Bristol City 1-1 Preston North End
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

Play-off chasers City and Preston North End were forced a share of the spoils at Ashton Gate.

Nicky Maynard looked to have put City on the path to victory with his eleventh goal of the season on 69 minutes, but Youl Mawene popped up ten minutes later to force an equaliser.

The game was end-to-end from the start, with Ivan Sproule forcing Andy Lonergan into an early save from a cross-shot. At the other end Ross Wallace was denied when his dipping 25-yard shot was pushed out by Adriano Basso.

Dele Adebola was causing danger for the visitors with two quick-fire chances blocked, and then on 21 minutes the striker saw a great chance go begging. Sproule's cross picked out Adebola in the six-yard box but stretching to reach the ball, the former Coventry forward guided his header over.

The goalscorers Nicky Maynard and Youl Mawene tussle

A similarly good opportunity went Preston's way on 39 minutes, as Elliott wrestled clear of Liam Fontaine and advanced on goal. However, instead of shooting goalwards the forward chose to pick out team-mate Jon Parkin on the penalty spot,only for the 'Beast' - as he is dubbed - to miss his kick completely.

A 30-yard Paul McKenna shot was pushed over by Basso, before City wasted one more good chance a minute before half-time

Michael McIndoe and Sproule linked up well on the right, with the latter picking out Maynard unmarked in the box. The home side's top scorer tried to find the far corner but just clipped his shot wide of the upright.

Maynard made no mistake, however, after the interval - bagging the opening goal on 59 minutes after some brilliance from Adebola.

The big forward superbly nutmegged Mawene on the touchline and chipped an exquisite ball in towards Maynard ten yards out who finished with a guided header into the bottom corner.

Nicky Maynard celebrates his fourth 'Sky TV' goal of the season

Preston almost hit back immediately when Elliott cut inside at the other end and bobbled a shot against Basso's right-hand post.

Parkin saw a dipping shot just arrow over the top, before Preston's equaliser on 69 minutes.

A corner kick from Wallace picked out the unmarked Mawene, who clipped the ball inside the near post with the outside of his boot.

City tried to respond with chances for McIndoe, Jamie McCombe and Bradley Orr all blocked away.