.[69] On 29 April 2015, following a 3–1 defeat to Chelsea, Pearson was again embroiled in controversy, when he called a journalist an "ostrich", "stupid" and "daft" during a post-match news conference. He apologised for his comments the following day.[70][71]

On 16 May 2015, Leicester City confirmed their Premier League status following a goalless draw with Sunderland, becoming only the third team to escape relegation having been bottom at Christmas.[72] Leicester finished the season in 14th place.[73]

On 30 June 2015, however, Pearson was sacked, with the club stating that "the working relationship between Nigel and the Board was no longer viable." The sacking was linked to his son James's role in an alleged racist sex tape made by three Leicester City reserve players in Thailand during a post-season tour.[74][75][76] He was replaced at Leicester City by Claudio Ranieri, who took Leicester to the Premier League title the following year as 5000–1 outsiders. Sports journalists gave Pearson credit for building the team that won the title, as did player Riyad Mahrez.[77]

Derby County[edit]
After a year out of football, Pearson was appointed manager of Championship team Derby County on a three-year contract on 27 May 2016.[78] On 27 September 2016, Pearson was suspended by the club pending an internal investigation[79] following a row with owner Mel Morris.[80] It was later claimed that the row began with Pearson's objection to Morris's use of drones to observe training sessions.[81] Pearson left the club by mutual consent on 8 October 2016, with Derby 20th in the Championship.[82]

OH Leuven[edit]
After losing out on the managerial role at his former club Middlesbrough to Garry Monk,[83] Pearson was appointed as the manager of Belgian First Division B side Oud-Heverlee Leuven on 22 September 2017.[84] He was sacked on 3 February 2019.[85]

Watford[edit]
Pearson was appointed Watford manager on 6 December 2019 on a contract utill the end of the season. He was their third manager of the season after Javi Gracia and Quique Sánchez Flores.[86] On 29 February 2020, with Pearson as manager, Watford defeated league leaders Liverpool 3–0. This was the first time in 44 games that Liverpool had lost in the Premier League.[87]

On 19 July 2020, Pearson was sacked with two games remaining in the 2019–20 season. Watford were seven points adrift at the bottom of the league when Pearson took charge, and three points above the relegation zone when he was sacked.[88][89] Following Pearson's sacking, Watford went on to lose their remaining two games and were relegated.[90]

Bristol City[edit]
On 22 February 2021, Pearson was appointed manager of Bristol City on a contract until the end of the season.[91] On 29 April 2021, Pearson signed a three year contract.[92]

Good job due to Covid there were no pre season tours to Thailand

Preston North End are back in Championship action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Ashton Gate to face Bristol City.

Frankie McAvoy’s men face the Robins at 3pm, two weeks after sealing a third win in succession heading into the international break.

PNE Team News

McAvoy confirmed that Ched Evans, Liam Lindsay and Tom Barkhuizen have all returned to training for their phased returns after Covid isolation, but the latter is expected to be out for at least another week as he is "not doing too greatly" since coming back, according to the head coach.

In contention to feature will be deadline day signings Josh Murphy and Ali McCann. Murphy joined his team-mates at Euxton at the beginning of the week and played 45 minutes in the Central League draw against Walsall, while McCann has been away with his national side Northern Ireland.

Matthew Olosunde remains out injured alongside long-term absentee Izzy Brown.

The Opposition

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told the local media on Thursday that he has "more or less a fit squad" to choose from when they host PNE at Ashton Gate.

The Robins won their most recent match before the international break, picking up a 2-1 win in the Severnside derby away to Cardiff City.

Andreas Weimann was on the scoresheet twice that day and that was his second brace of the season, having bagged two against Reading just two games prior.

Key Stats

PNE have a positive record against Bristol City in recent years, having lost just once in the last 16 meetings between the two.

Daniel Johnson has had a lot of success in those games, too, scoring in each of the last three seasons against the Robins, with the last couple coming from the penalty spot.

Former North End man Matty James has played all 450 minutes so far this Championship season for Bristol City; the midfielder played 30 times during his time on loan at Deepdale from Manchester United.

Our Last Meeting



PNE were beaten 2-0 the last time these sides met at Ashton Gate in January earlier this year.

Daniel Iversen and Ben Whiteman made their debuts for the club that afternoon, but the Lilywhites were behind inside eight minutes as Famara Diedhiou put his side ahead.

PNE then came close a couple of times through Scott Sinclair and Paul Huntington, with the latter hitting the bar, but Zak Vyner sealed the three points for the hosts.

Man In The Middle

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Tim Robinson will referee the weekend's game against Bristol City and you have to go all the way back to December 2017 to find the last time PNE won a game which he took charge of, as the Lilywhites beat Sheffield United 1-0 at home.

The last North End game which Robinson refereed was the away defeat to Wycombe Wanderers earlier this year in March.

Nigel Lugg and Ian Cooper will be assisting him on Saturday, with Christopher Sarginson set to be fourth official.


MACS VIEW

Off to the land were they drown statues, an area were until Covid started we were neigh on invincible, also could be on the wrong side of history as City have not won a home game in the last 12 attempts since they beat us. In a way it's a pity the pointless International fixtures got in the way but another 4 week block of Championship and Cup games awaits us.
Good news for City fans will be missing this one due to cricket given the last 5 times I've been there we have won every one, hard to predict this one, settle for a point but will be interesting to see team selection given the 3-1 over Swansea

 

Unchanged

 

0-0 first point on the road

 

Preston North End had to settle for a point on the road as they drew 0-0 at Bristol City.

The first half took a while to get going and North End had to withstand a bit of pressure, without really giving the home side too many chances to score.

Rob Atkinson saw a powerful shot from distance tipped over by Daniel Iversen, but other than that the opportunities fell to Frankie McAvoy's men.

North End were excellent for the final 10 minutes of the half, with Sean Maguire hitting the crossbar with one effort from inside the box and firing another inches wide.

Ben Whiteman also saw a dipping effort from 20-yards drop the wrong side of the right-hand post, before the referee's whistle sent the two teams in at the break with it goalless.

In the second half, the home side gave a much better showing - starting and finishing it the better side.

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However, North End had a positive spell midway through the half and really should've scored.

Daniel Johnson saw a close range effort deflect wide from inside the box, before an unmarked Emil Riis blazed a volley over the crossbar as the ball dropped to him.

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Iversen then produced another excellent save to keep out Han-Noah Massengo's vicious volley from distance.

Here are our post-match player ratings from Ashton Gate:

Starting XI
Daniel Iversen - 8

Made two important saves in the game, to keep out Atkinson and Massengo from distance. Stayed alert throughout and dealt with the stuff that came his way.

Jordan Storey - 7

Took a bit of time to properly settle into the game as the hosts had the better of the first half-hour, but after that he kept it pretty solid at the back and helped keep the ball out of the net.

Patrick Bauer - 7

Did his job back there and never looked in any trouble. Martin is an experienced forward and had a bit of joy, but not enough to really ever threaten - which the German played a part in ensuring.

Andrew Hughes - 7

Had a good game. Was sharp and on the ball when Bristol City looked to the counter attack a few times. Made his tackles, read the danger and cleared his lines when required.

Sepp van den Berg - 6

Had an early chance to score, which he fired over the crossbar. Did fine overall and supported attacks much better as the game wore on. City had a bit of joy down the right but van den Berg coped fairly well.

Ben Whiteman - 6

Had a really good spell at the end of the second half, when his vision and passing really came into play and North End sustained some pressure in the final third. Just didn't quite see that enough over the course of it and he got caught on the ball a couple of times.

Ryan Ledson - 7

Like some of the others, it took him a while to grow into it but once he did, his energy and aggression was crucial in North End getting on top and gaining a foothold in the match. Battled and ran hard.

Josh Earl - 7

Another decent display for him and one that should see him stay in the side. Worked hard up and down the left flank and used the ball effectively more times than not. You feel he could be even more of a threat going forward, which will hopefully come.

Daniel Johnson - 8

Another really strong performance from the Jamaican. His quality was apparent throughout the game and North End wanted to get him on the ball as much as they could. He looked like the one who was going to make something happen and his passing, touch and work-rate was very good. Strange decision for him to be replaced with 10 to go - PNE didn't do much after that in truth.

Emil Riis - 6

Again, he looked a threat and caused problems but lacked the ruthless streak when it mattered today. His running power and speed is so deadly but a hit-and-miss afternoon for him. Excellent link-up play throughout but blazed a big chance over the bar and then couldn't make a 1v1 against the centre-back Atkinson count.

Sean Maguire - 7

Had two opportunities in the first-half and will have been disappointed not to stick one of them away. Worked tirelessly up top though and provided that link between attack and midfield. A goal would've given him a big boost.

Substitutes
Ali McCann - 6

Put himself about and his passing improved once he settled into it. You could see the athletic qualities he will bring.

Alan Browne - 6

Got up and down the pitch as expected. Couldn't quite get him on the ball as much as you'd have hoped.

Josh Murphy - 5

Came on for the final 10 and was in space a lot of the time but PNE were having to defend and he couldn't quite get himself into it.

Follow LancsLive

 

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"A good performance, a first clean sheet of the season. I'm frustrated of course not to win.

"If I was the away manager, I would be pretty satisfied with how many chances they had.

"I thought we defended really well, we created chances, made the goalkeeper work.

"I don't think I can ask too much more of the players."

Preston North End manager Frankie McAvoy:

"We came here to win the game today and I felt we created enough chances in the first half to win the game.

"But, over the course of the whole game, a point is probably a fair result.

"I can't be too disappointed. Away from home, if you can't get the win, you take the point and the clean sheet and move on.

"There were a lot of good points and things that we have worked on that are getting better, so it's pleasing."