Bristol City 2 Preston North End 0 - Match report on an end to PNE's long unbeaten run against the Robins

The Lilywhites had gone 15 games unbeaten against the Robins, a run stretching back to February 2011.

Famara Diedhiou headed the home side into an eighth minute lead as Alex Neil's men struggled to settle early on.

Only as the first half went on did North End work their way into proceedings, with them finishing the first half well and starting the second half strongly.

Chances were at a premium though, the closest they went being a Paul Huntington header from Ben Whiteman's corner which hit the bar.

Zak Vyner doubled City's advantage 13 minutes from time with a shot he seemed to miscue.

The substitutions made by Neil, which included a debut for Ched Evans, didn't pay off with them rarely looking like scoring after the second goal from the hosts.

It was a third defeat of 2021 in a row for PNE, two in the league and one in the FA Cup.

The North End side had shown 10 changes from the side beaten in the FA Cup at Wycombe Wanderers.

There were starts for new boys Daniel Iversen and Whitehead, with Scott Sinclair and Tom Barkhuizen returning on the wings.

PNE lined-up 4-2-3-1, Whiteman starting with Alan Browne in midfield, Daniel Johnson further up the pitch in the No,10 role.

The first 25 minutes or so belonged to the home side and they led from Diedhiou's early header.

They'd already had a couple of half chances when Adam Hagy's shot was charged down in the box by Johnson, with the ball going out for a corner.

Tommy Rowe delivered the flag kick right the right, Diedhiou getting above Darnell Fisher to direct a header across Iversen into the far corner.

Robins skipper Tomas Kalas sent a header too high after meeting Rowe's free-kick, then Iversen got a touch to Diedhiou's deflected shot to take it over the bar.

North End got more into the game as the first half went on.

Whiteman saw plenty of the ball, often dropping deep next to the centre-backs to take possession.

The visitors' one chance of serious note in the first period came from Barkhuizen's cross from the right found its way to Sinclair in the box, his flicked effort going straight at the keeper.

North End started the second half on the front foot, looking more purposeful in their play.

Browne's fine cross - right footed from the left- travelled across goal and just evaded Barkhuizen on the stretch at the far post.

In the 56th minute, Johnson made room for himself just inside the box and got a shot away which was blocked.

The rebound came to Sean Maguire to the right of goal, his shot from a narrow angle deflected behind.

Whiteman took the resulting corner, it finding the jumping Huntington who sent a header against the bar and over.

Ched Evans came on for his North End debut in the 67th minute, accompanying Brad Potts on to the pitch as part of a double change with Johnson and Barkhuizen taken off.

In the build-up to that substitution, the Lilywhites had enjoyed a good few minutes of pressure but without turning it into anything worthwhile in the box.

That lack of cutting edge came at a cost as the home side doubled their lead in the 77th minute.

Iversen had made saves from Chris Martin and substitute Han-Noah Masenego in the few minutes before as City began to look more of a threat again.

Andrew Hughes' clearing header from a right-wing cross fell to Vyner, the ball appearing to hit his shin and loop into the net.

Emil Riis and Jayson Molumby joined the action after the second goal but in truth North End never looked like finding a way back in.

Bristol City: Bentley, Vyner, Mawson, Kalas, Hunt, Nagy, Palmer (Massengo 70), Adelakun (Bakinson 86), Rowe, Diedhiou (Wells 78), Martin. Subs (not used): Mariappa, Moore, Morton, Bell, Edwards, O'Leary.

PNE: Iversen, Fisher (Ledson 86), Huntington, Davies, Hughes, Browne, Whiteman (Riis 78), Barkhuizen (Potts 67), Johnson (Evans 67), Sinclair, Maguire (Molumby 78). Subs (not used): Earl, Gallagher, Rafferty, Ripley.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)

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