Stunned Bristol City boss Gary Johnson admitted everything that could have gone wrong had gone wrong after his side crashed to a humiliating 6-0 home defeat to Championship rivals Cardiff. The Londoner found it difficult to put his thoughts into words in the aftermath of the biggest home defeat of his managerial career. But he emerged from an Ashton Gate horror show to issue a rallying call to his shell-shocked players, urging them to pick themselves up ahead of Saturday's long trek to Middlesbrough. He said: "It's going to be difficult, but we have to pick ourselves up. Losing like this will hurt everyone and there is a lot of soul-searching to be done. I have to assess things and get my head around what has happened, but the players have to pick themselves up."
Bristol Evening Post

Sorry City suffered their biggest humiliation in many a year as rampant Cardiff re-wrote the record books at Ashton Gate. Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, the Beatles were top of the pops and old money was still in circulation when the Bluebirds last tasted victory in Bristol. But they consigned that particular record of under-achievement to the dustbin of history in emphatic fashion, scoring six times without reply to register their first win in BS3 since 1969. If landslide defeats during intervening seasons at Swansea (7-1) and Ipswich (6-0) were embarrassing, this was worse, coming as it did on home soil and against opponents who are considered arch rivals. Having played second fiddle for the opening 19 minutes, Cardiff turned the game on it's head by piercing City's woeful defence four times before the break.
Bristol Evening Post

Pure humiliation. How Cardiff City savoured this Severnside derby. The Bluebirds earned their biggest away win since thrashing Oldham Athletic 7-1 eight years ago, crushing the Robins with an attacking style which was simply sensational. Captain Joe Ledley, making his last appearance before surgery on his hips, said goodbye for a few months in the perfect way. This was Cardiff's first win at Ashton Gate in 40 years and how the 700 fans who made the trip enjoyed themselves. Strikers Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra had too much quality for Bristol City defenders who just could not cope. Their touch, awareness and movement was truly remarkable.
Wales Online

Cardiff boss Dave Jones says his players were inspired by the prospect of facing Chelsea in the Cup as they put six past Bristol City. Cardiff will have to travel to Stamford Bridge in the fifth round of the Cup and Jones says it is that prospect that inspired his players on Tuesday and he claims he knew after training in the morning that they were going to put in a performance to remember. "It was only meant to be a light session but, after the cup draw paired us with Chelsea, there was a real buzz about the place," said Jones.
Clubcall

Chelsea's FA Cup scouts watched fifth round opponents Cardiff dish out a six-goal mauling to end 40 years without a win at Ashton Gate. Dave Jones's Championship side - shock Wembley finalists two seasons ago - pushed themselves into the heart of the play-off places with a dazzling display. And Jones claimed the thought of going to Stamford Bridge had helped inspire them. 'We came in on Monday and the whole place was buzzing. We had to call off training early because the tempo was so fast and everybody was zappping into it,' he said.
Daily Mail

This contest was over by half time as the visitors eased into a 4-0 lead with goals from Pete Whittingham, Ross McCormack, Michael Chopra and an own goal by Liam Fontaine. Any hopes Bristol had of rallying after the interval were snuffed out by Chopra's second goal after 47 minutes and McCormack completed the rout with his second 10 minutes later.
Daily Telegraph

Can we play you every week?" chanted Cardiff fans as their team hit hapless Bristol City for six. The visitors were four up by half-time in the third meeting between the two clubs in the space of a fortnight.
Daily Star

Bristol City manager Gary Johnson insists that his son's loan spell at Derby County will not be turning into a permanent switch any time soon. Lee Johnson has impressed since joining Nigel Clough's Rams earlier in January, helping the club qualify for the fifth round of the FA Cup at the weekend. However, the Robins boss says that there has been no talk about a permanent deal from either party. "The deal is the same as it was when he joined," said Gary Johnson. "He has gone out on loan there to get some games under his belt because he found it difficult to break back into the side after suffering a bout of illness, so we felt it was a good option to send him to Derby."
Sky Sports