To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Extended Highlights brought to you by DNRG as highlights brought to you by DNRG as City drew 2-2 with Preston North End Keep up to date with all the latest goings on by signing up for the Bristol City Email newsletter Ashton Gate StadiumAshton RoadBristolBS3 2EJ To continue please log in with your personal details Logging in will give you access to ticketing If you have not yet set up a Bristol City FC account just click Create Account below Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sign our campaign for a grant funding review The building has struggled to attract office occupiers Castle Home Estates wants to convert Empire House on Church Street in the city centre into homes for 30 people A planning application for the HMO has been submitted to Preston City Council Documents lodged with the application state that the building would “provide affordable housing for students and commuting professionals” and go some way to “revitalising the deteriorating some of the existing office space would be retained should demand return The scheme will also house a “a high-end café and restaurant” providing a place for both residents and visitors The building has been vacant since the Covid-19 lockdown and is one of many office blocks in Preston being primed for conversion into homes Others include London House of Primrose Hill and the 15-storey Guild Tower TSS Property is mulling over the redevelopment potential of Norwest Court and Guildhall House which it acquired from Wain Estates recently Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" No until anchor ‘ for restaurant’ found a tariff paid to the Preston heritage fund and an independent architect to oversee plans Rubbish submission does nothing for homeless only profits Four Architects has designed the 42-unit scheme for applicant DS & Co Developments for the mostly-vacant Avenham Street plot Outline plans for 95 homes on a previously refused site are recommended for approval at Preston City Council’s planning meeting next week Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); told Preston Crown Court that the 33-year-old believed the man had been demanding a member of the public 'slap their child' Robinson intervened but the row quickly escalated and he punched the man who then hit his head on a bench.As he lay unconscious on the floor Robinson then stamped on his head and neck Witnesses fled the attack in fear and police were flagged down on Garstang Road Robinson remained at the scene asking if he had killed him the court heard.The victim was taken to hospital and treated in intensive care for multiple fractures to his face cheekbone and left eye socket.Anthony Parkinson called Robinson's assault 'short lived' and 'spontaneous' and said the victim's fractures did not require any invasive procedures.He added: "There is no excuse for it but he didn't carry out an assault for no reason His intentions were initially good."Robinson has struggled with a heroin addiction since the age of 18 and was intoxicated at the time of the attack He pleaded guilty to Section 20 GBH without intent at an earlier hearing.The court heard that Robinson's father killed his mother when he was a child and that this disturbing crime had a profound impact on his life.But the judge in the case said Robinson's criminal past - with 47 separate offences listed - was an 'alarming record of his violence'.Jailing him for 30 months KC Graham Knowles said: "The defendant remained at the scene asking if he had killed him and made other remarks which are compelling proof he is a guilty man."Obviously the victim was vulnerable when you stamped on him paralysis is all there."I have seen a video showing very serious black eyes - it must have been almost impossible for him to see." Want more on the issues affecting the North? Our podcast, From the North answers the questions that matter to our region Post-match analysis from the Robins TV studio, taking a detailed look at Bristol City’s 2-2 draw with Preston North End. To continue please log in with your personal details. Logging in will give you access to ticketing, merchandise, official club apps and more. If you have not yet set up a Bristol City FC account just click Create Account below. Paul Heckingbottom joined Preston in August Manager Paul Heckingbottom will not be on the touchline for Preston North End's decisive final Championship game of the season away to Bristol City Heckingbottom has been handed a two-match touchline ban, a £6,000 fine and a warning about his future conduct following his behaviour during his side's loss at Hull City on Easter Monday The former Sheffield United boss admitted to acting in an improper manner and using abusive language towards a match official in the 55th minute and after the match The incident concerned the awarding of the first of two penalties for Hull in a match which Preston lost after leading 1-0 Going into the game at Bristol City on Saturday, North End are 20th in the Championship but just one point above the relegation zone The Lancashire club have lost their last four games and could go down if they lose at Ashton Gate and Hull and Luton Town avoid defeat against Portsmouth and West Brom respectively Championship: Who needs what on the final day Top storiesTrailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Five teams fight to avoid joining Cardiff and Plymouth in dropping to League One on the season’s final day Luton or HullFive teams fight to avoid joining Cardiff and Plymouth in dropping to League One on the season’s final day At some point, Rubén Sellés, the Hull head coach, seemingly got wind of the jarring circumstances and cancelled his team’s bash, which had been scheduled for Tuesday, to prevent a similarly tone-deaf evening. Read moreHull’s position is so delicate he even suggested he did not want his players having the added stress of adhering to the dress code “I told the club before we announced the player of the season [awards] that if we were playing for something The team needs to get out of the situation … I didn’t want the week to become a one-person week While Burnley and Leeds head into the final day of another enchanting English Football League season with eyes on taking the title and the five-way fight for the two remaining playoff places promises more lunchtime drama it is at the bottom where there is most jeopardy Luton and Hull – are fighting to avoid joining Cardiff and Plymouth giving his players Monday off despite a late defeat at home to Derby plunging them deeper into trouble people need an extra space to breathe,” he said before their trip to Portsmouth “Three training sessions this week will be enough to prepare the game.” The buildup has not been helped by the late payment of wages even if Sellés says it pales into insignificance compared with the myriad of problems he encountered at troubled Reading where at one point delays were commonplace It appeared a significant upgrade when Sellés left Reading for Hull in December but the teams could trade places if the Berkshire club beset by off-field problems and awaiting a takeover Hull went into their last game targeting the playoffs Their hopes ended with defeat at Plymouth and three days later Acun Ilicali sacked Liam Rosenior Hull’s owner citing a conflict of opinions who led Hull to seventh in his first full season is pushing to qualify for the Champions League with Ligue 1 Strasbourg while his previous club are at risk of dropping into League One who travel to playoff-chasing Bristol City are bottom of the form table after taking six points from the past 30 available are one of the form teams after two defeats in their past 10 matches have won three games on the spin under Matt Bloomfield who made a slow start after jumping up a division Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football Bloomfield’s first win after leaving a Wycombe side gunning for promotion came at the ninth attempt their marquee signing from Cardiff last summer has impressed in defence as has Thomas Kaminski in goal Kaminski started Luton’s priceless victory last Saturday over Coventry Bloomfield got the Eurostar to Brussels to accompany the Belgian back to England 48 hours before the win “It means everything to me,” a teary Kaminski said “Normally I should have had a message from my dad … I didn’t have it today but I know he is watching and with us and would have been very The only certainty from here is that the pendulum of emotions will continue given the stakes. This time last season Luton were winning friends in the Premier League, duking it out with Nottingham Forest to avoid the drop before succumbing on the final day Derby were in party mode after clinching promotion as runners-up Stoke finished strongly to dispel relegation worries ended 10th – nestled in the safe zone – after a dismal five-match losing run things are about to take a turn for the worse The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response the Bristol City stopper didn't have an awful lot to do Perhaps could have been more commanding for Preston's opener but could do little to stop the second Made a couple of very relaxed saves late on to ensure the Robins got the point over the line Zak Vyner did well to cope with the majority of what Preston threw his way but the 27-year-old did switch off at a crucial point when Milutin Osmajic made his way beyond the Reds' backline before slotting under Max O'Leary it didn't prove too costly and from that point on The Bristol City vice-captain had his work cut out against the combination of Emil Riis and Milutin Osmajic and considering the pressure he repeatedly found himself under he did well to deal with the strike force for the most part he did seem to end up on the wrong side of the ball but also managed to produce a few incredibly important defensive interventions George Tanner didn't do an awful lot wrong but it just didn't ever really feel like he managed to get a foothold in the game He worked hard in and out of possession but didn't manage to produce the moment of quality needed to spark City's afternoon into life Made sense for him to be withdrawn as part of the defensive reshuffle Having been deployed at right wing-back against Leeds United at Elland Road Ross McCrorie returned to the left flank on Saturday lunchtime and again His header to pull City back into the contest was excellent as he powered his way into the back post before heading down low His second was even better as showed the composure of a striker to slot a first-time shot into the back of the net He's written his name in the history books The 28-year-old was restored to the starting line-up in place of Marcus McGuane and from our vantage point he seemed to kick into another gear and almost get back to his best Maybe it was a case of getting rid of a bit of ring rust be his contribution proved to be rather helpful Bristol City are fighting to secure their place in the play-off places and you won't miss a beat with our free newsletter It's completely free and you can sign up HERE It would be safe to say the skipper didn't have the best of first halves but boy His pass into Ross McCrorie for the Scotsman's second goal was superb as he picked out the wing-back with one of the passes of the campaign To have played every minute of a Championship season in that manner the Irishman deserves his plaudits and will rightly be getting them for a few more weeks Yu Hirakawa was the man to start in the right wing-back position against Preston When City managed to find the Japanese winger in space he asked constant questions with his quick feet and for the most part he coped well with the defensive work he was required to do When the Robins needed a livewire in the second half he delivered with multiple teasing crosses The attacking midfielder probably came the closest to scoring of any Bristol City player in the first half particularly when he struck the roof of the net with a volleyed effort he misplaced his passes or failed to connect properly with his shot which could be a result of the groin injury he is carrying As has been the case over the last few weeks Max Bird didn't quite look himself as the most central member of the Robins' attacking midfield Really struggled to put his stamp on proceedings before being replaced early in the second half the veteran forward tried his best to link things together at the top end of the pitch with some intelligent flicks and passes his cross for Ross McCrorie's opener was inch-perfect and the sort you'd expect of one of the Robins' wide-men rather than the number nine City have to tie him down sooner rather than later 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 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 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. The West Ham United loanee added a bit more energy than Scott Twine or Max Bird even if he didn't quite get a real foothold in the match Went about his business well enough as part of the back three A couple of slightly shaky moments on the ball but looked more comfortable in that deeper role That performance looked more like the Anis Mehmeti of old rather than the one we've seen in recent months Constantly got at his man and added a sense of urgency at the top end of the pitch Kept things simple and made an important interception or two Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right A group of villagers have started a campaign to improve the A23 which divides their community Renew Preston Village has set up a petition calling for safer crossings rain gardens and more protected space for people living and working in the area More than 1,300 people have signed the petition – Improve the A23 through Preston Village for the local community, environment and economy – on Change.org The total exceeds the 1,250 signatures required to trigger a debate at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council Residents Greg Fittock and Mark Campbell started the campaign last November saying that even though there were signs for Preston Village neither of them found an area that they felt was village-like They were joined by Iliana Koutsou who was concerned about the noise and the barrier created by the A23 which is six lanes wide through the heart of Preston Village But Preston was once a separate settlement from Brighton and dates from before the Domesday Book Mr Campbell said: “It’s quite a common feeling that people see the signs and wonder where is Preston Village “People understand where Fiveways is or the Seven Dials or Preston Circus All of these places have an identity but Preston Village has signs but no identity.” Mrs Koutsou said that the campaign had had a positive response from people in the area because they understood the feeling of not wanting to walk through the village centre She said: “When I used to have my daughter at nursery I would cross the road and go down the back streets as opposed to going through what is a very busy noisy village and the positivity of the campaign means people want to sign up.” She would like to see rain gardens along Preston Road to both beautify the area and soak up floodwater Mr Fittock said that the village was a beautiful place with historic buildings which are not seen because of the volume of traffic on the corner of South Road and Preston Road closed in April He said that this was linked to people’s unwillingness to linger and enjoy the picturesque parts of the village Mr Fittock said: “We want the council to restore the centre of the village for pedestrians and for a place for the community to gather and to improve the environment so people can enjoy where they live There are multiple examples of that affecting the local economy had a flooding incident and that has affected its closure now.” Other people in the community are getting involved with the project including those with expertise in traffic management The campaign is supported by St John’s and St Mary’s churches several businesses in the area and the three Preston Park ward councillors Green councillor Kerry Pickett said: “We fully support the local community’s call for a safer “Green councillors of Preston Park ward are proud to back the aims of the Renew Preston Village campaign – to improve this great neighbourhood making the streets safer for all users and taking practical steps to combat flooding for residents and local businesses.” Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for transport has agreed to meet the group and said that he was happy to hear their concerns and ideas Councillor Muten said: “The A23 is an important route in and out of the city but it’s vital we balance the need for travel with making our city a pleasant place to live for our residents “We’re already making improvements to the infrastructure alongside Preston Park up to South Road as part of an active travel scheme which includes a new cycle lane “This will be finished in the summer and will encourage more people to travel through the Preston Village area on foot or by bike and bus The A23 is one of the priority areas on our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and we’re determined to make further improvements as and when funding becomes available to make this key corridor pleasant for everyone “I very much welcome the invite from local residents to meet listen and to co-design improvements that work well for the community and the city as a whole.” The petition to Improve the A23 through Preston Village for the local community, environment and economy is still open on the Change.org website where even is the village in Preston Village??? The new cycle lane has created the need for floating bus stops This means vehicles will find it more difficult to overtake them – this will lead to more congestion and pollution So,that’s more Nox gases and particulates in the air for the residents of Preston ‘Village’ If less clowns drove into town from patcham and got a bus or cycles it wouldn’t be an issue everyone driving down the A23 starts their journey in Patcham It’s lucky we don’t have people and commercial vehicles driving in from further afield The road is one lane wide north and south of Preston village junction so having three lanes for a stretch adds no extra traffic throughput Let’s stop wasting all that space on a traffic junction and make it a space people want to park Preston Village is effectively an offset crossroads comprising the A23 and Preston Drove / South Road A single carriageway would not be enough to accommodate this Simple steps like widening pavements outside the shops and pubs would be a fantastic first step to create an enhanced local environment and website in this browser for the next time I comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed Brighton and Hove Albion 1 Newcastle United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion looked to be on course for a 1-0.. Brighton and Hove Albion face Newcastle United at the Amex this afternoon with Jan Paul van Hecke back in the.. Everton 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 3 Nikita Parris returned to the club where she started her senior career and.. Sussex 169 (59 overs) and 278 (94.2 overs) Nottinghamshire 300 (68.3 overs) and 149-1 (25.5 overs) Nottinghamshire (21pts) beat Sussex.. This is despite having looked very safe a month ago but North End’s 1 win in 14 games has been well documented and their slump at this time of the season is all too familiar Despite the players and staff saying they won’t switch off at this time of the season Coupled with all the other teams at the lower end of the table picking up points there is a very strong chance Preston will return to the third tier for the first time in 10 years The permutations have been looked at time and time again Ultimately it’s still in Preston’s hands but a win or even a draw seems a very unlikely scenario Their best chance is hoping results elsewhere go in their favour but that has been written about plenty of times already I want to focus on the real reason the players need to step up The players are arguably the least effected when it comes to relegation at a club Many have contracts for next season and others will be seeking moves elsewhere regardless The fans suffer and have been doing for sometime due to the dour football on display But there should also be a consideration for the others employed by Preston North End If the players can’t perform for themselves here’s who they should do it for; the matchday staff employees in the community and education trust department of the club If and when relegation happens cuts obviously have to be made and quite often it’s the people behind the scenes that suffer You only have to look at Manchester United one of the biggest clubs in the world with astronomical revenue Limited success and horrendous business decisions have led to them making sweeping redundancies Preston North End will find themselves in a very tough position if they move down to League One and there will be cuts on and off the pitch The employees behind the scenes and especially those at the training ground are ones that the players will see every day and I’m sure they appreciate the jobs they do Think of them when you step out onto the pitch at Ashton Gate You’re fighting for so much more than just your own career You’re part of a club and a family with tremendous history Now’s the time to have a big say on which direction that heads in next the majority of the North End faithful will and have supported the club no matter what But last week a young child sat behind me said to his Dad ‘I don’t want to come back next season’ Football is readily available to watch and enjoy in so many formats now why would the youth of today choose to put themselves through the agony of following a stagnant club like Preston North End For most of us it’s in our blood and you wouldn’t change it for the world but it still has to be something enticing for the next generation to want to come and see The days under Graham Westley were some of the darkest I’ve seen in my time as a fan of this club We’re a step away from potentially having to witness similar scenes once again I just hope Paul Heckingbottom and his team have put everything into training this week rather than going through the usual motions 2009 was the last time Preston reached the play-offs in the Championship a memorable run of form late in the season culminated with a last minute Sean St Ledger winner at home to Queens Park Rangers It meant North End sneaked into sixth place and would face Sheffield United in the semi-final They would come up short against The Blades and missed out on a chance to play Burnley for a place in the Premier League Having spent the last 13 seasons in the same league as each other Burnley would leave Preston behind earning promotion to the top flight Since then they have been promoted a further four times to the Premier League including this season For a club that is a similar size to Preston it shows a huge contrast on how fortunes can differ and that is extremely frustrating for Preston fans Although The Clarets have become a yo-yo club of late they are still creating great memories whilst Preston have had very little to shout about for some time and haven’t had a decent shot at reaching the top flight since 2009 They now face one of the club’s biggest games since those play-offs in 2009 but have to step up and perform now Too many times we have seen Preston get stage fright when playing a big cup tie They simply have to get it right this time ‘What if’ is a thought that keeps the fans coming back every week and we were allowed to dream a little this season with the FA Cup run Every North End fan wants to see us at the highest level Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks at a Liberal Party election campaign rally in Winnipeg Preston Manning is the former leader of the Reform Party of Canada and a former leader of the Opposition Because of the vastness of Canada’s territory the differing interests of its various regions the abundance of competing economic and social interests and the weakened state of democratic instruments for reconciling conflicting interests national unity will be a perpetual challenge for whomever we choose to form our national government will be faced yet again with a challenge to national unity on the Quebec front or voters in central Canada realize it or not the greatest future threat to national unity is emerging not from Quebec On account of the mismanagement of national affairs for the past decade by the Liberal government and its consistent failure to address those issues of greatest concern to Western Canadians large numbers of Westerners simply will not stand for another four years of Liberal government The support for Western secession is therefore growing unabated and even fuelled by Liberal promises to reverse many of their previous positions Such promises of expediency simply don’t ring true in the West would believe Mark Carney’s promises to reverse the Liberal positions on everything from east-west pipelines to identity politics and climate change when standing behind him is a cabinet of 23 MPs who were advocating for the very opposite and have done so for years The bottom-up support for Western secession – another one of those populist movements that central Canada has never anticipated or understood – is currently centred on Alberta and Saskatchewan But it has the potential to spread to most of B.C. Manitoba and the adjacent territories depending on how it is organized and led there is no Reform Party to redirect that populist energy in a “West Wants In” direction the first by voters in central and Atlantic Canada and the second by Western political leaders particularly in central and Atlantic Canada need to recognize that a vote for the Carney Liberals is a vote for Western secession – a vote for the breakup of Canada as we know it If you couldn’t care less about the concerns or actions of Western Canada But understand that separation of the resources-based economic engine of Western Canada from what’s left of the rest of Canada will have dire economic and social consequences for the latter Western political leaders need to provide a mechanism for recognizing and addressing the growing support for Western secession in an orderly and democratic manner so that its support and leadership are not surrendered to extremists or eccentrics for lack of thoughtful consideration of how best to proceed this mechanism need not be a Western secession party after the Quebec model of the Parti or Bloc Québécois but rather a democratic forum to first consider various alternative courses of action consideration should be given to organizing a “Canada West Constitutional Conference” as soon as possible after the federal election with a flexible agenda and the backing of at least one provincial government If there is a genuinely new federal government after April 28 then the agenda of that conference should be twofold: first to constructively address ways and means of co-operating with that government to redress the damage done to Western Canada by a decade of Liberal neglect and misrule and to consider how best to negotiate new and better Canada-U.S President Donald Trump to secure the support of easily frightened voters then the agenda of the conference should be to consider ways and means of peacefully seceding would then be identified in the history books as the last prime minister of a united Canada Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Bristol City earned a point against Preston North End Emil Riis and Milutin Osmajic gave Preston a two-goal lead before Ross McCrorie bagged a brace to level the score the Robins will host Sheffield United on Thursday Robbie Brady and Nahki Wells tried their luck from range in the opening ten minutes as both sides battled for a foothold in the game Ryan Ledson was booked for a late challenge on Joe Williams in the 22nd minute Max O’Leary made a good save to deny Kaine Kesler-Hayden from close range the Lilywhites took the lead as Riis headed home the resulting corner Scott Twine struck a lovely volley on the edge of the area but his effort was just high of the bar before a good City move would see Joe Williams’ effort blocked Brady collected a yellow for a late challenge on Hirakawa in the middle of the park before Twine’s free-kick struck the Preston wall for a corner Preston North End’s Milutin Osmajic forced O’Leary into a stop within a minute of the restart Kesler-Hayden’s effort in the 52nd minute was well saved by O’Leary before Max Bird’s effort from range deflected for a City corner Liam Manning made a triple change just before the hour mark which saw Haydon Roberts George Earthy and Anis Mehmeti replace Bird calmly slotting the ball past O’Leary from close range Wells and Hirakawa would see their efforts blocked before David Cornell pushed Mehmeti’s corner away from danger City halved their deficit in the 69th minute after Hirakawa’s slipped pass found Wells in the area who chipped the ball to a free McCrorie to head home from the back post Jason Knight rattled the woodwork from range McCrorie levelled the score in the 74th minute after Knight’s decisive pass split the defender and found the run of McCrorie in the area who took it past Cornell before passing it into the empty net Another good passage of play would see substitutes Earthy and Mehmeti combine before the latter headed just wide of the target Joe Williams made way for Marcus McGuane in the 81st minute before Sinclair Armstrong replaced Wells in the 84th minute The draw at the Gate secured a play-off position for Liam Manning and his side Bristol City return to Ashton Gate for the visit of Preston North End on Saturday Liam Manning’s side sit fifth in the table and a win on Saturday would guarantee a spot in the play-offs.  drawn 16 and lost 12 of their league games and with three crucial points for the taking Saturday’s test is set to be a fierce affair away to Luton Town and Leeds United.  Manning’s side is unbeaten in their last seven fixtures and have found the net 13 times Preston North End have their own battle – with relegation still a possibility – the Lilywhites will be needing maximum points to ensure safety Preston North End have won just one of their last ten games the Lilywhites will be looking to improve their form at the right time in hopes of Championship survival.  Saturday’s visitors have won two of their last nine encounters with City suffering four losses and splitting the points on four occasions.   Their last win at Ashton Gate came in 2018 they will be hoping for success in BS3.  Paul Heckingbottom will be serving a touchline ban on Saturday following a misconduct offence on Easter Monday during his side’s defeat to Hull City Formed: 1880Stadium: Deepdale Nickname: The LilywhitesManager: Paul HeckingbottomFinish last season: 10th    May 3rd (12:30pm)  Where: Ashton Gate Stadium    Competition: Sky Bet Championship Referee: James Linington    Assistant referee: James Wilson  Assistant referee: Alex James       Fourth Official: Alan Young      Emil Riis began his career at Randers FC before moving to English side Derby County after a successful trial period.  From here he played in the Rams’ youth system before joining Dutch side VVV-Venlo on loan.  In 2018 the Danish forward returned to Randers FC where he made 72 appearances and scored 18 goals.  Riis signed a four-year contract at Preston North End in October 2020 and has since made 150 appearances for the Lilywhites scoring 36 goals and contributing with 12 assists.  The 2021/22 season saw him bag 20 goals in 49 appearances for North End and has since taken his tally to 69 goals in all competitions.  Riis progressed through the Danish U16-U21 ranks and has earned call ups to the senior national team.  Riis has scored 11 goals in 49 appearances and contributed with two assists Most recently the forward scored in his side’s narrow defeat to Plymouth Argyle.  Result: Bristol City 2-1 Preston North EndWhen: 12.10.2022Competition: Sky Bet Championship  HEAD-TO-HEAD: BRISTOL CITY VS PRESTON NORTH END Biggest win: Preston North End 0-4 Bristol City: February 5th, 2011Most recent game: Preston North End 3-1 Bristol City: November 2nd, 2024 Getty ImagesPublished2 May 2025Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says it is "pointless worrying" about relegation before Saturday's decisive game against Bristol City The Lancashire side are only one point above the relegation zone after a winless run of seven league games and can only guarantee safety with a victory Hull City and Luton will both need a point away at Portsmouth and West Brom respectively to send Preston down the Robins are also chasing points to firm up a place in the play-offs is worse than being in it," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire There will be a different dynamic to it because Bristol City are thinking the same thing "It's pointless worrying about it We can't take any of that into the game." While events at other matches may affect the overall outcome for either team and Heckingbottom will have one eye on what is happening elsewhere he says he won't take too much notice until the match nears its conclusion "I only think it comes into play in the last five minutes," he added "Even if the game is in the balance for both sets of managers when it gets to the end and you're thinking about substitutions and things Heckingbottom will not be present in the dugout for North End's final game after receiving a two-match ban on Friday but will Yamal build legacy to rival Messi Preston travel to the West Country on Saturday lunchtime to face the Reds in what will be their final game of the Championship season Heckingbottom's side are without a win in their last eight matches in all competitions and sit just a point above the relegation zone While they could lose and still avoid the drop should results elsewhere in the division go their way the only way they can guarantee their spot in the second tier next term is with a win over City Heckingbottom won't be joining Liam Manning on the side of the BS3 pitch for the crucial game after the FA confirmed he had received a two-match touchline ban after it was alleged he "acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insultung words towards a match official" during Preston's clash with Hull City last month Few would have expected the Lilywhites to have found themselves in this position when Heckingbottom replaced Ryan Lowe early in the season While it is impossible to ignore the run of form that has put Preston in this position the head coach wants his players to focus completely on their current situation rather than what has come before Everyone gets that and we have to focus on that just focus on those 90 minutes at the weekend "We're not naive enough to ignore the possibilities of needing to understand situations in other games," Heckingbottom continued "You get to this stage of the season and when there are so many clubs involved Bristol City are fighting to secure their place in the play-off places and you won't miss a beat with our free newsletter It's completely free and you can sign up HERE we need to be abreast of things that are going off in other games without a doubt because that can dictate how the last few minutes of a game pans out." 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 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 If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Click here to join our WhatsApp community. "I’ve spoken to a lot of fans this week, in and around the club, people who are going down as well, so we really appreciate that," he explained. "Anyone who's going down, get behind us, we want to hear you. "Obviously, Bristol City fans are going to be making their noise for their reasons, but as I say, we want it more, we need it more. We appreciate anyone travelling down there. We welcome it. We need that support and hopefully we celebrate together afterwards." Liam Manning and Bristol City have finished sixth in the Championship(Image: EFL)Liam Manning admits he is "so proud" of his "special" group of Bristol City players after the Robins secured their spot in the Championship play-offs with a draw against Preston North End on Saturday lunchtime A brace from Ross McCrorie ensured the Reds came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Paul Heckingbottom's side at Ashton Gate While the point lifted the mood around BS3 it didn't have a major impact on the league table with City ultimately finishing two points clear of seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers Emil Riis handed the away side the lead after 28 minutes when he headed home from a Robbie Brady corner and that advantage was doubled on the hour mark when Milutin Osmajic calmly slotted under Max O'Leary Just as it looked as though the Robins would fall at the final hurdle McCrorie scored his fourth and fifth of the season within the space of five minutes to bring a sense of hope to South Bristol Although City's spot in the play-offs was all-but secured come the full-time whistle, the Reds had to wait on the Ashton Gate pitch for Blackburn's draw at Sheffield United to be confirmed before the celebrations could truly begin While it was a moment Manning and his players will never forget he was still feeling the effects well after the full-time whistle "It was a special afternoon," explained the City boss "We've just said to the lads in there that football is all about memories and that at the end there was a very special memory for everybody involved "It was an exhausting afternoon but you can't replicate that high," he continued "It's such a difficult thing to do and I'm just proud of the lads "It is the biggest game of some of the lads' careers today they won't have played in such a pressurised game we spoke to them before the game around there's so much now around philosophies and identities of dominating the ball and doing this and doing that about our identity and why we're so strong is our attitude it's the behaviours that are so strong for me in our identity and that's what got it over the line today "The lads are human, the lads are desperate to do well and they feel it," Manning said. "Like I said, when you look at the week we've had, to experience what we did on Monday and have a real test of what the level looks like, to then come here and know the pressure's on and it's in our hands, the lads have over and over again shown how much they want it, in terms of their actions. "I'm so proud of them, I'm delighted for them because they're a special group." After nine months and 45 games, it all comes down to this. It would be safe to say the 2024/25 season has been a rollercoaster for everyone associated with Bristol City so far it seems that none of the clubs in the play-off race are particularly keen to extend their season by another two weeks all will be decided and the opportunity to keep the dream alive will have been and gone regardless of whether or not the Reds grab it On paper, City come into Saturday's clash as favourites. Paul Heckingbottom's side are winless in their last eight games in all competitions and currently sit 20th in the table that should play into the Robins' hands it does mean the Lilywhites are also playing for their own future in the division We're at the stage of the season where the majority of players are carrying bumps and bruises. City are to be without Cam Pring for at least a few more weeks, while late decisions will be taken on just how involved both Joe Williams and Scott Twine can be on the final day here's how we think Manning will set up his side at Ashton Gate on the final day of the campaign.. Although the Ireland international conceded four goals at Elland Road Unless he has picked up an injury that Liam Manning didn't reveal in his pre-match press conference O'Leary will once again be the first name on the teamsheet Manning has some important decisions to make when it comes to organising his backline the City head would probably like to freshen things up slightly after two difficult away trips but decisions taken in the winter transfer window as well as injuries have made that all but impossible The former Brighton prospect has typically looked a lot more comfortable in that more defensive role this season and with Cam Pring sidelined having a natural left-footer next to Dickie and Vyner is incredibly useful in possession That predicted defensive re-shuffle will also mean that Liam Manning will have to tinker with his wing-backs ever so slightly as well. Our bet is that both Ross McCrorie and George Tanner will keep their places in the Bristol City starting line-up but that the Scotsman will revert to the left flank and the former Manchester United prospect will start in a more advanced position on the right but he can always be withdrawn if City find themselves chasing a result While some will feel Elijah Morrison is deserving of his first Championship start especially when considering the teenager is the only left wing-back currently fit and available we think it would be a surprise Manning were to throw him in such a huge game stranger things have happened so it cannot be completely ruled out Between the two wing-backs we can predict with almost 100 per cent certainty Jason Knight will make it 46 Championship starts for the season and 100 appearances for the Reds in total The skipper is one of the first names on the teamsheet and while he struggled against Leeds at Elland Road he tends to bounce back from those sort of displays rather quickly Williams or Marcus McGuane starting on Saturday afternoon and it is almost impossible to know exactly what Manning and his staff will do We've gone for Bird for reasons that will become clear as you read on Yu Hirakawa and Scott Twine could argue they are deserving of a start While you could make an argument that Mehmeti simply has to start in a game of this level of importance the goals have dried up for the Albanian international in recent months Earthy carries a greater scoring and creative threat The West Ham loanee is brimming with confidence currently and as a result and this is where we're potentially predicting more with our heart than our head our bet is that Twine will start in his first game since March's defeat to Burnley Although his involvement recently has been limited by a groin injury which requires surgery this summer Manning suggested the pain had begun to ease in his pre-match press conference Should City not get a result against Preston on Saturday If you don't feel you can risk your marquee summer signing now If it is too early for Twine to start, we would expect to see Bird start alongside Earthy with one of Marcus McGuane or Joe Williams dropping into the midfield two Ahead of the two number 10s, our bet is that Nahki Wells will keep his place at the top end of the pitch The Bermudian international is undisputably top of the striker pecking order at Ashton Gate currently and he remains the best finisher at Manning's disposal In a game of this magnitude, you need to make sure you take your chances when they come and at this stage, Wells remains more likely to do that than Sinclair Armstrong Bristol City XI (3-4-2-1): Max O'Leary; Haydon Roberts Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters A 'well intentioned' thug stepped in to resolve a parenting row at a Preston bus stop - but then knocked out a man and stamped on his head Joseph Robinson approached the person after becoming aware of an argument about a child in November last year, a court heard told Preston Crown Court that the 33-year-old believed the man had been demanding a member of the public 'slap their child' Robinson intervened but the row quickly escalated and he punched the man who then hit his head on a bench The victim was rushed to hospital and treated in intensive care for multiple fractures to his face called Robinson's assault 'short lived' and 'spontaneous' and said the victim's fractures did not require any invasive procedures He added: "There is no excuse for it but he didn't carry out an assault for no reason His intentions were initially good." He pleaded guilty to Section 20 GBH without intent at an earlier hearing The court heard that Robinson's father killed his mother when he was a child and that this disturbing crime had a profound impact on his life But the judge in the case said Robinson's criminal past - with 47 separate offences listed - was an 'alarming record of his violence' KC Graham Knowles said: "The defendant remained at the scene asking if he had killed him and made other remarks which are compelling proof he is a guilty man "Obviously the victim was vulnerable when you stamped on him "I have seen a video showing very seriously black eyes - it must have been almost impossible for him to see." LancsLive now has its very own WhatsApp community to deliver the latest news straight to your phone Breaking news, opinion and top stories are being sent directly to our community and we want you to be part of it. Get the latest news as it breaks from across Lancashire Users who want to join must have WhatsApp downloaded to their phone All you have to do to join is click on this link select 'Join Community' and you're in No one will be able to see your personal information in the community and you will only receive messages from the LancsLive news team We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest stories from across the county If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group' Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Ross McCrorie now has five goals for Bristol City this season Bristol City came back from two goals down to draw with Preston North End as they earned a place in the Championship play-offs for the first time in 17 years while the visitors secured their status in the division for next season With Blackburn and Millwall failing to win at Sheffield United and Burnley the point proved academic in terms of the Robins' place in the top six but did mean they drop below Coventry City to set up a semi-final against the Blades Luton's heavy defeat at The Hawthorns meant they stayed up with points to spare Preston had taken what appeared a commanding lead with goals either side of half-time from Emil Riis and Milutin Osmajic both strikers giving the Robins defence a torrid afternoon throughout But City responded impressively with Ross McCrorie meeting a Nahki Wells cross and not long after Jason Knight struck the face of the crossbar the Scotland international delivered a fine equaliser for his second goal Follow Saturday's Championship reaction With pressure on both teams it was Preston who undeniably showed greater purpose early on with a couple of miscued attempts from Robbie Brady the midfielder slicing a volley well wide and then striking a powerful attempt over the crossbar City tried to respond through Wells who drove a low shot wide of the near post after Scott Twine's sharp lay-off but the visitors were proving a frustrating obstacle to the Robins attempts to pass their way through to goal With Stuart McCall patrolling the touchline as Paul Heckingbottom serves a two-match touchline ban North End were compact and stayed disciplined forcing City to continually pass along the edge of the 18-yard box As they imposed a degree of control on the game however Preston struck with Osmajic beating Rob Dickie in a 50/50 advancing towards the box and then playing in Kaine Kesler-Hayden to his right The wing-back cut inside onto his left foot but his attempt was deflected wide by the recovering McCrorie Brady dropped it straight onto the head of Riis who outmuscled Dickie and converted from close range It very nearly got even better for the visitors as Brady found further space to cut inside and bend a fine effort around the outstretched arm of Max O'Leary but also the far post City were looking for signs of life as news of Blackburn's goal at Sheffield United filtered through and Max Bird came close to conjuring an equaliser as he unleashed a dipping drive that looked destined for the top corner only to take the slightest of deflections But Osmajic's physicality was a problem for the home defence all afternoon and the Montenegrin was sent clean through just after the hour mark before sliding a finish under O'Leary Yu Hirakawa had an attempt deflected wide but the volume intensified significantly when Wells was played in down the right and clipped a cross for McCrorie to head in at the far post unmarked Knight very nearly delivered a quickfire equaliser with a rising drive that beat Cornell but not the crossbar The Ashton Gate faithful didn't have to wait long for that important second as Knight threaded a pass into McCrorie who had drifted infield and finished with confidence meaning the mayhem was now among the vast majority of the stadium Mehmeti glanced a header wide from George Earthy's cross as the Robins chased a winner while Preston slowing the game down and producing a result that ultimately worked for both teams Bristol City have lost just three times at Ashton Gate this season 8 May (20:00 BST) – Bristol City v Sheffield United 9 May (20:00 BST) – Coventry City v Sunderland 12 May (20:00 BST) – Sheffield United v Bristol City 13 May (20:00 BST) – Sunderland v Coventry City Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol: "I have no idea how I am feeling "We made real hard work of it but I spoke to the lads beforehand and there's a lot made now about styles and philosophies and we spoke about us to underpin everything with the culture we have got "It says on the shirts 'always believe' and we have done that numerous times now and you see it today - it's a fantastic group of lads I couldn't be more proud of them and what they've done "There's no expectation or pressure on us so we have got to go and be brave and enjoy it You see today the lads give everything for the shirt." Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Really pleased with the performance Bristol City have had two shots on target and scored two goals "We controlled the game without the ball and Emil [Riis] and Milli [Osmajic] were always a threat "I was really proud of the performance just really disappointed with the goals [conceded] They were the only two blips on a top away performance "It was a productive day for our strikers but that was because how hard they worked without the ball." To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Armstrong at 84 minutesSubstituteshome team Preston North EndManager: Paul Heckingbottom Armstrong at 84 minutesSubstitutesNumber 30 Greenwood at 78 minutesSubstitutesNumber 26 Þórðarson Match OfficialsReferee: James LiningtonAssistant Referee 1: James WilsonAssistant Referee 2: Alex JamesFourth Official: Alan YoungMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightBristol City have lost just two of their last 12 league games against Preston North End (W4 D6) After winning each of their five away league games against Bristol City between 2014 and 2018 Preston North End are since winless in five visits to Ashton Gate to face the Robins (D3 L2) Bristol City have won just one of their nine fixtures played on the final day of a league campaign (D2 L6) When playing away from home on the final day of a league campaign Preston have won just one of their last 13 fixtures (D2 L10) whilst failing to score in eight of those matches Preston have picked up just 49 points across their 45 league games this season their lowest tally going into the final game of the season since 2010-11 (39) the last time they were relegated from the Championship Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked Haydon Roberts (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Emil Riis (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half Delay in match because of an injury Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time Jason Knight (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Ched Evans (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked