Olé

In my life I've seen Smith, Osman, Jordan, Ward, Lennartson, Johnson (G), Millen, Coppell, Millen (again), McInnes, O'Driscoll, Cotterill, Johnson (L), and Holden teams all play in the second tier and Nigel Pearson's side eclipsed all of them today for quality of football and dominance at this level. The side he has fashioned is gelling brilliantly.

Under Johnson (L) City enjoyed many fine away days - arguably the highlights of his tenure - but never as slick and convincing as the way Pearson's in form side destroyed early pacesetters Blackburn from the off in a one sided assault at Ewood Park - Scott, Weimann and Wells unplayable despite the scoreline eventually having a balanced look.

Two stunning counter attacking goals either side of half time initiated by teenager Alex Scott and created by bursting runs by Andi Weimann were finished clinically by Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells - among the many chances City created before Tyrhys Dolan and Wells exchanged goals and Brereton Diaz added a flattering late consolation.  

After Bradley Dack had drawn a first minute save from Daniel Bentley it was all City and on 7 a series of right wing corners saw Rob Atkinson stretching to loop a header wide of far post from a Kal Naismith flag kick. On 17 City's break saw Naismith release Atkinson to overlap on the left but his ball across the box missed everyone and Weimann raced in far post to finish - only to volley well over.

City were growing in confidence and on 26 Wells headed wide from a Naismith corner on the right after endless pressure from the away side via probing threaded passes into the box from Weimann amongst others. A minute later a Matty James corner from the other wing saw Naismith flash a header just past the post as Blackburn clung on grimly.

On 29 City again broke and put Weimann in down the right to get to the byline to square for Conway who as at Blackpool closed in near post to head home, his effort blocked for a corner. Within seconds Jay DaSilva's deep cross in from the left - recycling an attack after James was caught in possession - was headed goalwards by Zak Vyner, but held. 

Hosts Blackburn were second best all over the pitch and saw through balls easily tidied up, but Atkinson gave it away in his own half on 36 and quick fire exchanges from Rovers got them into the box to threaten, Naismith typical of City's commanding defence and among several players that flew in quickly with blocks to stop even a shot on target. 

Minutes later and another wide open break by Pearson's men, Conway playing in Mark Sykes on the right of the area, and his cross missing everyone - only for Scott to recover and execute a brilliant slide rule pass which put DaSilva clear to the byline inside the box to square for Wells who looked destined to score, only to fire straight at Rovers' keeper. 

Into the last 5 minutes and yet another fast release sent Conway away, who fed Wells in the box but his effort was beaten away. But an incredible counter next saw Scott collect outside his area and feed Weimann to spin away from multiple midfielders, race away down the right with space and time to lift to the far post where Conway buried a header.

City were deservedly in front at the break - and worth two or three more - though after the restart Blackburn won a succession of corners that the visitors dealt with easily. On 51 a misclearance fell straight to Wells who stung the keepers hand with a first time low shot that was parried and back to DaSilva, who crossed for Wells to steer a header wide.

On 54 James threaded DaSilva in on goal, who slipped a challenge to go clean through into the box, only to loop a rising cross over everyone and beyond the far post to where Sykes could not hook the ball in. This was a one sided spectacle and inside the hour and ironically from the opponents best chance - as on Wednesday - City roared two in front. 

Out of this world football as Bentley saved point blank from Dolan and from a scramble in the box Scott put his life on the line with a diving header in a crowded area to clear his lines, then found Weimann on the right who cut infield and saw an inch perfect diagonal put Wells clean through, the striker gave the keeper the eyes before drilling low to his left.

Pandemonium in front of the away stand as they deservedly roared into a two goal lead. The game settled as City dug in - although midway through the second half Weimann picked a path past defenders, only to lose his footing in the six yard box - and when his follow up was blocked from Scott's recycle, Brereton Diaz went clear only to blaze wide.

It was a rare warning that City didn't heed and when on 71 substitute Antoine Semenyo was bundled crudely off the ball on the right touchline, Blackburn had numbers forward to overload the City box, a quick exchange from Tayo Edun allowed Dolan to swivel and fire past Bentley at close range. The home fans rose having found an unlikely lifeline.

But in two minutes Scott drew a foul on the right and from his own set piece into the box Naismith steered a header onto the far post and in the chaotic scramble at close range, Wells was adjudged to have turned home - although Naismith had also followed up to slam into the top corner before the referee indicated the ball already crossed the line.

3-1 and this broke the spirit of the battered home side who miscued wildly in attempts to play upfield as City controlled the game wherever it mattered. And then on 84 it may have been 4 as Wells slipped away from the left back out wide and made for goal before lifting a ball inside to Weimann who saw his glanced header across goal clawed away. 

Before injury time a rare Blackburn effort saw John Buckley's low shot from the edge of the box tipped wide, but into time added on yet another chance for City to extend the lead as late sub Joe Williams strode forward from midfield and with the latest of a string of visitors threaded passes put Weimann in the clear, to laser just past the top corner. 

Deep in injury time Blackburn carved a way through the City backline with inside passes and finally found Brereton Diaz in the box to apply the finish, for a flattering second. This set up an unnecessarily nervous last couple of minutes, giving the scoreline a misleading look for a one sided battering that City had handed their Championship rivals at home.   

Pearson's men had been fitter, stronger, and faster throughout - and absolutely ruthless on the break, creating chance after chance. Recent form - and results - have been more and more encouraging but this was another level for this blossoming side. Traveling to a proven second tier rival, with only two days rest, and produce a footballing masterclass.   

Bentley 7

Vyner 7

Naismith 8

Atkinson 8

Sykes 7

DaSilva 8

James 8

Scott 10

Weimann 9

Wells 9

Conway 8

Semenyo 6

Williams 6

Massengo 5

Bristol City drew an absurd game of football where they went behind twice despite being by far the better side, scored three goals and, inexplicably gifted Blackpool a last gasp equaliser in a match which they were in total control of both on the pitch and noisily in the stands.

Roared on by a bumper away following in an otherwise quiet Bloomfield Road the dominance was in evidence right from the start as in the first minute Alex Scott’s inside ball allowed Tommy Conway to roam free, Andi Weimann teeing up Nahki Wells to curl onto the post.

But against the run of play on 7 minutes Scott’s casual sideways pass in midfield to no one in particular was seized upon by the hosts to break, winning a throw in on the left from which a ball into the box and Gary Madine’s slick touch allowed Josh Bowler to bury bottom corner.

On 10 Joe Williams sent Weimann clean through on goal as Blackpool’s defence opened up, City’s star man going for the lob and lifting the ball onto the roof of the net. It was all City and midway through the half Wells got to the byline and squared for Weimann to again lift over.

Yet in the sunshine in the North West there was always a threat on the break and Jerry Yates fired a warning shot past the post from a set piece, then from a marauding break down the right City chaotically cleared their lines as a header fell to goalscorer Bowler who fired over.

But deserved parity was secured a minute before half time as again City probed and Scott worked the ball inside for the irrepressible Conway who hooked a rising shot at the top corner which crashed in off the bar - the youngster continuing his rich vein of goalscoring form.

After the break - and the substitution of the ineffectual Han-Noah Massengo for Matty James - City continued to dominate and yet on 55 minutes Blackpool again broke down the right and crossed for Jordan Thornley to force a corner from which Yates bundled in a second.

This was now verging on the ridiculous that City could be down a second time in a match they had controlled in front of a noisy and expectant away following, but as with their cup tie at Wycombe, the introduction of fit again Antoine Semenyo was the cheat code they required.

The explosive forward netted within a minute of arriving, Conway striding forward through the middle and feeding Semenyo who showed close control to wriggle away from his marker and slot a low shot into the far bottom corner before celebrating in front of the away supporters.

Inside 70 minutes and it was three as Semenyo won a free kick on the left flank and just as he did last week Kal Naismith swung a devilish cross into the middle and Wells connected only to divert onto the crossbar but from the rebound Marvin Ekpiteta could only deflect the ball in.

3-2 up and City’s large following roared their approval, a boisterous end to a game they expected to win. In the final exchanges Callum Connolly fired wide given too much time, whilst a well worked move down the right saw Conway drop a shoulder and curl just past the top corner.

There was still time for City’s infamous ability to throw away points from winning positions as into injury time looking comfortable, cute passing triangles saw substitute King dawdle, and Naismith stupidly square across his own box to Zak Vyner who was robbed by Theo Corbeanu to score.

A ridiculous end to a match that City looked in control of and, even when behind, always looked likely winners of. The positive is their ability to fashion chances and the enterprise of Conway and Semenyo. The negative is a midfield that was easily bypassed with Scott and Massengo miscuing.

Bentley 6

Vyner 6

Naismith 6

Atkinson 6

Scott 5

Dasilva 6

Williams 6

Massengo 5

Weimann 6

Conway 7

Wells 6

James 6

Semenyo 8

King 5

An unexpected return for long term injured star Antoine Semenyo off the bench against a lively League One Wycombe, turned what at times was a nervous and edgy draw, into a convincing victory as the substitute striker created a sudden attacking mismatch that went far beyond how experienced defenders Kal Naismith and Timm Klose also tidied up comfortably at the back, adding star quality up front that ended the cup tie as a contest.

City had actually gone ahead early through debutant teenager Dylan Kadji's hook in off a Naismith corner, but despite flashing their quality in patches, City created few chances and Wycombe grew into the game in the run up to half time - netting a deserved leveller soon after the break. Nigel Pearson sent on more first teamers and his side was a threat via Kane Wilson out right, but it wasn't until Semenyo that the division advantage told.     

The absent striker was involved in the build up as Naismith notched a third consecutive assist returning the ball to Wilson to slam a volley into the top corner, and then after the Ghanaian had toyed with defenders holding the ball up at the corner flag for seemingly an age while the clock ran down, he turned up on halfway in injury time to rob the ball, send fellow sub Tommy Conway away, who allowed Semenyo to finish and seal the win. 

Kicking off in a burning sun set, City almost enjoyed a carbon copy of their second from Sunday as Naismith sent a free kick in from the left and Klose angled a header towards  the top corner before being clattered as Han Noah Massengo followed in. Next Massengo won a corner from the right which Naismith whipped into the six yard box - Tanner got a touch and new man Kadji glanced in under the crossbar at the far post to put City ahead.

Wycombe did not settle easily and their first chance came on 18 minutes as Al-Hamadi was given a chance to run at City's defence which opened up only for the striker to steer a low shot well wide. At the other end a busy Massengo won a corner from another - now deeper - left wing Naismith free kick, whilst on the half hour a quick exchange let Wilson embark on a barnstorming run infield from the right, his shot forcing another corner.

However heading towards the break, Klose, Naismith and in the 40th minute King were all forced to block or mop up crosses as the hosts' wingers found room to threaten the City box, and with minutes remaining Tanner conceded a free kick wrestling his opponent on the edge of the box, the away side able to head clear Joe Jacobson's set piece - as City coach Jason Euell argued the decision with ex Wimbledon teammate Ainsworth. 

In form teenager Conway replaced Nahki Wells at half time but from the restart it was all Wycombe - away down the right to force an early corner which was met far post and deflected wide of the post for a succession of corners. City could not clear their lines on the right and Anis Mehmeti lifted a ball over to the far post with players queueing up to head in and striker Al-Hamadi with the easy header to make things more uncomfortable. 

After 50 minutes Massengo powered away on a brilliant break shrugging off defenders before spreading the ball wide left which let Pring in on the flank whose cross back into the box was half cleared away. City were by now finding a rhythm again on the right and from Wilson's reverse Conway raced to the byline and cut back for Chris Martin's diving header in the six yard box, somehow beaten away with Massengo then Kadji following in. 

Matty James and Alex Scott were sent on to replace the two midfielders as City slammed balls into the box - Conway squaring across the face of goal after the hour with no one in place to convert, Wilson recycling to secure a corner that Pring rose to power over. Next Scott swept wide to Wilson whose crosses were causing chaos - this one finding Pring out left who dropped a shoulder, got to the byline to center, Martin inches from burying.

Inside 70 minutes that man Semenyo was roared back onto the field by City's bumper away following and though his first touches were rusty, in little more than 5 minutes he'd recover a deep Wilson cross and lay it back for Naismith whose looped cross returned it into Wilson's path, the wing back stealing into the box to sidefoot a rising volley inside the angle of post and bar to put the visitors ahead right in front of their massed fans.

Now City would turn it on - with five minutes left slick interplay by teenagers Conway and Scott saw the striker skip inside off the right exchange passes and win a corner. On the other flank heading into injury time an even more dominant spell as Semenyo endlessly held off an array of opponents at the corner flag to win first a throw in, then a corner and finally a free kick before he was finished. In front of away supporters it was heady stuff.

The absent frontman was not finished, he'd already raced onto one cute through ball by Pring on the left, and simply bamboozled his way past a confused defender on the same flank on another occasion but in injury time he would stretch to rob the ball on halfway and send Conway racing clear, the teenager bearing down on goal, drawing the keeper and unselfishly slipping the ball left inside a defender for Semenyo to prod home a third.

Turning to the away fans in front of him the highly rated forward grinned and took a bow - no doubt aware how well his unexpectedly early return to first team action had gone - and knowing that he had sealed City's place in the 3rd round of the league cup and given his manager a selection dilemma after their fourth win in a 5 match unbeaten run which further proved Pearson's men are finding a fluidity and the 'solutions' that he demands.

Bentley 7

Klose 7

Naismith 8

Tanner 5

Pring 6

Wilson 7

King 5

Kadji 6

Massengo 7

Wells 5

Martin 6

Conway 7

James 6

Scott 7

Semenyo 8

City’s long and distinguished record of getting knocked out in the first round of the League Cup met its match at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium as Championship rivals Coventry City, who had previously insisted on us meeting them there tonight, decided not to bother turning up until we had the match more or less won.

Match Reports from away games are always an acquired taste but it’s literally impossible to put into words any sort of detailed match report when it looked like a training exercise at 30 degrees with the sun blinding me, and with only a brief spell of opposition at the end of the first half and about 20 minutes second half. 

After weeks of ROBINS UNCUT we finally got the prototype for a match that plays out the same way as those pillow soft, edited City videos - hosts Coventry literally putting the cones out and insisting that they would never stray out of their own half until Pearson’s dominant visitors were 3 (BRACKETS THREE) in front.

The opener came from a left wing City corner taken while bathed in the stunning sunset, at the second attempt Kai Naismith nodding down and into the bottom right corner. The visitors were camped in their nomadic hosts half and yet regularly miscuing the final ball down either flank with a chance to break more often.

Despite this the confused hosts rarely breached the improbable and imaginary forcefield that separated the Coventry half from the Bristol City half and the away side continued to dominate - in fact the disorganisation of stewards outside the last minute ground was more than matched by the team occupying the ground.

In less than 10 minutes it was two - Han-Noah Massengo, who became one of City’s star players and desperately needed a performance, threaded an inch perfect pass through Coventry’s casual defence, for which young striker Tommy Conway nicked in to skip past the last defender and apply the finish in the box.

At 2-0 up and with former teammate Kasey Palmer struggling to link up with his side and - in the 28th minute - literally being robbed of the ball on halfway by the dominant visitors, it was creeping towards a one sided scoreline as the football remained in the Sky Blues half, and within minutes an amazing third arrived.

On the half hour Nakhi Wells did well to prod the ball away from a developing Coventry passing move in their own half, and youngster Conway, buoyed by his goal, simply ran at defenders, jinking into space and then into the box, before drilling another low shot that rolled for an age inside the keeper, into the bottom corner.

Before the half the supposed hosts started to find a pattern of play to advance but too often it relied on former City midfielder Palmer to pull the strings when in fact his teammates seemed to lack the enthusiasm or foresight to threaten their visitors. Twice before the break his through balls were met by no one in particular.

The second half was a more balanced affair with Coventry probing the City box and yet inside the half hour it was Kane Wilson, on his full debut for City who centred a left wing corner that was flicked back beyond the near post and Wells cute back heel skewed just inside the upright. A threat, largely against the run of play.

Coventry pulled a goal back after the one time a ball was played into the box with room to finish, but on the midway point of the half City proved they were still the more dangerous as top scorer Weimann exchanged passes with Wells, raced inside his marker from the right channel, and steered just past the left post.

With Tanner on for Wilson, just before the final switches (Scott for King and Sykes for Conway) the away team flashed an opportunity in front of goal as Conway took on the left back, Wells recovered the loose ball and saw his first cross shot blocked but at the second attempt all action midfielder Massengo nearly headed in.

By the end it was finally all the hosts, followed by more than 2000 visitors to this temporary Burton home, and apparently largely silent as they probed for a desperate second to put the match in doubt. The entry of Alex Scott and Mark Sykes probably did for them, restoring City’s advantage and conviction attacking on the break.

Against the run of play with minutes before full time and in front of the noisy 300 City fans Sykes won a free kick on the right wing and then in injury time a ball over the top into the same space on the right was controlled by Weimann who drove inside his marker, into the box and prodded a shot through the keeper for a fourth.

At the wrong ground and in unseasonably un-British weather this was like a summer football tournament style upset amid humid and blazing sunlight, and yet in truth despite the disorganisation at their temporary ground, “hosts” Coventry provided Bristol City with by far their easiest (and for now only) win of the season so far.

Bentley 6
Vyner 6
Naismith 7
Atkinson 6
Massengo 8
King 6
Wilson 6
Pring 7
Weimann 7
Wells 6
Conway 7

Tanner 6
Scott 6
Sykes 6
Bell 6

City started the 22/23 season with stability and continuity - a largely familiar team and developing identity - and yet fell victims to the complete opposite extreme of ridiculous and unpredictable freakery as a clearly new and hastily assembled Hull side claimed an improbable comeback win through a bizarre penalty and then wild late deflected winner.

The new look hosts lacked fluidity and were every inch the thrown together strangers the transfer window suggested - City in control and comfortable heading into half time with a 1-0 lead following a one sided half - but in a ridiculous final 20 Teteh blagged a bizarre penalty after doing a forward roll in the box, then Seri spooned in an injury time decider.

Nigel Pearson's side settled instantly and so took control of the game from the start. In 4 minutes debutant Mark Sykes bamboozled his marker and got clear on the right wing to cross for Matty James to nod down beyond keeper Ingram who managed to desperately push the header away beyond the far post as a bumper crowd enjoyed a lively opening.

A minute later and another Sykes right wing cross following good work by Weimann and Williams found Martin arriving far post only to flash his header just over the top corner. It wasn't until well past the quarter hour that Hull found any momentum - and two shouts for a penalty, the second seemingly clear as Zak Vyner pushed over his man in the box.

Hull enjoyed a series of right wing corners at the midway point in the half but City stayed well organised and before half hour went in front from a spell of possession on the left. Alex Scott was fouled just and debutant Kal Naismith floated a deep ball beyond the far post which Vyner stretched to steer across goal, Andi Weimann roaring in to stab home.

Hull's best chance came 10 before half time as a quick reverse by Seri weaved the ball through defenders to put Estupinan clear but Dan Bentley raced out to smother the close range shot. In injury time Weimann raced back to rob a man in space, Naismith turned over a dangerous header across goal, and City repelled pinball in the box from a final corner.

In truth the hosts were more effective after the break but they really couldn’t have been much worse. After a wayward Sykes long range effort and a brief fast paced crossfield City break  wasted by Williams, Hull grew in confidence as Jones was put away in behind DaSilva and cut inside to lay it back for Tufan to smash onto the near post at the edge of the box.

By now Hull were finding space behind both of City’s wing backs but wasting good opportunities by lifting balls into the home crowd. The visitors looked for a reboot as Kane Wilson and Tommy Conway entered to replace Sykes and Scott - and won back possession high up, Conway getting to the byline to feed across goal where Ingram stopped Martin turning in.

Both subs looked assured right away and at the three-quarter mark Wilson’s throw in saw an exchange which Conway raced away with, striding into the box to lash inches over as the away end held its breath. So a sucker punch at the other end as a break down the right found Teteh in the middle who under little pressure tumbled comically and yet won a penalty.

Tufan stepped up and sent Bentley the right way - to the stoppers’ right - but finished unerringly into the far corner without a glove on the shot.  To compound the sense of frustration for the suddenly silenced travelling fans, in contrast to the ridiculous spot kick, at the other end Rob Atkinson was mauled down from a Naismith right wing corner with no award.

In the final exchanges City looked good for a winner - Conway was found on the right and a half clearance saw Weimann feed DaSilva’s run, the wingback dropping a shoulder, slipping inside a defender and slamming a shot past the keeper but just past the post. Then Wilson strode out of midfield and laid off to Conway who rolled defenders but saw a shot blocked.

Into injury time and the impressive Wilson got to the byline easily before cutting back and instead of crossing as he had done several times in the prior minutes, slipped a clever, disguised low ball into the path of Weimann sprinting in at the near post, who spun quickly and stung the keepers hands at close range. Somehow City would not get the win they deserved.

But then the ultimate sucker punch - to compound the ridiculous equaliser, a comical winner deep in injury time for the disjointed hosts. A throw in deep on the left was hooked speculatively into the middle where Seri swung a pot shot from the edge of the box which collided with late sub Tim Klose’s diving block and spooned in an arc  into Bentley’s opposite corner.

A big home following buoyed by new owners roared their approval, but in truth this was a comical conclusion to City’s season opener. Pearson’s men showed everything even their most optimistic fans expected of them - a settled side with more identity, energy and control than their opponents - and yet fate contrived to instead reward the patched together hosts.

Bentley 7 Did brilliantly to stop Estupinan first half, couldn't do much more on the goals

Naismith 8 Looks classy at the back and playing it forward - a wand of a ball for the opener

Vyner 7 Easy to expect the worst but competent throughout, free of mistakes, and an assist

Atkinson 6 More adventurous down the left than he has been but caught in possession a few times

Sykes 7 A revelation early on, gave us width and crossing, a vital outlet for us, then picked up a knock

DaSilva 5 Our weak link, too easily exposed in behind at wing back, and sketchy crossing going forward

Williams 7 Helped us play through Hull with ease first half, and threw himself at every Hull opportunity

James 6 Tidy and effective but seemed to be increasingly bypassed during the second period

Scott 7 Looked comfortable on the ball whenever he got it but faded second half before substitution

Weimann 8 An inspiration - ghosted in at one end to score, at the other end to stop a goal. Everywhere.

Martin 6 Led the line well and important role, but felt like the odd opportunity to flick on was wasted

Wilson 7 Looked seriously classy after coming on, had the beating of his man at every single opportunity

Conway 7 Did not look out of place getting the shout before Wells - went close and never stopped running

Klose 5 Only on for a few minutes and the most unfortunate deflection from his full blooded block