Report: Bristol City secure first play-off finish in 17 years as Reds draw vs Preston North End

Our match report as Bristol City booked their place in the Championship play-offs for the first time in 17 years with a draw against Preston North EndBristol City fans celebrate after their draw with Preston(Image: Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Bristol City secured their spot in the Championship play-off places for the first time since the 2007/2008 season as they came from two down to draw 2-2 with Preston North End at Ashton Gate.

The Robins went behind after 28 minutes when Preston striker Emil Riis headed Robbie Brady’s corner past City goalkeeper Max O’Leary. Having come into the day in fifth position, the Robins held their play-off destiny in their hands, but after Milutin Osmajic converted a one-on-one situation against O’Leary, their top six chances were looking slim.

However, just as the Robins went two goals down, they were handed a lifeline when Sheffield United equalised against Blackburn Rovers and Burnley took the lead at home to Millwall. The scorelines elsewhere meant that, despite losing, they were inside the play-offs on goal difference and from there the Reds started to gain momentum.

It wasn’t long before City clawed a goal back as Ross McCrorie popped up at the back post to head home after 69 minutes before he secured his brace five minutes later to level proceedings. Manning’s Reds then managed to navigate a nervy last quarter of an hour, plus injury time, to see out a 2-2 draw to remarkably secure sixth place and set up a two-legged play-off clash with Sheffield United.

With both clubs having something to play for at opposing ends of the table, the game started in a tense manner, with neither team looking to play the ball forward. The first big chance fell the Robins’ way when Nahki Wells sent a shot bouncing wide of David Cornell in the visitors’ goal after nine minutes.

City would go on to enjoy a spell of possession over the course of the next quarter of an hour but they were unable to break through North End’s low block. The only chance of that period fell Yu Hirakawa’s way after Joe Williams won a free-kick from a yellow card challenge by Ryan Ledson 35 yards out. The Robins were spraying passes around the Lilywhites’ box, but they couldn’t break through until Hirakawa’s attempt, which rolled well wide of the post.

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Then, just before the half-hour mark, Preston took the lead a matter of moments after they caught Rob Dickie in possession on the halfway line. North End were suddenly presented with a two-on-two situation, which ended with Max O’Leary tipping Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s attempt behind. But the visitors would soon get their goal, with Emil Riis heading past the City keeper from the resulting corner.

The Robins responded well, and very nearly produced an instant reply, when Scott Twine unleashed a right-footed shot from outside of the box. Unfortunately, his effort looped just over the bar and while it made the goalkeeper work, it fell just on top of the net.

Brady then had the chance to add his second goal contribution of the game five minutes later when he was beaming down on O’Leary from a wide position but the Irish international curled his attempt just wide of the far post to send the the Robins into the break behind.

The visitors started the better of the two teams after the interval and nearly doubled their lead just a minute after the restart when Osmajic beat Dickie to an up-field ball. The forward sprinted towards O’Leary and fired a shot at the Irish international which he tipped behind for a corner.

Liam Manning and Bristol City have finished sixth in the Championship(Image: EFL)

Osmajic then got a second chance to double the Lilywhites’ lead on the hour mark when he pounced on a forward ball which caught out his marker, Zak Vyner, leaving him one-on-one with O’Leary. The Montenegrin made no mistake this time, slotting the ball through the City keeper’s legs and into the back of the net.

With results elsewhere not going their way, the Robins didn’t give up and piled players forward in search of a goal back. Just when all hope was starting to look lost, goals elsewhere meant that the Robins were sitting in the top six on goal difference with 25 minutes to go.

Since his return from a hamstring injury, McCrorie has had a habit of popping up for goals exactly when City needed them, and with 69 minutes on the clock, he found himself alone on the far side of the penalty area. As substitute George Earthy sent Wells to the byline to put in a cross, McCrorie made a run towards the back post and bounced a downward header into the back of the net.

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Just 90 seconds after they reduced the deficit, Jason Knight had the chance to bring City level, firing a powerful strike from 25 yards out that clattered the bar. Luckily, the Robins wouldn’t have long to wait for an equaliser as five minutes after his first, McCrorie was spotted making a darting run into the box by Knight. The wing-back received the ball in just enough time to place it past Cornell and send the Reds level.

Manning’s side managed to traverse their way through the tense final 15 minutes and the six that were added on, with the game finishing two goals apiece.

Their play-off place wasn’t confirmed on the final whistle, however, as the final few of the eight additional minutes at Bramall Lane still had to be played.

All of the Reds’ players and staff huddled around and watched the closing stages of the game in Yorkshire on a device before a roar ripped around Ashton Gate on the final whistle. Thousands of City fans then flooded onto the pitch to celebrate their best finish in 17 years.

Report: Bristol City secure first play-off finish in 17 years as Reds draw vs Preston North End

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