Holden wants front foot start
Posted: Tuesday, October 20th 2020
- English Football League - Championship
- Tuesday, October 20th 2020
- Ashton Gate
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Bristol City | 0 |
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Middlesbrough | 1 |
Match Report
James Crawley reports from Ashton Gate
Report: Bristol City 0-1 Middlesbrough
Tuesday, October 20th 2020
City’s unbeaten start to the season was ended by Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate with a 1-0 defeat.
George Saville capitalised on Taylor Moore’s error after 73 minutes to rob the centre-back and place the ball past Dan Bentley.
The Robins could still have had a share of the points when Tyreeq Bakinson was nudged as he went through on goal in added time, but referee Tim Robinson dismissed the appeals.
Middlesbrough had the best of the first-half chances with Chuba Akpom putting one wide and also having a shot tipped over the bar by Dan Bentley, who returned to the starting XI in the club's only change from the 2-2 with Barnsley last time out.
City were not without their own efforts to break the deadlock though, with Jamie Paterson nutmegging Jonny Howson before sending a shot wide of the mark.
Dael Fry had a golden opportunity after 39 minutes when he got on the end of Paddy McNair’s free kick but he directed the ball beyond the post.
The stalemate was almost broken on the hour mark when Chris Martin turned the ball back to Nahki Wells and his fierce shot went over the bar.
By then City had lost on-field captain Alfie Mawson, who was stretchered off following a tackle on Djed Spence as he ran into the box.
Dean Holden’s men pushed for the goal with Famara Diédhiou and Antoine Semenyo replacing Chris Martin and Nahki Wells.
But the Robins suffered the cruellest of blows when former City loanee Saville had the easiest of shots to put Boro ahead with 20 minutes remaining.
It left City with an uphill task to get back into the game that Boro subsequently closed out.
Bristol City
- Goals
- Substitutions
- Alfie Mawson, Chris Martin, Nahki Wells
Middlesbrough
- Goals
- Saville (73')
- Substitutions
- Djed Spence, Patrick Roberts, Chuba Akpom
