TEEN SPIRIT KEEPS ROBINS RIDING HIGH
Semenyo inspires City late fightback
PRESTON blew the chance to propel themselves right into the play-off race as faltering Bristol City got their own charge back on track.
Defeats for Birmingham, Derby and Nottingham Forest meant victory at Deepdale would have left Alex Neil’s in-form side just three points off the top six.
But despite forging ahead through Daniel Johnson’s wellworked opener, a lacklustre second-half gave the Robins a foothold and the home side were punished when Famara Diedhiou scrambled home from close range. It was the Senegal striker’s 11th goal of the season, ending a run of three straight defeats for Lee Johnson’s men and keeping them three points clear in sixth spot.
“You know, Famara always scores important goals,” said Johnson. “He’s not the silkiest of players, but he gets in the mix and any opposition player will tell you he’s a handful. That’s 11 for the season now, and when you consider he missed six games, that’s not a bad return.”
For Neil, though, Famara’s leveller should not have stood after replays showed the forward was offside when Marlon Pack flicked on from a Jamie Paterson corner.
“We had a look back at it after the game and he’s about half a yard off,” said Neil, whose side dropped two places, despite extending their unbeaten run to nine matches.
“The linesman, who I’ve spoken to, said he felt that Darnell
Fisher may have played him on. But Darnell is wrongside of the player; if he’s looking across he sees the defender first and the striker second. So he’s guessed.
“There’s not many times we’ve come out on the wrong side of decisions this season, but when you’re in such a close match, it’s frustrating when the right call isn’t made.”
In truth, neither side deserved all three points. Early chances for Paterson and the excellent Andrew Hughes – both men should have scored – had hinted at an open contest.
Yet the first half swiftly degenerated into an scrap, only enlivened three minutes from time when Lloyd Kelly hacked down Alan Browne near the byline.
With City’s defence expecting a cross, Paul Gallagher passed square to Johnson, who evaded Andy Weimann and lashed into the top corner from 12 yards. “I’d like to take credit for that but I can’t, unfortunately” added Neil. “The lads conjured it up on the pitch. He finished it great, and to come up with that in live play is excellent. To be fair, it’s not the first time they’ve tried it, but it usually fails miserably.”
At that stage, City’s wretched run against Preston looked set to continue. The Robins hadn’t won this fixture – home or away – in 11 attempts and with key players absent looked a shadow of the side that won seven straight games in January and February.
But the introduction of 19-year-old academy product Antoine Semenyo after 53 minutes provided an immediate injection of energy and impetus.
Recalled from a sparkling loan at Newport County in January, the striker was making just his second appearance for the Robins, and surged forward at every opportunity. It was once such drive that led to the corner from which Diedhiou scored, and the youngster was denied a goal of his own when Declan Rudd leapt full length to tip his closerange volley round a post.
“He’s a real talent, and another real win for the academy,” added Johnson. “There’s been interest from Premier League clubs, which goes to show how much we trust our young players.
“The best thing about it was that he actually made Fam look better, and that’s the sign if a really good player. But for an unbelievable save, he would have had that Roy Race moment, too.”
Preston, too, had one last chance to snatch it, Browne heading wide from a Tom Barkhuizen cross. “We’re still in it,” insisted Neil. “If somebody said nine games ago that we’d be sitting in this position, nobody would have believed it. All we want to do is keep the season alive – and it is.”