[themaclad]

BRISTOL CITY v PRESTON NORTH END

5 AUGUST 2023 15.00 HRS

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/

Manager

Nigel Pearson

NEWBIES



RECENT MEETINGS



CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES




Interesting Bits

Aardman Animations is a Bristol-based animation studio, known for the characters Wallace and Gromit and Morph. Its films include Chicken Run (2000), Early Man (2018), shorts such as Creature Comforts and Adam and TV series like Shaun the Sheep and Timmy Time.
Nick Park Animator for these shows was born in Preston

WEATHER

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2654675

Take a Rain Coat

MACS VIEW

So the friendlies are over with and the real thing starts next Saturday with a visit to Ashton Gate, sadly cricket still being played (badly) will miss this game, given my record at Ashton Gate where I have seen us win the last five times I've been there suggests we won't win there next Saturday
Our preseason has mainly been crap, losing to two League Two sides, the only decent side we beat were Aberdeen, only one first teamer has scored, we still lack a new LWB, desperately need another forward
Not sure whether Lowe has a Plan A, get the feeling the players probably think the same, this is a really tough division this year and if we finish 21st would consider that too be a success

[themaclad]

Championship action is back this weekend as Preston North End kick off the new campaign with a trip to Ashton Gate to take on Bristol City.

North End will wear the newly-launched 2023/24 third kit for the curtain raiser in the South West and more than 1,250 PNE supporters will be there to see in the new season.

Who’s Available?

There could be competitive debuts for a number of North End’s summer signings this weekend, with Duane Holmes, Jack Whatmough, Layton Stewart, Mads Frøkjær and Will Keane all in contention.

Calvin Ramsay is still getting up to match speed so may have to wait until Tuesday’s Carabao Cup round one tie against Salford City to make his PNE bow.

Ben Whiteman and Robbie Brady are still sidelined as they recover from their respective injuries, but both aren’t too far off according to manager Ryan Lowe, meanwhile Ched Evans and Emil Riis remain out with longer-term issues.

Pre-Match Chat

Get ready for Saturday's match by reading or watching pre-match interviews with manager Ryan Lowe and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Opposition Focus

Since being promoted alongside PNE in 2015, Bristol City have consolidated themselves as a Championship club and will now be looking to make a push towards the Play-Off places under Nigel Pearson.

The experienced manager has been building a Robins squad since his appointment in 2021 which he hopes will be capable of reaching those top six places, but the chances of them doing so this season may be influenced by the future of midfielder Alex Scott.

The England U20 international is the subject of huge speculation regarding a big-money move to the Premier League but, whether a transfer is sealed before the weekend or not, Scott may be unavailable as manager Pearson told the press earlier in the week that he has picked up a knock in training.

A Recent Clash


A thrilling end at Deepdale in January 2022 as an incredible volley from Emil Riis in the fifth minute of injury-time earned a point against the Robins.

Follow The Action

Supporters overseas will be able to watch the season opener live on iFollow PNE, with £10 match passes now on sale.

Fans in the UK and Ireland unable to make it to Ashton Gate can listen to the match live with a £2.50 match pass, while audio monthly passes are also available for £4.49.

Supporters can also follow live updates of everything that’s happening on our social media channels, with post-match reaction to follow on PNE.Com.

Match Officials

webb_d_referee_2223a.jpg

Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referees: Rob Smith and Graham Kane
Fourth Official: Carl Brook

Referee David Webb took charge of two North End matches last season. He was the man in the middle for the 2-1 away victory over Reading before overseeing PNE beat Cardiff 2-0 at Deepdale in March 2023.

[themaclad]

Will Keane’s 86th-minute strike earned Preston North End a deserved point against Bristol City on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season.

After a quiet opening 45 minutes, the hosts opened the deadlock early in the second half through Sam Bell.

PNE then enjoyed a huge spell of pressure and created several opportunities – one of which saw skipper Alan Browne strike the post – before Keane netted late into his second PNE debut to seal a 1-1 draw.


Ryan Lowe handed out competitive debuts to Mads Frøkjær and Keane from the start, while local lad and teenager Kian Best made his senior bow, starting at left wing back.

The hosts looked to make a very quick start to the game and could have ended up in a one-on-one situation within the opening 30 seconds, were it not for a fantastic challenge from Liam Lindsay.



That’s about as close as either side came to having an opportunity to break the deadlock in the first 35 minutes or so, with the first shot of the day arriving in the 38th minute.

Nahki Wells capitalised on a loose Ryan Ledson pass and the Bermudian forward slammed a low ball across the area to Sam Bell at the back post, but goalkeeper Freddie Woodman came up with a big stop to deny the youngster from close range.

At the other end, debutant Best whipped a dangerous free-kick towards the far post, which had to be flicked behind for a corner, before Browne put in an even better ball from the resultant set piece which somehow evaded everyone in the middle.

Both sides would have wanted to create more in the second half and it took just two minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock. Woodman had done brilliantly to tip Well’s effort onto the post, but the ball fell straight to Bell who had the simple task of tapping home.

North End looked to respond almost instantly as good work from Ali McCann took the team from one end to another, and the ball ended with Frøkjær who took aim from 20 yards, seeing Max O’Leary save down low to his left.

Skipper Browne then had two good opportunities for his side, the first of which whistled just over the bar, before he sweetly struck a left-footed volley agonisingly against the post.

PNE were the side well on top and had a big penalty shout waved away in the 62nd minute when Keane’s low strike was blocked by the hands of Zak Vyner.

Three minutes later Keane played Frøkjær through on goal and, instead of shooting, the Dane opted to backheel into the path of Potts, who sent an effort wide under pressure from Matty James.

PNE would go on to find a deserved equaliser, though, in the 86th minute as substitute Duane Holmes laid the ball off to Keane who, with his back to goal, showed great skill to turn and fire into the bottom corner to earn a late point on the road.

Bristol City line-up: O’Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring; James, Knight (King, 86), Weimann (Willams, 23); Cornick (Sykes, 69), Wells (Conway, 69), Bell (Mehmeti, 86). Subs not used: Wiles-Richards, Roberts, Knight-Lebel, Araoye.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, McCann, Ledson (Holmes, 72), Best (Woodburn, 82); Browne, Frøkjær; Keane. Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Rodriguez-Gentile, Whatmough, Taylor, Leigh, Mawene.

Referee: Mr D Webb.

Attendance: 29,359 (1,357 PNE fans).

Bristol City forward Sam Bell told BBC Radio Bristol:

"That whole 90 minutes sums the Championship up. We played well but the league is relentless. There were warning signs before the goal and we have to recognise the dangers. The lads are saying it was a blatant handball in the build-up to their goal but the [officials'] positions meant they probably didn't have a great view of it.

"We can't use that as an excuse - we've got to be stronger. The games come thick and fast and we didn't lose, we got a point and we'll take that. We needed to recognise where we could hurt them, and that was out wide. The conditions being windy made it more difficult to get out in the first half.

"It was easier in the second half but we didn't exploit that enough. A lot of their players were going down with cramp and none of ours did, which shows how much work we put in during the off-season.

"It's always a good personal landmark to get my first goal on the first day. I should have scored in the first half but that's the life of a forward - you have to put it behind you and take the next one. I want to hit at least double figures."

Preston manager Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We were excellent. The goal jolted us but we stuck to the gameplan and were unlucky not to take three points. We were fantastic from start to finish. With them being the home team, we felt they'd come out a little bit more. Once they got the goal, it sort of backfired on them. We got our backsides in gear more, passed and ran forward and were on the front foot. We had opportunities and had them on the ropes.

"We could potentially have won it but you'll take a point at Bristol City - they've got some good players, you can see that.

"The gameplan in the first half was spot on. In the second half, we changed shape because we felt we could get more bodies up the pitch. It worked to an extent.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on Will [Keane] in terms of goals because we didn't score as many as we wanted last season. He adds another 14, potentially. When Ched [Evans] and Emil [Riis Jakobsen] are back, we'll get one more through the door and then if the midfielders can chip in, it will help. I had ultimate faith when I signed Will that he would score goals. It was a fantastic finish."

Take that by the sound of it probably a fair score, good to see the youngster Best making his debut takes a mean free kick this lad, our goal under VAR wouldn't have counted, however we could have had a penalty, onwards Salford in't cup next