nPower Championship: Bristol City

April Fools day brings a bottom of the table clash between Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday at Ashton Gate. With both teams fighting to stay in this league, it's no joke to say tensions were high as the very real threat of League One football awaits possibly both the Robins and Owls.









The visitors get the game underway but it's the home side that start the stronger, earning a free-kick following a Reda Johnson foul 90 seconds in. Steven Davies wastes the set-piece when Danny Pugh sees the ball away from danger. Just a minute later and the free-kick taker fouls the clearer as Wednesday break up a City attack but when Sam Baldock sends over a dangerous cross in the 5th minute, the visitors are indebted to Miguel Llera who clears under pressure. As we enter the 8th minute Davies is again proving a handful and his shot is well saved by Chris Kirkland. When Baldock fouls R.Johnson and concedes a free-kick, the yellow-clad away team fail to capitalise and the hosts reclaim possession quickly. As City look to press home their early momentum, Pugh fouls one-club stalwart Cole Skuse much to the home fans frustration. On the quarter-hour mark a fantastic curling effort by Lewin Nyatanga from 18yards sees another good save by Kirkland to keep the scores level. The away fans are in fine voice but the team producing the better football on the pitch is undoubtedly the home side. The Reds' fans almost have a goal to celebrate when Davies has his rifles shot blocked by Giles Coke on the 17th minute, the resulting corner comes to nothing. The visiting rear-guard is again tested when Anthony Gardner clears a Davies free-kick following a Jermaine Johnson foul on Greg Cunningham. The former Manchester City player is the next City player to attempt a shot on goal but Llera blocks in the 21st minute. In a rare break, Wednesday get forward in the form of J.Johnson beating 2 men before squaring to Jeremy Hélan but City defend well and the ball runs through to keeper' Tom Heaton. On the 23rd minute Wednesday force a corner only for Pugh's floated cross to be cleared by Nyatanga. The Robins almost take the lead in the 26th minute but Davies' header flies past the post. As the Owls grow into the game City concede 2 quick succession free-kicks when Skuse fouls Kirkland and then Davies upends R.Johnson, however it's Bristol City who register the next shot - a Baldock effort that Gardner defends well. The opening goal comes on the 35th minute when a weaving run by J.Johnson carves open the defence and a sliding shot from 12yards nestles in the right corner after rounding the keeper coolly. With the extraordinary noise the travelling Owls bring, Ashton Gate regulars will feel slightly aggrieved at being behind in a match they've been dominant. As momentum looks to shift to the away side, Marvin Elliott concedes a sloppy free-kick for fouling Owls debutant Steve Howard but Coke's free-kick is defended well and City survive. 26yr old midfielder Coke then excels in his defensive duties when he clears a Skuse corner in the 40th minute. Making his 250th appearance in a City shirt (including a loan spell) - Liam Fontaine upends J.Johnson as the Jamaican winger looks to turn and run but City see away the danger when Cunningham clears Coke's floated set-piece. As the half comes to a close, Wednesday almost double their lead - a 25yard blasted shot by J.Johnson blazing over the bar. The final action of the game is a direct free-kick by Llera when Liam Kelly fouls Pugh, but the Spaniard doesn't take advantage of the advanced position and the half ends with Wednesday leading 0-1.

HT. A tense first half with City looking dangerous on their numerous forward advances. The shuffled Wednesday line-up took their time to settle into the game but have repelled the Robins attacks so far. Live-wire J.Johnson looks to be the Owls likeliest attacking threat. Half an Easter egg and a coffee later and I'm ready for a big second half to commence.

The 'Cider Army' get the second half underway and only 2mins later the games first yellow card is shown when Kieran Lee challenges Cunningham unfairly and Baldocks direct free-kick is seen away for a corner. The near-post delivery is defended well and the Owls see away the danger. The Robins have started as they did the first half, on the push - and before the 50th minute Davies fires his free-kick following a Llera foul directly into the wall. That defensive block sees a Wednesday counter attack with J.Johnson beating 3 City players before smashing a shot against the upright. It proves to be the wingers last contribution as he is replaced by former City player Leroy Lita. Barely a minute after entering the game and Lita has a left-footed shot smash into the side netting after a good run. The 55th minute sees Elliot fire an effort from just outside the box narrowly wide and barely 60 seconds later The Robins have a let-off when Lita is flagged offside when advancing on Heatons goal. Following a Stephen Pearson free-kick when R.Johnson fouls Baldock, Llera's clearance gives the break in play to allow Gary Madine - Saturdays man of the match vs Barnsley, to replace Howard to lead the line. When Heaton claims a Pugh corner in the 63rd minute, Wednesday press again to force another corner moments later. This time Pugh's delivery is dealt with by Cunningham and as City counter, Coke fouls Davies and is subsequently yellow carded. In the same incident Davies also receives yellow for unsporting behaviour. A double substitution quickly follows when in the 67th minute, Albert Adomah replaces Pearson and Neil Kilkenny replaces Kelly. In the 74th minute both Kirkland and Cunningham see yellow - the latter for apparently diving in the box in search of a penalty and the keeper for the 'handbags' that ensued. 2mins later and Jose Semedo is brought on in place of Coke in a bid to tighten up the midfield to the usual chorus of "He's magic - you know, you'll never get past Semedo!". Almost immediately the Portuguese enforcer is penalised for fouling Elliot prompting another rendition of the fan-favourites chant. Fellow substitute Kilkenny fouls Madine in the 77th minute but the Owls fail to capitalise and the Robins come away with the ball again - forcing a corner that Hélan clears. The 82nd minute sees Skuse replaced by former England U19 player Paul Anderson. A nervy Wednesday back line standoff Adomah who seizes his chance and fires a shot over Kirkland's crossbar. When Madine is ruled offside in the 86th minute, City fail in a counter attack as Anderson fouls Llera during the move. A near-post corner clearance by Elliot keeps Bristol City in contention but when Pugh's corner minutes later finds R.Johnson the Robins are relived to see the Benin defender waste the opportunity. As a staggering 5mins injury time is shown on the 90th minute, Semedo enters the book and sees yellow for upending Cunningham. The Reds draw level in the 92nd minute when an Adomah looping cross is poorly dealt with by Kirkland who receives a forearm into the face but first to react is former West Ham Utd forward Baldock who duly rifles a shot through a crowded 6 yard box and into the back of the net sending the Cider Army into raptures. The match ends with a yellow card each for Hélan (dissent) and Madine for protesting an offside decision against him.

FT. Sheffield Wednesday fans will feel aggrieved at the late goal against but on overall balance of play its a deserved result and Bristol City will be pleased with a point in their desperate position. The shuffling of the Wednesday team obviously cost the Owls but when the players have had a derby game 48hrs earlier, the decision was sensible at the very least.

Attendance: 19,148
Owls Man of the Match: Llera / Lee (both put in a steady performance in an otherwise lacklustre game)