Bristol Post

BRISTOL CITY PLAYER RATINGS

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DAN BENTLEY - 7

Little to do in the first half apart from slice one left-footed clearance into touch and catch a Sinclair shot pushed straight at him. In the second half, he helped to see off a sticky spell, but only had one save to make throughout. Another clean sheet. JACK HUNT - 7

Returned to the side and his experience showed as he helped to keep Sinclair in check for much of the game.

TOMAS KALAS - 9

Nipped in ahead of Maguire to extinguish any chance of the visitors making something from a Johnson through-ball in the first half, and imperious in the second as he headed clear several crosses. Completed the joint most intercepti­ons with Nagy.

ALFIE MAWSON - 8

Mastered aerial and ground duels and kept it simple at the back, with a couple of passes gifted away. Won the most balls in the air during the game, with Diedhiou. TOMMY ROWE - 8

Had a little extra work to do as Palmer’s defensive tracking back wasn’t always as diligent as it could have been. Got forward well and almost created something in the second half following a spin near the corner flag.

ZAK VYNER - 9

Started in central midfield, providing a zip and aggression that has been missing of late, as he hauled down Johnson on 16 minutes. Tidy in possession and hit the winning goal for his first Bristol City strike.

KASEY PALMER - 7

Was terrific early on as he cut on to his right foot and fired at goal, with two efforts whizzing just over Iversen’s crossbar. Found so much room in midfield as he ran the game in the first 20 minutes. Faded after the break.

ADAM NAGY - 7

Plenty of energy in midfield and turned passes around corners for Martin and Diedhiou as well as reaching plenty of loose balls. Terrific endeavour as ever. No City player made more intercepti­ons.

HAKEEB ADELAKUN - 6

One good attacking piece of play in the first half but otherwise received little of the ball to produce too much, apart from some lovely footwork at times to find half a yard of space. Kept the ball nicely though. Nice deep cross for Martin late on however, which almost led to a good City chance. There is more to come from him.

CHRIS MARTIN - 7

Worked hard pressing Preston’s back two but had little service. His chasing on the hour-mark forced the away side back and helped City get up the pitch. Volleyed over at the end, and a goal would have capped his afternoon off nicely.

FAMARA DIEDHIOU - 8

Made his goal look so easy as he nodded in Tommy Rowe’s inswinging corner in the first half. Could have added to it as he twisted in the area minutes later before blasting at Iversen. Looked tired towards the end and replaced by Wells late on. SUBSTITUTE­S

HAN-NOAH MASSENGO (for Palmer 70 mins) - 7

When he came on the Frenchman helped to change the game.Hit a cracking shot that almost wrapped up the game for City. NAHKI WELLS (for Diedhiou 79 mins) n/a

Ran hard but little impact of note. TYREEQ BAKINSON (for Adelakun, 86 mins) - n/a

Came on for the final minutes as City finished the game in the ascendancy. NOT USED: Max O’Leary, Adrian Mariappa, Taylor Moore, Opi Edwards, Sam Bell.

PRESTON NORTH END: Daniel Iversen, Darnell Fisher (Ryan Ledson, 86 mins), Paul Huntington, Ben Davies, Andrew Hughes, Alan Browne, Ben Whiteman (Emil Riis Jakobsen, 78 mins), Tom Barkhuizen (Brad Potts, 67 mins), Daniel Johnson (Ched Evans, 67 mins), Scott Sinclair, Sean Maguire (Jayson Molumby, 79 mins).

NOT USED: Josh Earl, Paul Gallagher, Joe Rafferty, Connor Ripley.

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