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Garner: City will test us

Image: Joe Garner: Expects stern challenge

Joe Garner knows Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Bristol City will be a true test of Preston's automatic-promotion credentials.

North End have lost three straight League One games but can close the gap on the Robins to just two points after Steve Cotterill's men tasted defeat for the first time this season at second-placed Swindon last weekend. Despite the trio of successive losses, top scorer Garner, who was named the League One Player of the Year at the Northwest Football Awards on Tuesday night, claims the Lilywhites believe they can inflict a second loss of the season on their hosts at Ashton Gate. "We'll be looking to come away with three points," he said. "We'll go there confident and knowing that we can come away with three points. "We've got a great squad, a great team spirit and hopefully we'll come away with what we want." Preston's recent blip is perhaps understandable given they have faced midweek trips to Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Swindon and Havant & Waterlooville since the end of October. However, Garner insists there is no time to moan about the schedule as Simon Grayson's men look to avoid having to go through the play-offs once again. "We've had a lot of away games - Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday; we could use it as an excuse but we won't," added the 26-year-old. "We've got Bristol City at the weekend and if we want to get out of the league we've got to push the best team in it. "They're at the top of the league at the minute and hopefully we can come away with three points on Saturday." Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts

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