Report: SC Farense 1-1 Bristol City

Farense, of the Portuguese second tier, went in front against the run of play when Osama Rashid drilled a low shot past Max O’Leary on 57 minutes.

But City looked the stronger side throughout and deservedly equalised when Flint headed home Luke Freeman’s corner 15 minutes later.

Goalmouth action would prove hard to come by for the bulk of a first half in which Farense made their presence felt with some occasionally rough treatment of Steve Cotterill’s visitors.

It would take an impromptu drinks break on the half hour to breathe new life into City, who responded to a brief pep talk from the boss by creating the two best chances of the half.

Joe Bryan, operating at left wing-back with Greg Cunningham shifting to the right, was instrumental in both.

First the Bristolian burst to the byeline and cut the ball back invitingly for Cunningham, whose first-time shot was destined for the net before it was cleared off the line.

Three minutes later Bryan was at it again, this time standing a cross up to the back post where Aaron Wilbraham connected sweetly on the volley but again struck the ball against a covering defender.

City remained on top into the second period, as strike duo Wilbraham and Burns combined before the ball sat up nicely for the Welshman who could only drag his shot wide from 18 yards.

But it was the hosts who took the lead just shy of the hour with their best move of the match, as a fine burst of pace down the left paved the way for a low cross clinically dispatched by Rashid with a powerful low shot.

Cotterill would wait until the 62nd minute before utilising his bench – a positive sign that fitness levels continue to improve – with Bobby Reid replacing Cunningham in one of only two City changes all night.

The Sky Bet League One champions would continue to press for an equaliser and found it 18 minutes from time when Flint rose to power home a Freeman corner in familiar fashion.

Derrick Williams almost struck a late winner but saw his volley bounce up off the turf and force an instinctive save.

Bristol City: O’Leary, Ayling, Flint, Williams, Cunningham (Reid 62), Smith, Pack, Freeman, Bryan, Wilbraham, Burns (Wagstaff 83).

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