Zak attack a City bonus
DEAN HOLDEN didn’t care a jot that Zak Vyner’s clinching goal for Bristol City was a complete mis-hit.
The young defender was making his first start for the Robins in midfield and capped an impressive display on 77 minutes.
Vyner took a swing with his left boot when the ball dropped to him in a crowded box. And, while he failed to make proper contact, it found its way just inside the far post.
“I was right behind the shot and my only concern was that it might spin wide,” said City boss Holden.
“Zak will score better ones but none more memorable, with it being his first for us. I just wish there had been a crowd and his family here.
“He deserved it because it was his first start for me in a new position and I thought his performance was outstanding.
“It’s always good to have versatile players in your squad and Zak is developing that way.
“I thought it was a really strong team performance, in the first half particularly.
We knew Preston would come at us in the second half, but our game management was really good.”
Famara Diedhiou’s powerful downward header from Tommy Rowe’s eighthminute corner had given the hosts the lead.
Preston almost equalised on 57 minutes when Paul Huntington’s header clipped the bar from a Ben Whiteman corner.
However, for all their second-half possession, North End failed to test City keeper Dan Bentley sufficiently.
“We didn’t get started for 20 minutes,” said Preston boss Alex Neil.
“The players seemed to think we would be able to pop the ball around and play pretty football.
“City were aggressive and won the midfield battle. But from then on, I didn’t think there was much in it and for 30 minutes in the second half we were dominant.
“We didn’t get our final ball right or create enough in their box. Then they came back into it and scored a lucky second goal, which finished us.”
Neil gave debuts to goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and deep-lying midfielder Ben Whiteman.
“I thought Ben grew into the game after being a bit safe with his passes in the first half,” he added.
“Dan made a couple of saves, but really didn’t have much to do.”
Bentley 6; Hunt 7, Kalas 8 Mawson 8, Rowe 7; Adelukan 6 (Bakinson 86), Vyner 7, Nagy 7, Palmer 7 (Massengo 70, 6); Martin 7, Diedhiou 7 (Wells 78). Unused subs: O’leary, Mariappa, Moore, Morton, Bell, Edwards. PRESTON: Iversen 6; Fisher 6 (Ledson 86), Huntington 7, Davies 7, Hughes 6; Browne 6; Whiteman 6 (Jakobsen 78); Barkhuizen 5 (Potts 66, 6), Johnson 6 (Evans 66, 6), Sinclair 6; Maguire 5 (Molumby 78). Unused subs: Ripley, Earl, Gallagher, Rafferty. MAN OF THE MATCH: Tomas Kalas. Another towering performance by the City skipper in a strong partnership with Mawson. REFEREE: Dean Whitestone 8.