Nathan Broadhead’s first-half goal saw second-placed Town to a 1-0 victory at Bristol City, their fifth away win in six in the Championship this season. Broadhead smashed in the only goal from George Hirst’s lay-off in the 16th minute as the Blues won at Ashton Gate for the first time since the opening day of the 2011/12 season.

Kayden Jackson replaced the injured Wes Burns wide on the right in a Town team otherwise unchanged from the one which beat Preston 4-2 prior to the international break.

Former Robins youngster Burns suffered a shoulder problem when away with Wales, while Freddie Ladapo also missed out having picked up an achilles injury in training. Janoi Donacien and Cameron Humphreys were on the bench.

For Bristol City, Irish international Jason Knight, who was interesting the Blues in the summer prior to the signing of Jack Taylor, replaced defender Haydon Roberts as they switched back to 4-3-3.

There was a change of referee with Josh Smith, who was previously in charge of the Stoke and Southampton matches, taking over from Tom Nield, who was originally slated for the fixture.

Following a minute’s applause in tribute to England and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, who died at the weekend, the home side began on the front foot, Sam Bell hitting an early shot through to Vaclav Hladky in the Town goal.

The Blues, who in the opening couple of minutes weren’t given any time on the ball by the home side, began to get into their stride with Conor Chaplin cleverly playing in Jackson on the right but the wideman’s cross was cut out, as was a later ball in from a similar area.

On 10, Tommy Conway will feel he ought to have put his side in front when he headed a Mark Sykes cross from the right goalwards, however, his effort was too close to Hladky, who saved.

But Town were starting to take control and a minute later, Chaplin struck a shot which Robins keeper Max O’Leary saved down to his right.

O’Leary was in action again in the 12th minute, palming Massimo Luongo’s curling effort towards his right away for a corner with the ball looking destined for the net.

From the flag-kick, the Blues again threatened, Broadhead, twice, and Chaplin seeing opportunities blocked as the home side struggled to clear their lines.

On 14, Jackson was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Cameron Pring before the increasingly dominant Blues created another double chance.

First, George Hirst turned a ball in from the left against a defender, then Broadhead’s follow-up was similarly blocked.

But the almost 3,000 Blues fans in the Atyeo Stand at the other end didn’t have too much longer to wait for a goal.

In the 16th minute, Luongo played the ball inside from the left to Hirst, who laid it off to Broadhead. The Wales international brought it forward a couple of paces unchallenged before smashing a shot under O’Leary, who will have been disappointed to get down so slowly, and into the corner of the net.

Broadhead knee-slid into the corner to celebrate his sixth Town goal of the season, his fourth goal in five games for club and country.

Having gone in front, the Blues saw most of the ball but without creating a chance to add to their lead.

And on 28 Bristol City went close to levelling when Taylor Gardner-Hickman brought the ball a long way forward on the left, cut inside and struck a shot which Hladky helped over the bar.

From the corner, the Blues made heavy weather of getting it clear after Matty James smashing a volley against a Town defender after the flag-kick had been headed out to him on the edge of the box.

In the 33rd minute, Leif Davis cut in from the left and rather scuffed a right-footed effort against a defender with the Blues largely still in charge, although allowing Bristol City one or two dangerous counter-attacks.

Three minutes later, after Luke Woolfenden had stood motionless on the ball unchallenged just outside the area for a lengthy spell with the early Robins pressing having disappeared, Chaplin played another clever pass for Jackson to chase down the right, but the former Accrington man was unable to get any power on his cross.

Town continued to look the more likely scorers of the game’s second goal and in the 40th minute Hirst worked his way round the outside of his man on the right of the box but his shot from a tight angle was pawed wide by O’Leary.

The Blues subsequently tried to tee-up Broadhead and then Luongo but the ball wouldn’t fall kindly and the danger was eventually cleared.

Skipper Sam Morsy became the second Town player to be booked in the 42nd minute for a foul on Bell just outside the area, much to the annoyance of the Blues players and fans with Pring having earlier avoided a caution for two fouls on Jackson within a minute, the second a cynical trip as the Blues broke forward.

The Egyptian international went within a whisker of doubling his side’s lead in the final scheduled minute of the half. Chaplin swept the ball wide to Davis, the former Leeds man’s cross was cleared to Morsy 30 yards out from where he struck a brilliant shot which left O’Leary standing but hit the outside of the post.

In injury time, seconds before the whistle, Davis curled a 20-yard free-kick, awarded for a foul on Hirst, off the top of the wall and over.

The Town fans were those cheering at the whistle with the Blues fully deserving their lead, despite starting slowly.

Perhaps there were some cobwebs to blow away after 18 days without a match, while the home side started determinedly.

However, Town quickly got on top and Broadhead’s excellent goal had been coming in the spell before he scored it.

The Blues had chances to double their lead after that but with the Robins having threatened on one or two occasions on the counter-attack.

Town were first to threaten after the restart, Davis holding off his man on the left before hitting a shot which O’Leary saved.

On 49, Cameron Burgess played a long ball over the top for Hirst to chase, keeper O’Leary colliding with the Town striker and a defender as he sought to deal with it on the edge of the area. The loose ball fell to Chaplin, but his looping effort flew over the open goal. Hirst required treatment after the clash but was able to continue.

Four minutes later, Luongo played a brilliant pass for Chaplin to deftly take down, but the forward was forced wide and his pass inside to Broadhead was cut out.

Town continued to look for openings but with the home side seeing more of the ball than in the first half.

Hirst shot wide on 61 before the Robins were awarded a free-kick just outside the area for a foul by Morsy on Knight. Conway shot low and hard past the Town wall but Hladky pouched the ball confidently as a number of attackers looked for a rebound.

In the 65th minute, Broadhead slid in at the far post as a cross from the right fizzed along the turf from the right but the Welshman was just unable to reach it.

Bristol City made their first change in the 66th minute, Roberts replacing Andy King, who had suffered a knock.

Three minutes later, after Davis had been booked for a foul on Sykes, they made two more changes, Harry Cornick and Ephraim Yeboah replacing skipper Andreas Weimann and Bell.

On 70, Town made their first substitutions, Marcus Harness and Omari Hutchinson coming on for Broadhead and Jackson.

Six minutes after the changes, the Robins came as close as it’s possible to scoring without actually doing so.

After a dangerous Cornick cross from the right had been cut out, Davis was caught in possession in the Town area by the home side’s sub. Cornick’s shot beat Hladky to his right, struck the post, hit the keeper’s back and rolled slowly along the line before being cleared by Brandon Williams.

It was a huge let-off for the Blues, who moments later swapped Hirst and Chaplin for Dane Scarlett and Taylor.

Town continued to look shakier at the back with the ball given away again somewhat nervously in the final third as the game approached its last 10 minutes, but fortunately Yeboah’s shot was blocked.

The Blues were finding themselves under pressure for the first time in the game with the Robins winning three corners in a row as the game reached the 83rd-minute mark, the first needlessly conceded by Williams when the ball was already on its way out for a goal-kick.

On 86, Town swapped Luongo for Dominic Ball, while the home side switched Roberts for Joseph James.

After the frantic spell in which City had been on top, the Blues began to restore their earlier control as the game went into six minutes of time added on.

Deep in injury time, Rob Dickie flicked a header wide from a cross from the right after a long throw had been returned by Hladky’s punch but Town largely saw out the final minutes comfortably to claim their fifth away win of the season and their first at Ashton Gate since a 3-0 win on the opening day in August 2011. Town have also stretched their club record unbeaten away league run to 15 games.

Despite being given a tougher game in the second half by the Robins, who will wonder how they didn’t score via Cornick’s along-the-line shot, overall Town deserved the three points having created more than enough to have made their lead more secure by that stage and having controlled most of the match.

The win sees the Blues close the gap to leaders Leicester to five points and nine points ahead of Leeds in third with a game in hand on the Foxes and the Whites.

Town are next in action at home to Plymouth, who beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 this evening, on Saturday.

Bristol City: O’Leary, Pring, M James, King (Roberts 66 (J James 85)), Knight, Weimann (c) (Cornick 69), Conway, Dickie, Sykes, Bell (Yeboah 69), Gardner-Hickman. Unused: Bajic, Mehmeti, Knight-Lebel, Nelson, James, Idehen.

Town: Hladky, Williams, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis, Morsy (c), Luongo (Ball 85), Jackson (Hutchinson 70), Chaplin, Broadhead (Harness 70), Hirst. Unused: Walton, Clarke, Donacien, Humphreys, Taylor, Scarlett. Referee: Josh Smith (Peterborough). Att: 22,783 Town: 2,994).

Photo: Matchday Images

muhrensleftfoot added 22:31 - Oct 25 A great result. The mark of a successful side is winning when not at your best. After a slow start we should have been 2 up at half time. Predictably the home side pressed more and more in the second half, but we managed to take all 3 points. Brilliant!!
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itfckenty added 22:31 - Oct 25 Very good win against a team who are certainly no mugs. These sort of wins are what defines a team to what happens. And so far, the grit, determination and pure mentality is shining through this team. Keep it up lads, and eventually every one of you will get a statue. Haha! COYB
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cfmoses added 22:44 - Oct 25 You miss a point on Jackson. He tracks back to help his defence. A work horse. Yes MCKenna needs to work on his crossing ability. He has transformed him from a striker to a right side wing back. He has found him his best position. Ok Burns is a level above but give the manager some credit.
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cfmoses added 22:49 - Oct 25 Still finding it hard to believe we got 4 yellows and Bristol none.
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eddiespearitt03 added 22:57 - Oct 25 Got away with that one to be fair. We rode our luck at times.Ok, we got the decisive goal but had Bristol got that goal then it would not of been an injustice because they kept plugging away. The 3 points was very welcome.
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BobbyBell added 23:02 - Oct 25 31 points from a possible 36, second highest goals scored and second lowest goals conceded but still room for improvement. Just how much more can KM get from these players? He says there's much more to come from many of them. As long as he believes that and the players want to work hard to improve then we really are living the dream.
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Unhinged_dynamo added 23:12 - Oct 25 A good result, relatively poor performance second half. But that ref should not be allowed near a pitch again!
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NITFC added 23:24 - Oct 25 I never felt more like singing the blues..............................
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WonTheCupin78 added 23:57 - Oct 25 Excellent result and well done team!
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VanDusen added 02:39 - Oct 26 I'm also defending Jackson. Our first choice Burns is out with three potential replacements. So do you risk your star prospect (Omari) in a tough gritty midweek game a long way from home after two weeks rest. Or do you give first dibs to an experienced professional and loyal servant who has proven his ability to impress this wonderful manager who seems to have seen something in him and is gradually moulding a workhorse striker into a different type of player. For me he wasn't on top form tonight, but nobody was, and the players aren't used to a slightly different delivery to Burns' runs and tricksy interplay with Chaplin and Donacien/Williams. But his pace saw him burst through a number of times which is promising. The guy's trying and has proven finishing ability which has already come out a couple of times this season. The player I see now is a totally different prospect to the striker we signed and I'm willing to give him a chance to grow into this new role as a utility player and backup striker if Scarlett doesn't work out - I'd like to see him get a start and see how he responds next weel against Fulham.

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oldtimer3 added 05:01 - Oct 26 Well said VanDusan. Jackson is a very important part of the squad. He has a physical presents and has improved so much under our fantastic management team. Onwards and Upwards
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Len_Brennan added 06:47 - Oct 26 Deserved win again, away from home against a very difficult side who won't lose many down there. It could easily have been 1-5 given the number of clear chances that were created. We were a little sloppy at times, which may be down to the extra long international break, as some first touches were not as sharp as theh havr been, but ultimately our positivity, quality & hard work in getting bodies back was enough. It is amazing to think that we went down from the Championship in 2019, with 31 points after 46 games, and here we back in the Championship this season, having already reached 31 points after only our first 12 games.

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chepstowblue added 06:55 - Oct 26 It's absolutely staggering that grown men can't work out (from their tickets)where they're meant to be sat/stood. So the morons then stand in the aisle for the duration of the game, occasionally hurling abuse at a steward who correctly is trying to move them on. I understand that the delinquent juveniles like to hold hands, so therefore cram twenty of themselves into eight seats, but the half headed men staggering around like zombie extras from 'Dawn of the Dead' is beyond belief. I'm aware that copious amounts of alcohol and cocaine are consumed before and during each game, but to witness a guy in his 50s unable to function or focus on the game last night has me wondering why people like that bother. I guess they need to belong. Good first half, slightly iffy second, but overall a thoroughly deserved victory, and possibly our best away showing to date. A truly incredible start to the season. Already looking forward to Birmingham, and a couple of hours in the company of numpties from the Land that time forgot. It's a funny old game !!

4

SouthernTractors added 08:08 - Oct 26 For a team that's had a break we certainly made hard work of it in the closing spell.. We have to start to kill games - how often has it happened that we've taken the lead, had control and then spend the last third of a game on the edge praying.. No idea why anyone thinks Dane Scarlett is a good addition - last 12 minutes of the game and you should be chasing everything upfront earning your place - what a immobile lump of lard..

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johnwarksshorts added 08:10 - Oct 26 A gritty, brave performance against a very good Bristol team, didn't have things our own way and were a tad fortunate at times, but to get a 1 0 away from home is the sign of a great team. I wish all the Jackson knockers could see the shift he puts in for our club instead of highlighting some if his misplaced passes, a few of the team did that to be fair, just have faith in MCk team selection.

4

Sandman180 added 09:16 - Oct 26 Another three points banked, should of put the game out of sight towards the end of the first half and early in the second, the last twenty minutes were painful at times, lots of tired legs out there and probably a little fortunate in the end not to concede, but those wins will be the most crucial come the end of the season - the kind of results you need to grind out. Ref was very inconsistent with both fouls and incidents which did/didn't warrant a card. Player performance wise, a mixed bag. Can never fault Jackson's effort, silly booking and his distribution and final ball was poor; it's either panicked or a bit of a 'pass and see' into the area, without picking out a man - that's where Burns excels in the team, doesn't have the ability to get past players like Omari, but his link up play with Chaplin and the ability to find him within or on the edge of the penalty area has been key a lot this season - hoping the shoulder injury isn't as bad as first feared. Mass and Sam solid as per, Chaplin and Broadhead both very lively first half, Hirst always a handful and that position is his now in my opinion, Freddie (when fit) a good deputy but Scarlett looks a little lacking - seems out of condition, blowing after a 10 minute cameo isn't a good sign. Defensively, sometimes a little too cute with the passing out from the back playing style; I appreciate that when it works well, it's great, but everyone was a little guilty of overplaying at times and we were nearly caught out on a few occasions. Plymouth Saturday, probably going to be buoyed following yesterday's hiding of Wednesday, and with that little bit of spice from the rivalry from last years title race.. should be a good one.

2

Linkboy13 added 09:41 - Oct 26 So Jackson is clueless are you saying McKenna doesn't know what he's doing by picking him . Perhaps McKenna should read these comments and get some tips negative numpties.
2

Rimsy added 09:44 - Oct 26 I think pace is the one thing KJ has. Trouble is just being quick doesn't cut it in this league. I like the guy, but he's definitely the weak link when he plays. Oh should always be ahead of him.
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Kirbmeister added 10:04 - Oct 26 25 wins in 30 matches. Scored 78. Conceded 21. 19 clean sheets. And still some complain.
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DavefromWatford added 10:20 - Oct 26 I am amazed at some of the Jackson knockers comments on here. They praise him when he plays well and then crucifies him when he doesn`t. I am trying hard not to get to excited at present and a bundle of nerves now before every game.
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Crinkle59 added 10:27 - Oct 26 Strange how some on here now baetter than a Manager who has us 2nd in a hard lweague!Maybe they should mve to Norrige then they'll have something to moan about !
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Bert added 10:34 - Oct 26 Sorry Old blue, marked you down by mistake. Re Jackson, his pass completion rate was probably better than others, he seldom gave the ball away, he tracked back, he occupied defenders to give others space and he is our player. If KMcK wants to play him that’s all that matters.
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Rimsy added 13:53 - Oct 26 It wouldn't do for people to have different views on a forum would it.
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Richardspain added 15:32 - Oct 26 Trying not to get excited but ... https://www.transfermarkt.com/championship/saisonstarts/wettbewerb/GB2/plus/?sor If we win our game against Rotherham this would be the second best ever start to a Championship campaign - second only to Leicester! We'd have been top every year since 2004!
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cat added 16:02 - Oct 26 0.1 away from home so what’s to moan about. Oh yes, Kaden Jackson of course. Yeah it was not one of his better games and his crossing was below standard but anyone questioning him on here apparently know more than our manager. Says it all really, you don’t know s***!
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