Dave Seddon's verdict: Bristol City 2 Preston North End 0 - a tale of two Bens, one who played and one who didn't

Not the best first fortnight of the year, balanced off the pitch somewhat by four quick pieces of transfer business and Alan Browne signing a new contract.

However, it’s on the field of play where teams are judged and since the turn of the year PNE have taken a tumble.

They finished 2020 with three wins on the bounce, the first of those against Saturday’s victors Bristol City.

It was a narrow 1-0 win over the Robins on December 18 and there was little between the sides at the weekend, even if Dean Holden’s men gained their revenge with a slightly wider margin of victory.

The Lilywhites had a good enough middle section of the game – either side of the interval – but the start and finish were to be their undoing.

That is when the home side found the net, early doors and in the last quarter of an hour.

North End didn’t do enough in the box to reply to the goals, mustering a solitary shot on target all afternoon.

They did hit the bar mind you – the frame of the goal doesn’t count as on target with the statisticians – that being a Paul Huntington header in his 299th appearance for PNE.

Alex Neil reasoned defeat had been harsh on his side but didn’t try and claim should have won either.

The cold facts of the matter are that the hosts twice put the ball in the back of Daniel Iversen’s net, albeit the second was a touch fortunate.

Victory lifted them up to ninth place, leaving North End four points behind them in 13th.

Defeat had just about been digested by the PNE faithful when news reached them that Pearson was getting nearer to the exit door.

Pearson wasn’t in the 20-man matchday squad at Ashton Gate, Neil explaining in the press conference that the midfielder had indicated his future wouldn’t be at Preston and that the contract offered to him would remain unsigned.

Hence the PNE manager focused on players he thinks will be around for longer.

Browne, with the ink still fresh on his new deal, started in the centre of midfield with new boy Ben Whiteman.

Maybe we should take encouragement from the fact in front of them in the No.10 role was Daniel Johnson.

He’s another yet to agree a new contract but there was a hint from Neil that things might be moving in the right direction.

It was very 2020 esque how the news on Pearson was delivered, via Zoom with five mowers noisily cutting the pitch.

Press conference weren’t what they used to be, Neil sat in the dug out with a lap top on his knee giving his thoughts on wantaway players and how the game had gone.

High in the stand above him, the gathered journalists strained to hear the news of Pearson above the din of the five men mowing the meadow.

Will North End miss him? Undoubtedly. There are few better in the division at what Pearson does.

When he goes and whether we will see him a PNE shirt again, we will have to wait and see.

If a buyer comes forward with an offer before the February 1 transfer deadline, Pearson will be off then.

Otherwise it will be in the summer on a Bosman when his contract runs out.

If it’s the latter, does Neil keep Pearson registered in the squad and use him? Or does he lean more on others?

Whiteman has been signed with the uncertainty over Pearson in mind.

The £1.5m buy from Doncaster plays in that same deep-sitting midfield position but does things differently.

He didn’t particularly have to break up play in this game, City at times sitting off PNE and letting North End have possession where they weren’t going to threaten.

Whiteman wasn’t afraid to drop deep to get the ball, often between the centre-halves.

His passing in the first half was a bit tentative, sideways and backwards – a touch safe.

In the second half he was more willing to take a risk and spread play.

The 24-year-old stats were decent, making 56 passes with an 80% accuracy.

It was Whiteman’s corner which Huntington headed against the bar too.

Whiteman being included in the side meant North End still had the ‘two Bens’, with Davies back in the side after being rested for the FA Cup defeat at Wycombe.

From my seat, Davies was PNE’s best player on the day, comfortable on the ball and reading play well.

His future remains up in the air too, with an exit more likely that agreeing a new deal at this stage.

Was he to follow Pearson’s lead, that would be another big blow.

Defeat was North End’s first to Bristol City for almost 10 years – in between were nine wins and six draws. They hadn’t lost since a 4-0 defeat at Deepdale in February 2011 when Phil Brown was in charge.

Their last loss on Bristol soil was 11 years ago to the day, a 4-2 reverse in the early days of Darren Ferguson.

PNE were chasing this one from the eighth minute, the opening goal a bit too easy for the hosts. Tommy Rowe’s corner from the right was met six yards out by Famara Diedhiou who angled a good header past Iversen.

Scott Sinclair’s side-foot shot from a Tom Barkhuizen cross which went straight at the keeper before half-time was their one effort on target.

Two double substitutions didn’t have the affect desired, Ched Evans and Brad Potts joining the action, then Jayson Molumby and Emil Riis.

After being on the back foot for much of the second half, the hosts came on strong later on and made it 2-0 with 13 minutes left.

Andrew Hughes’ headed clearance fell to Zak Vyner on the edge of the box. Vyner swung at it, the ball hitting his shin and skewing into the net.

Whether this was the first match AP – after Pearo – we’ll have to wait and see. PNE need a win quickly, though.

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