Youl Mawene stunned Bristol City with an equalising goal which all but ends their hopes of making the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.

Desperately in need of victory to close the gap between themselves and the top six, the home side appeared to be on course when Nicky Maynard headed them in front 13 minutes into the second half.

But Preston stormed back to level matters, centre-back Mawene netting with a sweetly-struck volley in the 70th minute to earn his side a precious point in their bid to make the top six.

A draw was of little use to the Robins, whose prospects of reaching the play-offs for a second successive season now appear distant.

City's 11th home draw of the campaign leaves them four points adrift of sixth-placed Cardiff, who have three games in hand and meet Swansea in the Welsh derby on Sunday.

Given Sheffield United's victory over Ipswich and the point fifth-placed Burnley claimed at Derby, both sides required victory to keep their play-off aspirations intact.

With that in mind, City boss Gary Johnson selected an attacking bench featuring Lee Trundle, Marvin Elliott, the fit-again Gavin Williams and Stern John, recently returned from World Cup duty with Trinidad & Tobago.

The starting line-up was the one which saw action at Queens Park Rangers two weeks earlier, Johnson offering his players an opportunity to make amends for a defeat which severely dented their prospects of a top-six finish.

Bidding to reach the play-offs for a fourth time in nine seasons, Preston were emboldened by the return to fitness of central midfielder Paul McKenna.

It was a case of make or break for both teams and, given that the losers would almost certainly kiss goodbye to promotion, the contest resembled a sudden death cup tie.

City began as though their very lives were dependent upon the outcome, setting a high tempo from the outset and moving the ball at pace.

Determined to prove a point after being omitted from Northern Ireland's squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers, Ivan Sproule threatened to give the home side an early lead when his angled shot took a deflection off Eddie Nolan, forcing keeper Andy Lonergan into a smart save at his near post.

The home side continued to set the agenda without quite conjuring the final pass required to capitalise upon several promising situations.

Not to be outdone, Preston signalled their attacking intent when burly target man Jon Parkin tested Adriano Basso with a low shot which drew a fine diving save from the Brazilian keeper.

When play switched to the other end, Dele Adebola rose to meet Michael McIndoe's cross from the left, only to steer his header high and wide from eight yards out.

The veteran forward really should have done better moments later, Sproule hoisting a cross from the other side of the penalty area to prise open Preston's over-stretched defence. Unfortunately for the home side, Adebola appeared to jump too early and sent his header over the bar when it appeared easier to score.

Firmly in the ascendancy, City continued to dictate terms without managing to exploit the opportunities which came their way, Bradley Orr over-hitting a cross after Adebola and strike partner Nicky Maynard had taken up good positions at the back post.

McKenna issued a reminder of Preston's ability on the counter, reaching the by-line and dragging the ball back, only to be denied by Basso's smothering save, while the ungainly Parkin got his feet in a muddle after being set-up by Stephen Elliott and succeeded only in producing an air shot when any kind of contact would surely have resulted in a goal.

Chances came and went at both ends and Maynard was next to hold his head in his hands, inexplicably guiding his shot wide of the target from 15 yards after being beautifully set-up by the impressive Sproule, who again got the better of Nolan on the right flank.

A draw was of no use to either side and there was an air of eager anticipation inside Ashton Gate as the play-off rivals emerged for the second half. Once again, City set the tempo, dominating possession and forcing the Lilywhites to defend in depth.

The goal the home fans craved finally arrived on 58 minutes, the product of a swiftly-launched counter offensive.

McIndoe started the move from within his own penalty area, finding Jamie McAllister, who in turn sought out Adebola on the left wing. The big striker muscled his way past Billy Jones and delivered a telling cross to present the climbing Maynard with an opportunity to out-jump Frenchman Youl Mawene and head his eleventh and arguably most important goal of the season from the edge of the six yard box.

Forced to gamble and commit men to attack, Preston almost conjured an equaliser while Bristol cheers were still echoing around the stadium, Elliott squeezing in a shot on the turn which beat Basso and grazed the outside of the post.

Seeking their first away win since January, the Lancastrian side were now applying concerted pressure and Parkin, demonstrating a surprisingly deft touch for one so big, sent a curling effort inches over the cross bar from 25 yards out.

Preston were threatening an equaliser and it materialised 20 minutes from time, courtesy of a corner needlessly conceded by Orr. Ross Wallace swung the ball towards the near post and Mawene forced his way in front of McAllister to score with a close-range volley which flew into the corner of the net.

Both sides were going for the win and the temperature rose further when Jamie McCombe met McIndoe's corner with a flicked header which was kept out only by Sean St Ledger's last-ditch intervention.

Eager to atone for his earlier error, Orr tried his luck with a thunderous volley which required Nolan to put his body on the line in order to block.

Bristol hearts were again in mouths when Preston staged a quick counter of their own, Elliott out-foxing Liam Fontaine and shooting across the face of goal, while Basso had to be alert to clear under pressure from the lumbering Parkin.