Good evening all! My name is Nathan Woolgar and I will be taking you through this Championship clash to hopefully add some excitement to your Tuesday night.
Tonight we see the youthful Bristol City take on recently relegated Southampton. Bristol are looking to stack up even more points after a monumental win over Middlesborough at the Riverside last time out, while the Saints come into this off the back of a dramatic comeback win over Huddersfield Town to take their unbeaten run to 25 games.
The line-ups are out! Robins top scorer Tommy Conway comes back into the team, starting with him is Jason Knight and Matty James who both scored at Middlesborough last weekend.
Championship top assister Adam Armstrong leads the line for Southampton and Joe Rothwell, the man who inspired their 5-3 comeback, starts in midfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesI should also mention David Brooks makes his first start for the Saints since joining from Bournemouth on loan last month.
Hopefully I’m not jinxing them but I really have been impressed with Bristol since the arrival of Liam Manning in charge, he has them playing with a certain intensity but it’ll undoubtably be a challenge to face Russell Martin’s reinvigorated Southampton side.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe players walk out to a roaring atmosphere here at Ashton Gate.
Kick off! Southampton kick us off and we are now underway.
2 mins: As expected there’s an early spell of possession for the hosts, meanwhile the Saints have already dropped to third thanks to current scores elsewhere.
3 mins: Close! Bristol get the ball to Sam Bell out wide who cuts in past the defender well but his shot is deflected out for a corner, which they waste…
5 mins: Bristol are put through again and this time its Conway with a shot blocked, “bright start for Bristol City” says the commentator.
9 mins: Southampton are just starting to calm down and settle into the game with a few spells of possession, the patient passing game they have become known for this season.
12 mins: Struggling to keep my eyes open currently, a very slow start to this game and the Bristol front line refuse to press the Southampton defenders.
15 mins: Saints boss Russell Martin getting serious now as he takes off his coat, the fact I’m commenting on that tells you all you need to know about the first 15 here at Ashton Gate.
17 mins: Woodwork! After a lacklustre start, Southampton have their first chance of the game as Edozie wriggles his way into the box and loops in a shot that just flicks off the crossbar.
20 mins: Bristol are struggling to get out their half now as Southampton grow into the game, The Robins do win a free kick to halt their progress.
23 mins: A quick Southampton break sees Brooks’ cross deflected behind for their first corner of the game… easily collected by the keeper.
25 mins: Close! Just as Knight is tackled in the box, Southampton break with an outrageous bit of skill from David Brooks, Smallbones’ shot is saved however.
26 mins: Straight from the resulting corner, Mehmeti breaks for Bristol but lashes his shot straight at Bazunu.
29 mins: Close! A well worked bit of play from Bristol results in a cross from Tanner that makes it all the way to Bell at the back post who hits the side netting. Southampton still bossing possession but Bristol do look threatening when they attack.
34 mins: Adam Armstrong slipped through this time, but both attempts are blocked by Vyner, with the most goal involvements in the championship this season (15G, 11A), I am expecting him to keep threatening tonight.
37 mins: The tempo is just dropping a bit as Southampton regain control, they are certainly in no rush to chase down the opener.
39 mins: A penalty claim is made by the Bristol fans but is quickly waved away, Bazunu gave the ball away cheaply to Jason Knight who simply lost his footing in the box.
42 mins: Close! Adam Armstrong is in again after a slip from the Bristol defender but his shot is straight at the keeper, Bristol break again however, and Mehmeti forces another corner.
45 mins: Sam Bell finds space to squeeze through a shot, deflected for yet another corner…
45 mins: one additional minute, sounds about right…
Half Time: Bristol 0-0 Southampton
The visitors boast 71% possession but other than Edozie’s effort on the woodwork, no concrete chances to be seen, plenty of shots from both sides but only a couple hitting the target.
One change at the break and it’s the visitors replacing Shea Charles with the quality of Stuart Armstrong entering the fray.
2nd Half Kick Off
46 mins: Close! Almost an instant impact from the visitors this half as Edozie is played in but drags his shot wide, David Brooks collided with the post trying to get on the end of it and he remains down now…
47 mins: Looking back on it, that looked like a painful one, Brooks is a tough cookie though and is up again now.
50 mins: That last chance for Southampton came from their constant press on the backline, Bristol know they will be punished if they don’t move the ball quickly when playing out from the back.
52 mins: Goal! We have our opener and its the hosts that strike first, Mehmeti collects the ball from a throw in and after a quick one two, fires the ball across goal and Sam Bell is there to poke it in! 1-0
54 mins: A reminder that Southampton’s 25 game unbeaten streak in all competitions is at stake here…
55 mins: Close! It could’ve been an instant reply from the Saints! Edozie does brilliantly in midfield to get past a swarm of defenders and puts the ball out wide, it’s crossed in to Walker-Peters who hits the volley first time but can’t convert. Credit to O’Leary in goal for that one.
Embed from Getty Images59 mins: A corner for Southampton and it very nearly goes in without a touch! The keeper sees it out though.
62 mins: An hour played and I see some subs starting to get themselves ready, both teams looking to switch things up…
63 mins: Subs! Sam Bell and Jason knight make way for Harry Cornick and Taylor Gardner-Hickman. The Southampton changes see Sekou Mara and Ryan Fraser on for Edozie and Brooks.
65 mins: It should certainly be noted that Mara has four goals in his last 5 appearances off the bench.
66 mins: Yellow Card! Zak Vyner is the first in the book this evening for a cynical foul.
68 mins: Bristol are dominant now and currently look good to double their lead, Mehmeti goes close but takes too long to set himself and the defender gets across to block the shot.
69 mins: The press from the Bristol players has massively improved this half, maybe the reason they are creating so many more chances too?
71 mins: Another overload for Bristol as they break but Cornick can’t get the cross right and it’s yet another corner for the hosts
72 mins: Goal! They double their lead!! The corner is taken well and fired into the back post and the target man Rob Dickie is there to capitalise, a set piece goal and Martin must be fuming! They were two goals down at the weekend and they are again tonight! 2-0
75 mins: We certainly have a game on our hands now…
76 mins: Subs! After that goal we see more changes for the hosts as Haydon Roberts makes way for Ross McCrorie and Tommy Conway is off for Nahki Wells. Southampton also with a change as Sulemana replaces Rothwell.
80 mins: A desperate shot slashed wide by Armstrong, a first shot in 20 minutes for the visitors who really haven’t stepped up to this second half.
82 mins: Goal! They are running away with it! McCrorie has all the time he could ever want out wide and he chooses to pick out Harry Cornick who finishes expertly first time! 3-0
Embed from Getty Images83 mins: The players have been outrageously good this second half but Liam Manning should get the plaudits, the difference he has made to this Bristol side in such little time is astonishing and they are well on the way to a late playoff push.
85 mins: Southampton’s frustrations are on show as they make foul after foul to stop a Bristol counter.
86 mins: Subs! The break in play allows Bristol to take off Mehmeti to a standing ovation and entering the game is teenager Adedire Mebude, a highly rated player in the U23s.
89 mins: Bristol are delighted with this, they play the ball around the park comfortably to the cheers of the crowd, Southampton are out of ideas.
90 mins: 7 minutes of injury time until Bristol get their deserved three points
92 mins: Yellow Card! Ryan Fraser in the book now as he prevents young Mebude from starting a counter attack, no need to take it out on the kid though…
94 mins: Penalty! Ooh what’s this then? Walker Peters has his legs swiped from under him by Harry Cornick and the ref doesn’t hesitate to point to the spot, it’ll be a booking for Cornick too.
95 mins: Goal! Adam Armstrong steps up and sends O’Leary the wrong way. Surely just a consolation right? Right??
Embed from Getty Images96 mins: We may just go over the 7 minute mark now.
97 mins: Bristol break once again but do well to draw the foul, the clock keeps ticking…
Full Time: Bristol 3-0 Southampton
Well the unbeaten run is over for the Saints, It’s important they value how important this run has been for their season, it had to end at some point and that was tonight against a very hard working and very composed Bristol side who drastically improved their decision making in the second half and thoroughly deserved their win.
Hope you all enjoyed that one, especially after it came alive in those final stages. This has been Nathan Woolgar, taking you through tonight’s championship action! Thank you and goodnight!
