Last updated on .From the section Championship

Famara Diedhiou is Bristol City's top scorer this season with 11 goals

Championship play-off hopefuls Preston North End and Bristol City shared the points in an entertaining contest at Deepdale.

Daniel Johnson's side-footed strike from a cleverly worked free-kick put the hosts in front just before the break.

Famara Diedhiou hooked in a leveller from close range midway through the second half to end a run of three straight losses for City.

Preston were bottom of the league at the start of October, but a run of just four defeats in 25 matches since has taken them to within six points of the top six.

However, Alex Neil's side will be frustrated they could not hang on for all three points with fellow play-off hopefuls Derby, Birmingham and Nottingham Forest all losing.

The Lancashire club are now unbeaten in nine matches, picking up 19 points from a possible 27, with a game against local rivals Blackburn to come at Ewood Park next weekend.

Johnson's opener from Paul Gallagher's pass was one of only three Preston shots on target out of 17 and they were made to pay for their wastefulness when Diedhiou scored his 11th of the season following a corner.

Teenage substitute Antoine Semenyo had a good chance to win it for the Robins but his volley was palmed wide by Preston keeper Declan Rudd.

Bristol City remain in sixth with a three-point buffer to seventh-placed Derby after the Rams were hammered at Aston Villa.

City boss Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol: "It was a really tough game for both teams. It was a little bit cagey in the first half and they won more individual duels inside and outside the box and that disappointed me a little.

"But I thought second half we were the better side, we took the game to them and got the ball forward with more intent.

"It was the third game in a week, away from home, so it was a really good effort from the boys and it's a good point given all the situations and scenarios of the day."

Preston boss Alex Neil: "We are still in the hunt and I've told the lads that, and we hope we are still in that position with three or four games to go.

"A lot of the players are disappointed because they really wanted the three points.

"Whoever was going to get the first goal would be a big factor I felt, and it is disappointing for us that we did not get the win."