Fam slams in crucial equaliser for Johnno
BUSTLING striker Famara Diedhiou saved the day for Bristol City as he lashed home a leveller to keep his side in the play-off chase.
The Robins’ record £5.3million signing accepted his chance from a knockdown by Marlon Pack to hammer in his 11th strike of the season.
It rubbed out a first-half goal by Daniel Johnson, who converted a low cross from Paul Gallagher – a strike that keeps North End’s own play-off dreams flickering on.
It also kept Preston’s good run going as they chalked up a ninth game without defeat.
North End boss Alex Neil claimed Diedhiou’s goal was “well offside” but added: “I have to admit that our goal was not a carefully crafted training pitch routine.
“Gally and the boys came up with it out there on the pitch and it worked.
“We’re still in the hunt, sitting six points behind the pack with 11 games to go – it keeps our season going.”
CIty boss Lee Johnson was pleased to arrest his side’s recent losing streak.
He said: “That’s two in two for Famara. He always scores important goals. He’s not the silkiest of players but he gets in those positions of danger.”
The City boss might even have been celebrating a victory if home keeper Declan Rudd hadn’t somehow pulled off a magnificent save for a fierce, goal-bound effort by sub Antoine Semenyo.
But at the other end Lukas Nmecha forced a great save from sub keeper Max O’Leary, who came on after Niki Maenpaa went off injured.
Johnson’s opener came at the end of a lacklustre first half after Lloyd Kelly fouled Alan Browne with a two-footed challenge.
Ref Jeremy Simpson let him off with a yellow card but the Robins paid a high price from the resulting free-kick that led to Preston’s breakthrough.
City had been warned as Sean Maguire sent out a couple of early warnings.
He tried a long-range effort that went wide, followed by another that went over.
Maguire has been blighted with hamstring injuries but yoga has helped him and his performance caught the eye of Irish boss Mick McCarthy.