Bristol City players to refund fans after 5-0 defeat at Preston North End

Bristol City's players have decided to refund 312 fans who paid for tickets to their side's 5-0 defeat at Preston.

The loss on Tuesday night was City's biggest of the season and left them hovering just above the relegation zone.

The club said the players felt it was right to refund the ticket cost for those who made the 400-mile round trip.

Vice-captain Korey Smith said the players had all agreed with the idea. Credit: PA Images
The pressure is mounting on Lee Johnson. Credit: ITV News/Alex Underwood

Goals from Tom Barkhuizen, Aidan McGeady, Tom Clarke and a double from Callum Robinson at Deepdale condemned Lee Johnson's team to what was also their heaviest defeat since 2011.

Vice-captain Korey Smith explained the players' decision, saying nobody in the squad had disagreed once the idea was floated.

Johnson is now under intense pressure ahead of this weekend's home game against Wolves with the Robins hovering a point clear of Blackburn Rovers in the relegation zone.

Johnson was reportedly on the verge of leaving the club yesterday as executives from the board met to discuss the defeat.

And while the club's head coach admitted he had 'taken a roasting' he had not felt at any point he was not up for the fight.