Pat preserves jinx on Robins NEIL: SET-PIECES NEARLY SUNK US
Bauer’s late leveller – plus two penalties – kept Preston in the top six and preserved their unbeaten home record.
In addition, North End’s unbeaten run against the Robins now goes to 13 games over the past eight years, though it looked like that would be shattered as Lee Johnson’s men roared into a two-goal lead.
Johnson kept his cool when he admitted: “To be honest, I feel neutral about the result. I’m not ecstatic, even though we’ve kept our good run of results going. But it was as good as any performance, especially against a side whose home form is top notch. We were slick on the break and showed courage.”
Preston boss Alex Neil was pleased with his side keeping their home unbeaten run going, but added: “My biggest disappointment is that we conceded three goals from setpieces. Until now, we had the best record in that department.
“So I have really mixed emotions.”
Taylor Moore was both hero and villain. He scored, then ‘ made’ the Robins’ s econd after he appeared to barge into livewire Daniel Johnson. As a result, Johnson floored his own keeper Declan Rudd to allow Andi Weimann to nod home. Moore’s breakthrough strike had seen him h a mmer an unstoppable shot past Rudd from a corner he himself had carved out.
But the 22-year-old Moore, brought up in France from the age of PRESTON BRISTOLCITY 3 ........ Shots on Target .........7 4 ........Shots off Target .........4 3 ................Corners .................5 11 .................. Fouls .................. 12 1 ................ Offsides .................4 76.8...Passing Success % ... 65.5 491 ....... Total Passes ......... 313 60.9 .... Possession % ...... 39.1 55.1...Territorial Adv % .. 44.9 seven, turned the air ‘scare bleu’ when his goalmouth foul on Johnson allowed Weimann to get in a back header.
Just before the break, Preston clawed a goal back as skipper Paul Gallagher hit home a penalty, given without any hesitation after Han- Noah Massengo had floored Johnson in front of goal.
Then referee Andy Davies ruled that when a Sean Maguire cross hit Ashley Williams’ raised hand, and that was a penalty.
Johnson stepped up to net his fourth spot-kick this season to level the scores.
Bristol’s Nathan Baker saw a low shot deflect off Rudd’s legs to put the Robins’ ahead again at 3-2.
But then Bauer broke Robins hearts as he nodded in to share the points, after a Johnson short corner.