While his team mates contrived to lose to a Preston side to whom they literally gifted two goals, Youssef Safri was contemplating an operation on his gall bladder, explaining the 'stomach condition' that kept him out of the Deepdale disaster.
With yesterday's defeat leaving City officially incapable of reaching the play-offs, Safri will go under the knife to remove the gall stones tomorrow, allowing plenty of rehabilitation time for the start of next season.