Preston North End 1-2 Bristol City: Mark Sykes and Sam Bell on target in Robins win
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Mark Sykes put Bristol City ahead after rounding Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman
Bristol City continued their recent good form as goals from Mark Sykes and Sam Bell condemned Preston to a fifth straight home Championship defeat.
The Robins went ahead after six minutes when Robbie Brady sold his goalkeeper short with a backpass, allowing Sykes to round Freddie Woodman and tap in.
Bell made it two in first-half injury time when he slotted in Nahki Wells' inviting cross.
Preston reduced the deficit on 61 minutes when Ched Evans tucked in the rebound after Max O'Leary had saved Ryan Ledson's shot but Bristol City held on to win.
The Robins went into the game unbeaten in four league games and without a loss in seven in all competition, while Preston were looking to avoid a fifth home defeat on the spin.
Nigel Pearson's men were gifted an early lead when Brady scuffed his backpass and Sykes stole in to take the ball around Woodman and slot into the empty net.
Preston skipper Alan Browne saw his penalty appeal waved away on 18 minutes as the hosts looked for a way back into the game and then it was City who had a chance to double their lead but Woodman was equal to Wells' effort.
The hosts kept pressing and O'Leary had to be alert to deny Browne and Evans in quick succession shortly before the half-hour mark.
But they were made to pay for their missed chances when the Robins doubled their advantage as the half-time whistle approached.
Alex Scott turned well before releasing Wells down the right and the striker's ball into the box was met by Bell to continue his goal-scoring run.
Ryan Lowe's men came out strongly in the second period and Tom Cannon forced O'Leary into another fine save shortly after the restart.
They got on the scoresheet just after the hour when Evans slotted in the rebound after O'Leary pushed away Ledson's long-range shot.
Preston pushed for an equaliser and Brady went closest to finding it on two occasions but his free-kick went narrowly over the bar before he sent a header wide shortly afterwards.
Despite the three points, the Robins remain in 17th while Preston stay in 11th, four points outside the play-off places.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"The performance warranted a point, if not three. You can't legislate for mistakes, individual errors, but our lads' reaction after that was fantastic. We created some fantastic chances but to go in at half-time 2-0 down gives you a mountain to climb.
"The lads left everything out there to try and get back. Robbie Brady nearly put it right for us at the end. He's disappointed for the mistake and the second goal we should have seen if off further up the pitch so the two goals are disappointing but the effort and endeavour of the group was pleasing for me.
"We've done everything but win, we gifted them two goals, they were not acceptable and the lads know that."
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"They've had a difficult run of home games in terms of results and were desperate to turn that around. And their quality from set plays is excellent, but to a man we stood up and made it difficult for them to get a good contact.
"I'm just delighted for the players. I was happy to see them celebrating with the fans because there's a real connection there. I like that. It's important our fans have a team that they want to come and see.
"We would like to play with a bit more style but we couldn't because the game didn't allow us to, it was a tough physical game but we showed some real quality as well."
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