Bristol City 2-2 Preston North End: Robins earn Championship play-off spot as visitors secure safety

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.

From the corner, Brady dropped it straight onto the head of Riis who outmuscled Dickie and converted from close range, sparking pandemonium among the away fans.

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, sparking more mayhem in the away end.