Bristol City captain Jason Knight was forced off in the closing exchanges of the Robins’ 0-0 draw with Preston North End at DeepdaleJason Knight was named Bristol City captain last summer(Image: EFL)

Jason Knight will undergo a scan on a groin injury sustained in Bristol City’s draw with Preston North End on Sunday, Gerhard Struber has confirmed, after he was forced off in the closing exchanges at Deepdale.

The Robins were made to rue missed chances as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Paul Heckingbottom’s side on Saturday afternoon. The two best openings of the game both fell to Anis Mehmeti, with the winger first missing the target when played through one-on-one before he was denied by Daniel Iversen from close range in stoppage time.

Knight, who has started every game in all competitions for City under Struber this term, went to ground with just five minutes of regular time to play. After receiving treatment on the field, he made way for George Tanner to miss his first league minutes since the 2023/24 campaign.

OPINION

READ MORE: Preston North End 0-0 Bristol City live: McCrorie and Mehmeti go close as Robins on top early

Although it is too early for the exact severity of the Ireland international’s issue to be known, Struber admitted it typically takes a lot for the Reds skipper to leave the field before the full-time whistle.

“When Jason Knight steps out of a game before the referee blows the whistle, this looks not great,” the City head coach told Bristol Live in his post-match press conference. “He feels something in the groin.

“We are not clear, at the moment, what’s going on, but tomorrow we have a scan and then we can give you a clear message.”

Off the back of their first league defeat under the Austrian last time out – against Oxford United – the Robins impressed at Deepdale. Struber’s side could have taken the lead in the first half when both Mehmeti and Ross McCrorie came close, but the Reds’ best chances came after the break.

Sign up for our City newsletter

Bristol City looking to build on last season’s play-off finish under Gerhard Struber and you won’t miss a beat with our free newsletter.

All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Robins, delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s completely free and you can sign up HERE

It looked to all inside the ground that City would take the lead when, on the hour mark, Mehmeti was slipped behind the North End backline by a smart McCrorie pass. The Albanian international broke into the penalty area before firing past the post with his right foot.

While it seemed as though that would be the chance that the Robins would rue come the full-time whistle, the 24-year-old had another opportunity to make amends in the final minute of injury time when he brought down a chipped pass inside the box. Mehmeti beat his man to chop inside and poke a right-footed effort goalward, only for Iversen to turn around the post at full stretch.

Though Struber felt his team had the chances to claim maximum points in Lancashire, the Austrian was keen to praise his side’s performance rather than focus on the result.

Bristol City Live on Whatsapp

Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone

Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.

Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.

To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.

We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to join our WhatsApp community.

“No, I am not frustrated today,” Struber explained. “I am happy with the performance. We know that the expectation against a team that has also started really good in the season and has a really good energy in the group at the moment, and I would say the boys executed the match plan on a top level today.

“How we deal with second duels, how we come in second ball fights, how we create full action, how we come on the ball far side is exactly the way that we want today. How we know that they could come and trouble us, and with the different moves, we lure them sometimes – they are so man-oriented – and then we realise the big chance how Anis Mehmeti comes behind.

“How we create here the overload stress for them was really good from the boys. I think a game like that is not so easy to deal; with the long balls and how they create normally the chances, but I would say the boys were really good, really compact.

“I think it’s not a second point that we should win this game.”

READ MORE: Rob Dickie on returning Bristol City’s set-piece edge, ‘perfect’ Struber and top six readinessREAD MORE: Gerhard Struber sets Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu brief to play bigger Bristol City role