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Result: Alex Neil: 'We must bounce back against Bristol City'

Result: Alex Neil: 'We must bounce back against Bristol City'
© Reuters
Preston have lost their last two matches.

Alex Neil is counting on his squad to bounce back from consecutive losses when they host Bristol City in the Skybet Championship on Friday evening.

Preston enjoyed a three-game unbeaten spell before facing Luton last weekend, where they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat.

The Lilywhites then slipped to a 2-1 loss at Barnsley on Tuesday night.

With his team now back on home turf, Neil is looking forward to Friday's clash and is hoping the side can rediscover their form.

"Although we've lost the last two games, we've lost them in very different manners," he told the Preston website.

"The Luton game was really unlike us and then I thought the Barnsley game, we had opportunities to win it, but they took their chances and we didn't.

"Football is always enjoyable when you're winning. Throughout my career I've been fortunate I've won more than I've lost so it's been a difficult period, I'm not going to lie. You can't feel sorry for yourself, you just have to get on with it and focus on the next one."

Evaluating the threat posed by Bristol City, Neil was quick to single out their experienced striker Chris Martin.

"They are not too dissimilar to last season," he added.

"Their recruitment has been good, Chris Martin has given them a really good link at the top end and they are dangerous and have goals in their team, that's something we have to be wary of."

Bristol City manager Dean Holden is also hoping his team can overcome two successive losses, though he will be hindered by a lengthy injury list.

Centre back Tomas Kalas is troubled by a dead leg and will be subject to a late call, with fellow defender Alfie Mawson sidelined until January with a knee injury.

Nathan Baker is suffering with a torn hamstring, the same injury that is set to keep loan signing Steven Sessegnon out.

Chris Brunt (calf) and Jamie Paterson (hip) are ruled out alongside Liam Walsh (quad), Joe Williams (thigh) and Andy Weimann (ACL).

The situation is worsened by an injury to defender Jay Dasilva, who will require surgery to repair a stress fracture of his tibia, and the suspension of striker Famara Diedhiou, who was shown a red card against Millwall on Tuesday.

ID:426952:cQx

How you voted: Preston vs Bristol City

Preston North End
43.8%
Draw
21.4%
Bristol City
34.8%
112
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Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael pictured in October 2020
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich22135430201044
2Brentford22118336211541
3Swansea CitySwansea22117425121340
4Bournemouth21108336181838
5Reading2211473227537
6Stoke CityStoke229852621535
7Watford209742315834
8Barnsley2210482728-134
9Middlesbrough209652516933
10Bristol City2210392324-133
11Preston North EndPreston22102103030032
12Huddersfield TownHuddersfield229492730-331
13Luton TownLuton228682024-430
14Blackburn RoversBlackburn228593627929
15Cardiff CityCardiff228592925429
16Millwall2051051718-125
17Coventry CityCoventry225892030-1023
18Birmingham CityBirmingham225891727-1023
19Queens Park RangersQPR224992030-1021
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2367101523-819
21Derby CountyDerby2247111424-1019
22Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2247111526-1119
23Rotherham UnitedRotherham2044121929-1016
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2236131532-1715

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