2017/18 Season review: November/December

A good point at Hillsborough followed, while Cauley Woodrow struck a late consolation as Preston North End inflicted only City’s third defeat of the season.

ANOTHER UNBEATEN RUN

However, the disappointment was short-lived when Johnson’s squad rallied to beat struggling Hull City 3-2 at the KCOM Stadium with Josh Brownhill’s late long-range strike securing the points.

It was the start of seven-game unbeaten streak, with play-off chasing Middlesbrough and Sheffield United beaten, and a 2-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest proving City’s penultimate game before arguably the club’s greatest-ever moment arrived.

"IT'S SMITH..."

The Ashton Gate atmosphere was electric; a cauldron of noise for the arrival of Manchester United who brought a squad which included the likes of Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But this was a City side on quite a roll and an upset looked on the cards when Joe Bryan hit another thunderbolt, to give the hosts an early second-half lead. It was at times hard to know who the Premier League team were, so good was the performance from every player in a City shirt.

But United were level minutes later through Ibrahimovic’s free kick and the game looked set to be heading for extra-time.

That was until Matty Taylor picked out the run of Smith, who tucked the ball through Sergio Romero’s legs, to send the buzzing BS3 crowd into raptures.

The draw for the Carabao Cup semi-finals followed the full-time whistle, handing the Robins a two-legged tie against soon-to-be Premier League champions, Manchester City.

But before all of that attentions turned back to the festive period with Reid’s penalty securing a point against QPR, while Lloyd Kelly’s first goal for the club securing a Boxing Day win at home to Reading.

Wolves would secure a fortunate 2-1 win in the last fixture of 2017 but City were simply deserving of their high league position ahead of the new year.

WATCH: CITY KICK ON INTO THE FESTIVE PERIOD