Bristol City 4-2 Preston North End
Adam Baker reports from Ashton Gate

City scored four goals at Ashton Gate for the first time since September 2008 to brush aside Preston North End in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Early goals from Danny Haynes and Liam Fontaine set City on their way.

Despite a brief scare when Chris Brown headed in for Preston, City still had more left in the tank in the second half as efforts from Louis Carey and Evander Sno sealed victory. A stoppage time consolation from Ross Wallace meant nothing come the final whistle.

City were hoping to make Darren Ferguson's first afternoon in charge of Preston a miserable one - and it proved a superb start for the hosts.

Paul Hartley whipped in a free kick from the left flank and Haynes slid in amongst a crowd of bodies to put City in front after just 85 seconds.

Danny Haynes nicks in early on for the opening goal

Preston fought back well and Dean Gerken did well to get down low to his left and claw away Jon Parkin's 20-yard drive.

But City were soon 2-0 to the good as a cleverly-worked free kick afforded Fontaine a rare goal. McAllister's disguised low pass into the box was flicked on by Paul Hartley for Nicky Maynard to fire goalwards. His shot was blocked, but the ball dropped loose for Fontaine who steadied himself before finding the net.

Once again Preston tried hard to find a response at the other end, and Gerken once again made a smart save to parry out Darren Carter's swerving 30-yard shot.

Similarly Hartley had a dig from distance with an attempted curler soon after only to see Andy Lonergan pluck the ball out of the air.

Danny Haynes wheels away in celebration of his goal

City lost a two-goal lead at Preston earlier in the season and there was a hushed silence around Ashton Gate as Brown rose highest in the box to nod in Chris Sedgwick's inch-perfect cross on 27 minutes for 2-1.

And the Lilywhites were within a whisker of drawing level with the half-hour up. Ross Wallace's corner kick matched up with Eddie Nolan's run into the box and the defender guided his attempt just over the top.

Sedgwick wasted another glorious chance inside the box five minutes before the break when the City defence opened up for him. However, once more Gerken was equal to the attempt, a snap-shot volley, and City went in at the break in front.

Louis Carey celebrates with fellow goalscorer Liam Fontaine

City started the second half strongly and had good chances to extend their lead.

Maynard picked out McAllister at the back post with a superb pass but the Scotsman got his feet in a muddle and saw the chance go begging. Then Ivan Sproule went on a jinking run and warmed the gloves of Lonergan.

Sproule went closer still with another lung-bursting run and low shot which deflected a fraction wide of the far upright.

City were now piling on the pressure and a third home goal seemed just around the corner - and so it proved. From a free kick Hartley executed a superb floated pass to link up with Carey's incisive run into the box. The City skipper met the ball with a looping header to take the ball over Lonergan and into the net.

On 68 minutes City were dealt a blow as Haynes was forced to hobble off, and Alvaro Saborio went on in his place.

Louis Carey rises in the air against Preston's Chris Brown

Preston replacement Neil Mellor wasted a good opportunity with time ticking away. In a three-on-three situation, Mellor went for an early shot and hooked the ball harmlessly wide.

Maynard was withdrawn with ten minutes left, offering David Clarkson a late chance to impress his manager.

Saborio missed the ball with an acrobatic overhead kick attempt, but fellow substitute Sno was bang on target in the final minute of normal time.

Picking the ball up on the edge of the box from Clarkson, the Dutchman unleashed an unstoppable shot in off the post from 25 yards.

There was still time for Wallace to bend in a free kick from a wide position, miss everyone in the middle and watch the ball bounce through into the far corner of the net for 4-2.

But the final whistle followed shortly as City tasted victory at Ashton Gate for the first time in three months.