The crowd of 11,161 saw Bristol City have the first chance after four minutes when Michael McIndoe hit a 25-yard shot which Preston keeper Andy Lonergan tipped onto his left-hand post.
Richard Chaplow crossed to Neil Mellor and he had a looping header saved after six minutes.
A 25-yard free-kick by David Noble to McIndoe resulted in a shot, saved by Lonergan who dived to his right to push the ball around the post for a corner.
Dele Adebola shot straight at the Preston keeper from 12 yards and Billy Jones had a deflected shot saved by Adriano Basso.
Just before the half-hour, Paul McKenna played the ball to Ross Wallace and he had the assist with a low left-wing cross to striker Stephen Elliott, who stabbed the ball under the keeper from close range.
Marvin Elliott had a shot saved before McIndoe had another 25-yard effort which the Preston keeper tipped round the post.
The resulting corner ended in a shot from Adebola that was saved again.
Marvin Elliott had a 25-yard effort saved and then another shot before Preston made it 2-0.
It was in the 55th minute when Wallace cut inside then hit a 20-yard shot into the bottom left which was slightly deflected.
Stephen Elliott had a cross saved and Lee Johnson had a left-wing in-swinging free-kick that was caught by the keeper.
Chris Brown fed Stephen Elliott and he had a 12-yard shot saved and then towards the end a move by Barry Nicholson, McKenna and then Jon Parkin ended with a 20-yard left foot shot by Parkin that was saved.