Championship play-off hopefuls Preston and Bristol City shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.
Preston and Bristol City share the points
Championship play-off hopefuls Preston and Bristol City shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.
Nicky Maynard's well-taken header gave the hosts the advantage in the second half but North End hit soon after when Youl Mawene flicked home following a corner.
Preston are now just one point outside the top six with the Robins, who named the same side that lost 2-1 to QPR before the international break, three further back.
Preston manager Alan Irvine recalled captain Paul McKenna to his side in place of Simon Whaley, while Lee Williamson made his debut after a loan switch from Watford with Darren Carter missing out.
The visitors had a chance after 10 minutes when a mix-up in the City area saw Adriano Basso collide with two defenders, and the ball bounced down to Stephen Elliott who could only force the ball wide.
Moments later Ross Wallace drove the ball fiercely at goal from long range but the Robins stopper was a match to the effort and pushed it wide.
Dele Adebola had a fine chance to put the hosts in front after 21 minutes. Ivan Sproule delivered a ball to the back post and from practically under the bar Adebola flicked the ball up and over the goal.
Elliott created a good chance for strike partner Jon Parkin when he turned Liam Fontaine on the edge of the area before pulling the ball back. Parkin could not make a connection, however, and the ball drifted across the Robins area.
Frantic
The second half started at a frantic pace with the ball going from one end to the other but it was the hosts who took the lead 13 minutes into the half.
Adebola held the ball up well on the left channel before beating Mawene and crossing for Maynard to glance a header on and into the far corner of the net.
Preston almost hit back immediately when Elliott jinked and turned in the box before firing his shot against the foot of the post.
Parkin was the next to try his luck midway through the half when Williamson laid the ball off to him 30 yards out and he hit a fine effort which dipped and swerved over the bar.
The equaliser eventually came after 69 minutes when Mawene turned in Wallace's corner at the near post after beating James McAllister to the ball.
As the game wore on both sides tired but the Lilywhites pushed on in search of a winner, firstly Chris Sedgwick pulled a shot wide of the upright before Parkin headed straight at Basso.
Neither side could find a winner and a draw was a fair result after an entertaining encounter between the two sides.
