Bristol City 4 – 2 Preston………………….. Fans delighted by four-star performance
By By Stephen Coombes
A familiar ending but a not so familiar story. Bristol City, yet again, would concede deep into injury time agianst Preston on Saturday, their earlier attacking exploits however ensured the lapse was merely an inconsequential annoyance.
Through Danny Haynes and Liam Fontaine in the first half, Louis Carey and Evander Sno in the second, City would bag four goals at Ashton Gate for the first time since a 4-1 trouncing of Doncaster in September 2008. Chris Brown and Ross Wallace efforts for the visitors did little but offer credibility which was otherwise unjust in a 4-2 score line.
Setting up 4-4-2 with Jamie McAllister and the recalled Ivan Sproule patrolling the flanks, Lewin Nyatanga would fill in at left back while Marvin Elliott and David Clarkson dropped to the bench in the wake of the midweek cup draw with Cardiff.
Flying out of the blocks City were ahead before many had taken their seats. Taking position on the left flank, Paul Hartley whipped in an inviting free kick amongst a host of bodies from which Haynes would emerge to provide the vital touch.
Buoyed by the early goal the hosts exuded confidence with some slick, free-flowing, football. Yet it was the visitors who almost conjured a reply, target man Jon Parkin beating Carey near post, his snap shot smartly denied by City keeper Dean Gerken.
The game was barely ten minutes old when City doubled their advantage. A surging Nicky Maynard run winning a free kick 25 yards out, McAllister and Hartley would smartly combine with a move fresh off the training ground, teeing up the fouled Maynard whose shot was blocked. Alive to the rebound however, Fontaine was on hand to stab home the loose ball and extend the hosts lead.
With City oozing confidence captain Carey won the ball strongly in midfield for Hartley to gather, the influential Scotsman advancing on the visitors backline before curling a testing effort which was parried by Preston stopper Andy Lonergan.
Despite the Robins crisp passing football Preston, under newly appointed manager Darren Ferguson, were creating chances. And so it told on 27 minutes, as good work on the right from Chris Sedgwick was rewarded by a Chris Brown point blank header, Gerken left horribly exposed as the former Norwich man rose unopposed five yards out to reduce the arrears.
With the wind in their sails the Lilywhites threatened, defender Eddie Nolan heading wastefully over from a corner and more good work from Sedgwick forcing Gerken to beat away an angled drive.
After the interval City emerged with a renewed sense of vigour. Speedster Sproule, who had been largely anonymous during the first period, became the fulcrum of all things positive for the home side. First an intelligent through ball released Maynard whose low cross evaded everyone, including McAllister at the back post whose reactions failed him, taking the mantle himself the Northern Irishman’s direct running ended in a tame scuffed shot, and then a clever flick from goal scorer Haynes invited an effort on goal, Lonergan avoided the work through a deflection wide.
Sproule’s raw pace was now a constant threat, consistently terrorising his marker as he hared in front of an ever prompting Dolman Stand. With absolute dominance it appeared City would miss the chance to put daylight between the teams, alas enter Hartley once more, his quality of delivery undeniable as Carey rose to guide a superb looping header over the despairing Lonergan.
The tireless Haynes was withdrawn with a hamstring complaint with half an hour remaining, Costa Rican Alvaro Saborio in his place. But the game’s breakneck speed had reduced to a simmer and the hosts were never overtly threatened.
Cole Skuse fed Sproule once more, the wingman taking an unaccustomed backward step in finding Bradley Orr whose cross was dragged wide by Skuse on the follow-up.
Preston Substitute Neil Mellor then showed neat touch but pulled his shot across goal when he should have looked for the pass, and missed opportunities from successive corners all but confirmed it was not to be the Northerners day.
Maynard was replaced by David Clarkson, and in a final change with time elapsing the multi-assisting Hartley earned a standing ovation as he exited for Dutchman Evander Sno.
Indeed it was to be Sno who finally eliminated all thought of those frequent injury time woes as all three oncoming substitutes combined to put the tie firmly beyond doubt. Intercepting the ball in midfield Saborio found Clarkson who advanced toward goal, back pedalling the visitors succeeded in denying the Scottish striker only for the ball to fall invitingly for Sno who unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards, crashing in off the inside of the upright.
Refusing to buck their most infuriating of trends the hosts still found a way to concede the late goal, midfielder Ross Wallace curling free kick from the touchline drifting into the far corner. But with their first home win since mid October confidently secured, it will be both the performance and the manner of the victory that heartens manager Gary Johnson and fans alike heading into Tuesday’s FA Cup replay at Cardiff.
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