OTIB - BCFC Match reports

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Round One - Sunderland 1 Bristol City 2

Carroll (57). Naismith (63)

Williams (80)


City lined up with a 5-3-2 counter-attacking formation, with striker Joao Pedro leading the line despite the intense transfer speculation surrounding his future. It was an open game from the start with both sides looking to play football and plenty of chances throughout. The teams went in at the interval goalless and veteran striker Andy Carroll put the home side in front after 57 minutes after a slide rule pass from Granit Xhaka. As the crowd went wild the Black Cats pushed forwards to seal the victory which spurred City into action and Kai Naismith scored a superb individual goal from the back to equalise and silence the fans. Then it was all City and midfield general Joe Williams grabbed the winner with 10 minutes to go to see the Robins win their first game of the season, a great start for new manager Tim Brown. New signings Nicky Cadden and Kenneth Taylor both had impressive debuts with Vakoun Bayo at little less impactful up front.


City ratings;

Bentley 8,Santos 5, Naismith 10, Kalas 8, Roberts 6, Cadden 8, Williams 9, Sensi 8, Taylor 8, Pedro 9, Bayo 6 Subs Vyner 7, Conway 5.


MOTM : Kai Naismith



F A CUP R1


Blackpool 2 City 3

Carey (2) Santos (27)

Husband (62) Pedro (30)

Taylor (67)


City faced a potential banana skin at Bloomfield Road but came through eventually. The home sides long ball tactics paid off immediately, with midfielder Carey opening the scoring after 2 minutes to get the place jumping. City patiently waited their time and eventually equalised through star defender Nuno Santos’s rocket shot for which the keeper didn’t even move. Pedro then pounced on a defensive lapse to put the away team in front, before Husband atoned for his error, scoring a worldie to equalise and shock the Championship team again. Up came Kenneth Taylor in his first taste of the FA Cup with The Robins with a driving run from midfield and a strikers finish to ultimately win the tie and put City into the second round. City gave minutes to defender Zak Vyner and Matty James with academy product Tommy Conway alongside Pedro up front


City ratings:

Bentley 5, Santos 10, Naismith 10, Kalas 10, Vyner 10, Williams 8, James 8,Sensi 10, Taylor 9, Pedro 8, Conway 8. Subs Cadden 8, Atkinson 8


MOTM : Nuno Santos


City 0 Watford 2

Embolo (6)

Brahimi (23)


City fans started this game in a disgruntled mood when the club announced that Joao Pedro would very likely be leaving in the transfer window, and 6 minutes into this game it got even gloomier as Embolo eased the Hornets into the lead. Baha’i I doubled the lead on 23 and it never looked in doubt from there. City had their chances, Pedro, Taylor and Conway all being wasteful with good opportunities, but Watford looked a slick well organised unit and will be a handful for anyone in this division. The Robins move on to the next challenge and will want to put this one behind them, and the fans will not be happy unless their star striker is adequately replaced. City’s midfield however looked particularly poor in this game, Williams and Sensi looking jaded, and Cadden looked out of sorts in his first appearance in front of the home fans.


City ratings :


Bentley 6, Santos 6, Naismith 8, Kalas 7, Roberts 6, Cadden 5, Williams 4, Sensi 6, Taylor 8, Pedro 8, Conway 8 Subs : Atkinson 8, Bayo 7

MOTM : Kenneth Taylor

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OTIB - BCFC Match Reports



WBA 0 Bristol City 0


Following their home defeat to the Hornets in the previous round, City looked to get back on track at The Hawthorns, in a game which was a tough test. The Baggies took a tactical advantage against Brown’s counter attack, which evened things up and made it a tight encounter - both sides having good chances though, WBA having 9 shots on target to the Robins 8, but the blunter edge of Conway and Bayo starting up front for the away team couldn’t find a breakthrough, and City keeper and skipper David Bentley held firm in goal.


City ratings: Bentley 8, Santos 7, Naismith 7, Kalas 7, Roberts 6, Cadden 5 , Williams 7, Sensi 8, Taylor 6, Conway 5, Bayo 6. Subs Vyner 6


City MOM : David Bentley


FA CUP R2

Bristol City 1 Bournemouth 0


Nuno Santos (13)


City faced championship rivals Bournemouth having dispatched Blackpool in the first round, and edged through with the only goal coming early on from full back Nuno Santos as the home side started in an attacking style. The result never really looked in doubt from then on, Bournemouth only creating 3 shots on target and in truth City should have won by more. Home bred striker Tommy Conway had a good game but it seems that the Robins are going to have to increase their firepower to be able to win these games more comfortably. New signing Deniz Undav was introduced to the home crowd before the game and is expected to be back from injury imminently.


Bentley 7, Santos 10, Naismith 10, Kalas 7, Pinnock 7, Roberts 5, Williams 8, Sensi 5 , Taylor 7, Bayo 6, Conway 9 Subs Cadden 9, James 7


City MOM : Nuno Santos


League Round 4


Bristol City 2 Birmingham 2

Williams 21. Azmoun 37

Cadden 64. Burke 46 (pen)



The two BCFC’s met in the championship, Freddie Kaye bringing his team to Ashton Gate. Midfield general Joe Williams opened the scoring with a fabulous finish from Sensi’s delightful through ball after 21 minutes, only for Azmoun to equalise just before the interval. The sides went in at 1-1 then Azmoun, who Bristol City have been strongly linked with recently, won a penalty with a clumsy tackle from Tomas Kalas and Burke stepped up to convert and put the Blues ahead. On the hour mark City brought on Nicky Cadden for Marc Roberts and looked to create some width from the wing backs - within 4 minutes Cadden found a bit of space outside the box and unleashed a screamer to level and make the last half hour fascinating. Bacuna missed a golden opportunity for the away team, then Conway and Azmoun both found the woodwork, and Dodgson was lucky not to give away a penalty when he seemed to take Bayo out with 10 minutes left, but 2-2 it remained and probably more 2 dropped than one gained for City.


Bentley 4, Santos 8, Naismith 6, Kalas 8, Roberts 6, Pinnock 7, Williams 8, Sensi 7, Taylor 7, Conway 7, Bayo 7. Subs : Cadden 7


City MOM : Joe Williams


Cardiff 1 Bristol City 0


Naismith og 66


City went into the Severnside derby looking for victory and came out pretty attacking, creating a number of chances early on. First a penalty appeal was turned down, then Azmoun making his City debut hit the post, and Santos missed a great opportunity. Undav then blasted over as the new look City strike force caused problems for the Bluebirds.


On 66 minutes Kal Naismith, the City centre half, executed what looked like a great tackle only to see the ball slice off into his own net to score a freak own goal. Cardiff shut up shop but before the final whistle Undav showed his class again with a beautiful chip that beat the keeper, but hit the bar and went over to leave the Robins disappointed and pointless


BCFC ratings: Bentley 5, Santos 7, Naismith 5, Kalas 7, Roberts 7, Pinnock 7, Williams 6, Sensi 5, Taylor 7, Undav 7, Azmoun 5 SUB : Cadden 5


BCFC Man of the Match : Deniz Undav


Bristol City 1 Bournemouth 0

Naismith 88


City met the Cherries for the second time this season at home, and again 1-0 was the end result. Last week Kal Naismith scored the only goal of the game, but an own goal, and this week he scored at the right end with 2 minutes to go, to take all 3 points for the Robins. City dominated throughout and again should have won by more but will take these 3 points and a return to winning ways all day long.


BCFC ratings: Bentley 6, Santos 7, Naismith 10 , Kalas 6 , Pinnock 7, James 6, Williams 7, Sensi 5, Taylor 6, Undav 5, Azmoun 6. SUBS: Roberts 5, Cadden 7


BCFC Man of the Match : Kal Naismith


Bristol City 1 Coventry 0


Azmoun 68


Another home game for the Robins as they took on The Sky Blues of Coventry in another tough game. With both sides reluctant to commit to attack, this really was a cagey game, with both having less than 10 chances in total. Sardar Azmoun turned out to be the match winner for City with a neat finish from Joe Williams through ball, and all 3 points were secured again for the Robins who moved into play off territory despite it being very early days.


Bentley 6, Santos 5, Naismith 6, Kalas 5, Pinnock 5, Williams 7, Sensi 5, James 6, Taylor 7, Undav 5, Azmoun 7 SUBS: Roberts 6, Cadden 5


BCFC MOTM : Joe Williams



FLT R2

Swindon 1 Bristol City 3

Austin 54 Williams 85

Undav 118

Azmoun 119


City survived a massive scare and were 5 minutes from being dumped out of the Football League trophy by local rivals Swindon Town, when the midfield maestro Joe Williams managed to equalise Charlie Austin’s early second half strike and send it into extra time. The championship side showed their class in extra time and strikers Undav and Azmoun scored for the first time together to put the Robins through. Swindon can consider themselves unlucky and Tim Brown very much knows that his side dodged a bullet here at the County Ground.


City ratings:


Bentley 4, Vyner 10, Cadden 5, Wilson 9, Pinnock 8, James 7, Williams 7, Sensi 7, Taylor 7, Undav 8, Bayo 7 Subs: Kalas 5, Azmoun 6


BCFC MOM : Zak Vyner



Millwall 0 Bristol City 4

Santos (31)

Pinnock (34)

Azmoun (44)

Williams (76)


City put in a stellar away performance here to crush Gary Windebank’s Millwall in a result that nobody really saw coming. The Robins looked strong from the start and countered the Millwall passing style. An amazing 16 shots on target in the game from 23 in total left the home side with no answers. Nuno Santos started the party with a 30 yard lob, which fired the Lions into an attacking response, and Ethan Pinnock then got on to the end of Joe Williams through ball to make it 2-0 to the away team


Just before halftime Matty James broke down the flank and centred for Azmoun whose shoft deflected past Trafford in the home goal to make it game over effectively at half time. The Robins consolidated on this lead and despite a couple of chances for the home team tht was effectively that. There was still time though for Joe Williams to add to his already impressive tally for the season with a goal out of the top drawer. He managed to dribble past Mitchell and then somehow lift the ball into the air and perform a scissors kick straight into the top corner. Windebank was seen to be storming down the tunnel at this point in disgust. In truth, it could have been more, but this was the best performance of the season so far and one which gave Brown a lot of joy.


BCFC ratings: Bentley 7, Santos 10, Naismith 9, Pinnock 10, Roberts 8, Williams 10, Sensi 6, James 10, Taylor 8, Undav 5, Azmoun 7. SUBS Cadden 6


BCFC MOM : Joe Williams