Well it's time for the big one, the clash of the top two in League 1, City looking for points to give them automatic whilst the home sides are also looking for automatic and the title. City moved 8 points clear of the Whites with a 3-0 over an interesting Swindon side who mixed beauty with the beast in Tuesday nights game. Defeats have been rare for the Robins although they lost to us at Ashton Gate earlier in the season, Cotterill could not believe the result as apparently they dominated. You can dominate all you like Steve idea is to put ball in the net and you did not. Suspect he will want revenge but will he get it though. Huntington probably doubtful after Mondays win at Bradford, otherwise full squad to pick from, a win would be super as it would cheese MKD off even more. Tough one to call but will be a special match hopefully to be replayed in the Championship next season. Safe journey to the City fans on the way enjoy the day but hopefully not the result
The Lilywhites are hard to score against having the best defensive record. NE has also a group of stikers who are on form. Let us hope the gaffer can coordinate the two!
Would love it if we could avoid defeat, it will be a big ask against your in form strike force, but we are also in good form, so I reckon a 2-2 draw.
North End's owner Trevor Hemmings will be a happy man tonight, his horse won the Grand National for the third time in 10 years and his football club inched every closer to a return to the Championship. A keenly contested game between the divisions top two as they shared the point in a 1-1 draw. City will possible feel they may have got more from the game but sponsors man of the match Sam Johnstone made two great saves, one a reflex save when taken by surprise by a near post effort in the first half and the second from an Agard header which he brilliantly tipped onto the bar in the second half. The first half was a cagey affair with City being gifted a host of free kicks in and around the home penalty area, they wasted them all although one hit the side netting caused the travelling support to think they had scored. For North End Beckford's overhead kick caused Fielding problems as did a Laird corner kick which was cleared by the defence. Some home supporters thought they should have had a penalty when Fielding appeared to bring down Garner, but Mr Madley was consistent he gave us nowt. Cityb started brightly wih Johnstone's save keeping but score level however on the hour the home side took the lead,Humphreys cross from the right, Gallagher shot saved by Fielding and Beckford bundles the ball home, atmosphere goes up 10 notches. Parity returned four minutes later from a free kick Flint nodded the ball across the face of the goal and Wilbrahim stooped to conquer. City piled forward for the winner but were denied by a determined North End defence, Emmanuel Thomas came on for the last 10 minutes for City to run at a tired defence but North End stuck manfully to the task in hand, indeed they could have won the game at the death, poor City defending let in Robinson, however could not get the ball under control and his tame shot was easily saved. Results from other matches went both clubs way and suspect both managers will be more than happy. Preston North End 1 Bristol City 1 Att16000
I find Cotterill's post match remarksimpying that PNE's skin was saved by Johnstone patronising and tunnelled vision. The goalie is an intgral part of the team not an added exta like, for instance, a poor/biased referee (not suggesting the one officiating was poor/biased). To score one has to beat the goalie as well as the centre halves and full backs and the bloke in base of the diamond!. It takes a good deal of investment to get a decent goalie even on loan. If Bristol City win the League 1, their goalie will get a medal too. Let him face it, PNE 2 BC 1, PNE 4 points, BC 1 point. Which is the better team if quality is measured in success? I think Steve should try eating grapes that are less sour! please log in to view this image
I wouldn't read anything into that Barnetpne - Cotts is outspoken but he was giving your GK credit for some outstanding work. Not sure if you saw our game vs Swindon last Tuesday, but our GK made some outstanding saves then too. We ended up winning 3-0 but that was not a true reflection of the effort we were forced to make and if Swindon had scored with any of those then it would have been very different.
