Bristol City 2-1 Preston North End: Rob Atkinson double gives Robins win
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Rob Atkinson's winner led to a rare outpouring of noise at Ashton Gate
Rob Atkinson's 90th-minute header saw Bristol City end a five-game winless Championship run with victory over Preston North End at Ashton Gate.
Centre-back Atkinson put the hosts in front after 55 minutes with a header from close range.
Andrew Hughes equalised for Preston with nine minutes to go, volleying into the net after a Robbie Brady free-kick.
But Atkinson's second header snatched the Robins a late winner to give his side a much-needed three points.
Ryan Lowe's Preston missed the chance to move into the play-offs and are now only a point and three places ahead of 11th-placed Bristol City.
The home side last won on 3 September and, having since endured a run of four defeats and a 0-0 draw with bottom of the table Coventry, Nigel Pearson rang the changes - including dropping captain and goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
With the Robins seemingly low on confidence and Preston a team with few goals in their locker, the first 45 minutes saw little action. The only shot on target came from a Tommy Conway effort which was comfortably saved by Freddie Woodman.
Atkinson broke the deadlock to awaken the sparse-looking Ashton Gate crowd of 17,367 with a scrappy header just before the hour mark, to give Bristol City the lead.
Despite last starting in goal for the Robins in February, Max O'Leary made an excellent save to deny Ryan Ledson shortly after in a one-on-one, in what was easily Preston's best chance up to then.
Still, set-pieces have consistently been a problem for Bristol City and again they unravelled from a free-kick seemingly out of nothing, as Hughes fired into the net to draw his side level.
Atkinson, however, nodded in Alex Scott's corner with the 90 minutes all-but up to doubled his tally as Preston saw their record of being the only unbeaten Championship side away from home this season come to an end.
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I am satisfied with the outcome. It's always difficult to reflect with real balance when we've been so poor and then we're able to put together a response which makes people think 'why is that the case?'.
"I think that's probably where most people get a little bit confused.
"But look, fair play, the players did respond, the players collectively showed a real level of commitment which we need every time that we play.
"We've got to see what happens now. I don't want us to be one of those up and down sides, so already looking forward to the weekend to see whether we can get back-to-back wins."
Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We just weren't good enough to be honest with you.
"I thought we were a little bit flat and forcing our passes - too many square passes, too many straight passes.
"I thought we got away with one at half-time going in at 0-0 to be brutally honest.
"To concede a goal from a second phase is disappointing but then to find yourself back in the game you think 'just see it through' - we might've potentially got a point."