With Bristol City continuing on a downward trajectory during the opening two weeks of the season, Nigel Pearson may have had concerns regarding the mentality of his squad.
However, thrilling away wins at Reading and Cardiff City have ended those thoughts, this group of players now competing like the playoffs should be regarded as a realistic target.
The victory in South Wales proved to be a battle, the type that Pearson savoured during his playing days, and it would have shown him everything that he needed to see from his squad.
The return of form of Andreas Weimann has proven decisive, the Austrian netting doubles in the triumphs over the Royals and Bluebirds.
With a home fixture against Luton Town to follow Saturday’s encounter, there is now a window of opportunity for Bristol City to make quick headway up the table.
Preston manager Frankie McAvoy will have other ideas after witnessing his team register back-to-back successes over Peterborough United and Swansea City.
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While neither of those opponents have enjoyed a fast start to the campaign, McAvoy will feel that his players have upped their level with the stakes having been raised considerably.
The success against Swansea came after going a goal behind, Emil Riis Jakobsen getting among the scorers with his second league strike of the season.
As many as nine different players have now chipped in with a goal or assist, a statistic which will fill McAvoy with belief regarding his team’s chances going forward
