Bristol City vs Preston North End Prediction: The teams finished mid-table the last time around

Bristol City will welcome Preston North End at Ashton Gate Stadium in Gameweek 1 of the English Championship. The teams finished mid-table the last time around. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes? 

Bristol City experienced inconsistency for most of the previous season, leading them to settle for a mid-table position once again. Despite finishing 15 points clear of the relegation zone, being 10 points behind sixth place was a significant disappointment. Nigel Pearson is now tasked with bringing about a change in their trajectory.

The uncertainty surrounding Alex Scott's future remains, contingent on whether Bournemouth is willing to meet the £25m valuation. Nevertheless, Bristol City had a satisfying summer transfer window, securing players like Robert Dickie, Rob McCrorie, Haydon Roberts, and Jason Knight, who have the potential to strengthen both the starting lineup and the squad's depth.

During the pre-season, Bristol City performed well, not losing any of their games. However, it is essential to note that they faced teams mostly from League One or lower.

O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Pring; Scott, James, Weimann; Cornick, Wells, Bell

Preston manager Ryan Lowe faces a situation similar to his counterpart, as the club aims to revitalize and elevate their performance to the next level.

After witnessing Preston's inability to handle the pressure of securing a playoff spot in the 2022-23 season, Lowe has been active in the transfer market, making some exciting signings. The acquisitions of Liverpool players Calvin Ramsey and Layton Stewart have generated excitement, and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen's potential is highly anticipated as one of the standout moves of the summer.

On the field, Preston's recent performances have been underwhelming, with just one victory in their last five friendly matches. Lowe will be eager to see a positive response from his team, especially after their goalless displays against Fleetwood Town and Stockport County.

Woodman; Storey, Bauer, Hughes; Potts, McCann, Browne, Frokjaer-Jensen, Cunningham; Woodburn, Keane

Both managers will be pleased with their summer transfer dealings, as they believe their teams have become stronger compared to last season. We expect under 2.5 goals to be scored in the game. Bristol City enjoyed a promising pre-season, instilling confidence in their prospects for this match. On the other hand, Preston appeared less stable in their summer fixtures, making them see themselves as the underdogs in this encounter. Go with Bristol to win the game with under 2.5 goals to be scored throughout.