Match Day Thread Bristol City v Preston North End Ashton Gate 22/7/2020

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LAST TIME OUT

SWANSEA CITY 1 BRISTOL CITY 0

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PRESTON NORTH END 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 0

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FORM GUIDE 5 MATCHES MAX RATING 25

BRISTOL CITY 9 PRESTON NORTH END 11

MACS MATCH TO REMEMBER AT ASHTON GATE

My first visit to Ashton Gate was on 31 August 1987 we lost 3-1 and Jim Branagan gave probably one of the worst performances I have ever seen in a North End shirt, he subsequently never played again. Since that date every time I have been to the home of the Robins I have won.
6 May 2000 like this last match of the season, we had won the league and it was a jolly day out for the 3000 or so who rocked up at Ashton Gate we won 2-0 Brett Angell and I the other was scored by Michael Appleton on what was a blisteringly hot day.

THE MATCH

An educated guess this will probably be one of the last matches that will be shown on Quest on Wednesday night as there is nothing but pride to play for. It will be an interesting match as to who does not start for us given the short ish turn around before nnext season.
Will be multi screening on Wednesday so whether I take a great deal of interest in it depends on how the game is progressing or not as it may be.

 

I always think every game is important even when there is only 3 points, pride of each player, a couple of places further up the table, a clean sheet at stake. Having hardly ever played in a game that involved a table, I guess my attitude is that this game I am involved in is the most important one of all. I have the same attitude towards the game against City. If we lose, I will be as gutted as when NE lost to Cardiff.

 

Match Officials: Bristol City Away

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For the final game of the 2019/20 season the Lilywhites and the Robins will be officiated by someone who hasn’t done any of their games yet in the campaign.

On Wednesday evening the match official for our clash with managerless Bristol City at Ashton Gate will be experienced referee Andy Woolmer.

It is Andy's 34th game of the season and his first North End game since November 3rd 2018, when he sent off Chris Maxwell in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, when Paul Gallagher went between the sticks after scoring a free kick!

Andy also refereed our last game of the season on the final day of 2016, when we drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale, his last game before the trip to Portman Road.

That was one of four games that Woolmer took charge of a PNE game in the first half of the 2016/17 season; as well as overseeing the points being shared with the Owls, the Northamptonshire-based official also took charge of our EFL Cup win over Hartlepool United early in the campaign, late September's 2-2 draw at Birmingham City and November’s 3-1 win at Rotherham United that year.

His early season visit to PR1 for the EFL Cup tie was the referee's seventh visit to Deepdale in his 13th year on the EFL lists, meaning the Wednesday game was his eighth.

The season prior to that he took charge of PNE twice, the clash again between North End and Sheffield Wednesday, at Hillsborough in October 2015, and then in March of 2016, the 1-1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers.

His first game in charge of the Lilywhites was way back in January 2005, when he was the referee for our 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra and he was also referee on Good Friday 2015 for a win over Rochdale, preceded by the 2013 home win over Stevenage, when Lee Holmes and Will Hayhurst were on target for then manager Simon Grayson’s men.

So far this season he has officiated 33 games, issuing 91 cautions and four red cards. This midweek he will be assisted by Mark Jones and Adam Crysell, whilst John Busby will act as the fourth official.

 

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Bristol City 1 Diedhiou Preston North End 1 Maguire

Entertaining end of season game which could have gone away fair play to both sides and a first glimpse of Bayliss methinks we have a good un

FIRST HALF

Early City chance from a free kick, Paterson brings good save from Rudd, then until the dreaded water break we are dominant the goal was a thing of beauty Johnson sexy back heel followed by Maguire finally scoring for the first time in ages by chipping over Bentley, fully deserved lead. Gallagher lobbed a pasper against the bar.
Following the meaningless bollocks that is the drinks break, City more in it lthough their final ball was abysmal, Wells fired miles over and on the stroke of half time a supermove almost led to Potts getting in at the back post after Magire's shot had been parried by Bentley.

SECOND HALF

A complete balls up by us for their equaliser Rafferty feet got in the way of each other and presented the lanky Diedhiou who had a simple tap in. For a period of time we struggled to deal with City who looked as if they were going to add to the early goal, Wells had a mare a missed two very scoreable chances.
Meanwhile Maguire being greedy failed to notice an ummarked Potts tried a shot went harmlessly wide.
End to end from then on in Diedhiou forced Rudd to a good save near the end, whilst Potts was unlucky from distance whilst Barkhuizen should have done better from closer in.
We finish 9th disappointing after being top just before Christmas, a poor start after lock down cost us but we go again next season.

 

Bristol City caretaker boss Dean Holden told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I thought we deserved to win, second half. There needed to be some strong words at half-time because in the first half we didn't win enough second balls.

"They responded and that's all you can ask for, we came flying out of the traps with the goal and we've had some good chances in the game to win it.

"People will say there's nothing riding on the game but if you were here tonight, you would have seen that both teams were going flat out to win it.

"We're just disappointed we couldn't quite get that win because we got a big performance in the second half and hopefully that will give the supporters something to stay really positive about over the summer and get ready for an attack on [promotion to] the Premier League next year.

"That's the club's aim, that has to be everybody's aim. Everything is set up for the Premier League - it's a fantastic job for whoever gets it."

Preston North End manager Alex Neil:

"We had the better chances and didn't take enough of them, which has been partly the story of our campaign.

"We have also given away too many cheap goals like the one in this game. That's something else we have to work on in such a competitive league.

"The squad needs bolstering and freshening up with a few signings to strengthen us. But overall I have been proud of what the players have done this season.

"It's about taking that extra chance or being sharper at the back to make that bit of difference if we want to improve further."