Preview: Bristol City vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts are unbeaten in their last six league outings, while the visitors make the trip on the back of their first Championship defeat of the season.

Match preview

Bristol City had to endure a slow start to the new Championship season, losing their opening two games against Hull City and Sunderland before only being able to draw away at newly-promoted Wigan Athletic.

The Robins were then able to post a first league win at home to Luton Town and made it two 2-0 victories on the bounce as Tommy Conway and Rob Atkinson got on the scoresheet in a Severnside Derby triumph over rivals Cardiff City.

Hoping to build on that newly-found momentum, Nigel Pearson's side looked to have taken all three points away at Blackpool in a 3-2 win, courtesy of goals from Conway and Antoine Semenyo alongside a Marvin Ekpiteta own goal, only to be forced to share the spoils in the 90th minute as Theo Corbeanu hit a leveller, but they were quickly able to return to winning ways against Huddersfield Town.

Semenyo was again on the scoresheet with Nakhi Wells also finding the net in a 2-0 win, before the Robins again made in consecutive wins in impressive fashion last time out, eventually beating Blackburn Rovers 3-2 away from home as Wells notched up a brace after Conway's first-half opener.

Such an upturn in form from Pearson's men, who have now amassed 14 points in the last six games, has seen them rise to fourth spot in England's second tier, and they will aim to keep building momentum with a third win on the bounce this weekend.

They take on a Preston North End side fresh off a first league defeat of the campaign after their start to the season was defined by an impeccable defensive record.

Ryan Lowe's side began the Championship season with a seven-game unbeaten run, but with only two victories in that time - both 1-0 triumphs - with every other fixture finishing as goalless stalemates.

The second of those victories came at the end of August, as Emil Riis Jakobsen netted his side's second league goal of the term in their seventh outing to take their tally to 11 points before heading into a home game against Birmingham City last weekend.

The Lilywhites' impenetrable defence was finally broken down in that contest, as the visitors took an early lead through Maxime Colin, and Lowe's side were unable to find an equaliser, falling to a first defeat as a result.

With concerns growing about their attacking capabilities, Preston will be desperate to return to winning ways at the weekend but face a particularly tough test away from home.

Bristol City Championship form:

Bristol City form (all competitions):

Preston North End Championship form:

Preston North End form (all competitions):

Team News

Bristol City remain without defender Thomas Kalas, meaning the back three of Rob Atkinson, Kal Naismith and Zak Vyner will again be left untouched for Saturday's contest.

Further forward Antoine Semenyo will be hoping for a starting berth after his run of goals off the bench, but he faces tough competition with the attacking duo of Tommy Conway and Nakhi Wells having already netted four goals each in the league this term.

They should both keep their places with additional support from Andreas Weimann, who has contributed three goals and four assists so far in the Championship after scoring 22 times and assisting 10 goals in the league last time around.

Preston's strength this season has certainly come from their back three and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, and since Andrew Hughes's injury, Greg Cunningham has come in to join Jordan Storey and Liam Lindsay in defence.

Emil Riis Jakobsen should again be trusted to lead their faltering attack, with Ched Evans and Troy Parrott likely fighting for the spot alongside the Dane.

Further back, Ryan Ledson should come back in to join Ben Whiteman at the base of midfield, while Ali McCann was preferred over Daniel Johnson in a more advanced role last time out, although both may have to watch from the bench if Alan Browne is deployed ahead of Whiteman and Ledson.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Vyner, Naismith, Atkinson; Sykes, James, Scott, Dasilva; Weimann; Wells, Conway

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, Ledson, Brady; Browne; Parrott, Riis

We say: Bristol City 2-0 Preston North End

Preston's perfect defensive record has finally been put to an end, and they take on one of the league's most dangerous attacking units at the weekend.

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