Steve Brooker proved the Robins are no flash in the pan outfit with a dramatic late winner. Gary Johnson's men suffered the heartache of losing out to Hull in May's Play-off final just 12 months after jumping into the Championship. And the Bristol City boss feared his players may succumb to second-season syndrome as they faced up to Simon Grayson's rebuilt Blackpool side. But Brooker climbed off the bench to net an 89th-minute winner from the tightest of angles, slamming a fierce shot past the Seasiders' motionless keeper.
News of the World

Steve Brooker grabbed a late, late winner for Bristol City - and the limelight from record signing Nicky Maynard. All eyes had been on 20-year-old Maynard, the striker who cost £2.25million from Crewe, but it was substitute frontman Brooker who finally found the way past Blackpool's defence. It was tough luck on the Seasiders who had impressed throughout and only been denied a share of the spoils by substitute keeper Chris Weal, who defied them time and again. But when Robins boss Gary Johnson replaced striker Dele Adebola with Brooker in the 80th minute it was the key to victory for last season's play-off finalists. Johnson said: "I told Steve to be dangerous and get us one chance - and he did just that.
Sunday Mirror

Gary Johnson hailed his goal hero Steve Brooker after his last-gasp winner snatched all three points for Bristol City yesterday. The second-half sub punished a wasteful Blackpool side after being on the pitch for just seven minutes. His cool finish from a tight angle with a minute to go broke Blackpool hearts. Johnson said: "I told him to be dangerous and go and get us a chance and he did. It took him six or seven minutes to get the chance and when he did it was a good one."
People

Substitute Steve Brooker pilfered the points for Bristol City with a dramatic 90th-minute winner to stun new-look Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Brooker replaced Dele Adebola with 10 minutes remaining and found the net with a fierce left-foot shot that nestled in the net and got Gary Johnson's side off to the perfect start.
Mail on Sunday

Bristol City fans in the uncovered stand wore brightly coloured rain capes, though a mad few threw open their man-boobs to the elements and went bare-chested. "You dirty northern *******," they sang as Keith Southern crunched through tackles. The pitchside adverts were for scaffolders, a solicitors and "quality meats". A small boy shimmied up the fence to the wasteground-cum-car park behind one goal to watch the first half for free. The pie stall was swamped. Football was back yesterday, Championship-style.
Sunday Times

Steve Brooker's injury-time goal gave beaten play-off finalists Bristol City a 1-0 win at Blackpool.
Sunday Telegraph

Steve Brooker hit a last-minute winner for Bristol City to bank three points at Blackpool in the opening match of the Championship campaign. The second-half substitute's half-turn and snapshot proved the difference between the two sides on an afternoon of missed opportunities. Goal machine Nicky Maynard spurned an open net and substitute keeper Chris Weale was called upon to make two sensational saves late on at the other end. But City boss Gary Johnson will feel his team deserved the result after a much-improved second-half performance. Maynard fired a hat-trick on his debut against Royal Antwerp and could have repeated the feat at Bloomfield Road, but missed three good chances, the pick of which was a free header in front of an open goal from five yards. Brooker came on with nine minutes to go and went on to steal the headlines, though, and get City off to the perfect start.
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson hailed striker Steve Brooker after his dramatic last-minute winner at Blackpool earned them a 1-0 win. Brooker came off the bench to ensure the Robins put the misery of last season's play-off final defeat aside to get their new Coca-Cola Championship campaign off to a fine start. It had looked like being a frustrating afternoon for the Robins at Bloomfield Road but Johnson felt victory was no more than they deserved. "I was delighted with that performance," Johnson said. "Three points on the first day of the season away from home is the perfect beginning. I was really pleased with the way Steve Brooker took his goal. I told him to get on the field and make his mark. He couldn't have picked a better way of doing it."
Sporting Life