City Take On Preston

Preston North End are the visitors to Ashton Gate this Saturday, both teams are desperate to win and if the Robins manage it, they will go racing out of the drop zone. And they will leapfrog Preston in the process.

Keith Millen
'Over the years we've made Ashton Gate an intimidating place, a tough one for opposition teams to come to.

'We are aware Preston haven't had the best of results here in Bristol in the past, and hopefully that can continue.

'But they're a good footballing side. Jon Parkin's back for them and could come straight into the team, so we have to be aware of his presence.

'They've been involved in a lot of high-scoring games already this season so they know where the back of the net is, but they can also conceded a few as well.'
(Official site)

Cole Skuse could come back into the reckoning for Bristol City ahead of the visit of Preston.

It is hoped the midfielder will train for the first time since suffering a heel injury in the defeat at Cardiff in mid-October.

Manager Keith Millen has no new problems although defender Christian Ribeiro (groin and hip) and last season`s top scorer Nicky Maynard (knee) are continuing to make progress.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson is boosted by the return of striker Jon Parkin for the trip.

The powerful frontman was suspended during last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Leicester and could go straight back into the starting line-up.

On-loan Manchester United striker Josh King, 18, is out of action because of an ankle injury and his three-month loan ends at the end of next week.

King will be sidelined beyond then and Ferguson will decide in the next few days whether to extend the loan as fellow frontman Chris Brown will be out for another five weeks after a knee operation.

Midfielder Barry Nicholson, a long-term absentee with a broken leg, is edging closer to a first-team return.

Of the 75 previous meetings between these clubs, City have won 25, Preston have won 25, and 25 have been drawn.

It is a decade since Preston's last league victory at Ashton Gate: a 2-0 win in the third tier in May 2000.

City have scored a goal a game on average in the Championship this season (14 from 14).

They have the division's worst home record, with only one victory and five points from a possible 21.

Dean Whitestone

City 3-1 Preston

10/11 A: Swansea City
13/11 A: Leeds United
20/11 H: Leicester City
27/11 H: Sheffield United

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