BRISTOL CITY 2-0 COVENTRY CITY
City: Allsop, Pennington, Webster, Willis, Johnson, Fleck, Barton, O'Brien (Maddison 82), Swanson (Haynes 67) McQuoid (Nouble 71), Madine. Subs: Burge, Finch.
Bristol City: Fielding, Little. Bryan, Ayling, Flint, Williams, Elliott, K.Smith, Freeman (Pack 91), M.Smith (Agard 67), Wilbraham (Emmanuel-Thomas 91) Subs: Richards, Osbourne.
HT BCFC 1-0 CCFC FT BCFC 2-0 CCFC
ATT 5019
Goals Derek Williams 29, Arron Wilbraham 74
Referee S. Martin. Booked Johnson. K.Smith, O'Brien
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Coventry City went out of the JPT with a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City.
For a Wednesday night in December, there was a decent turnout of Coventry City supporters for this Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Semi-Final against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Many of whom had nightmares trying to find somewhere to park.
Steven Pressley fielded a strong side for the game in which his side were the clear under-dogs. That meant another outing for Matt Pennington whilst Josh McQuoid partnered Gary Madine up front.
On a wet night, City in their white away shirts and sky blue shorts, attacked the old away end which is being developed for the first half.
City won an early corner and played some good passing football in the early exchanges,
Madine fired low at Fielding in the seventh minute with a shot from 15 yards.
A City free and an Jim O'Brien shot followed before Bryan fired into the side netting in front of the 800+ City supporters who were making plenty of noise and outsinging those in the Main Stand.
As the City support abused a Bristol City fan stood on a shed to avoid paying to get in, Wilbraham who got the goal of the last round, according to the competition sponsors, flicked a shot from six yards at Allsop.
In the 25th minute, John Fleck went close with a deflected shot and Wade Elliott did the same at the other end.
Bristol City were certainly not looking like a side top of the league but they got a bit of luck that top sides have in the 29th minute when Reda Johnson gave them a free kick from an acute angle. The ball came over and there was Derek Williams to use his head to send the ball home from eight yards.
Four minutes later and City were denied a penalty.for a trip on McQuoid by the referee who had a good look. Steven Pressley was incensed and had words with the fourth official. Not that it did any good.
A 37th minute corner for City ended up as a free kick to the other City who promptly won a corner through Williams.
With five minutes of the half left, City had a free kick which was eventually headed into the side netting by Johnson.
The home side won a corner which Matt Smith headed wide but City were a goal down at the break which was not worthy of how they had played in the first half.
Four minutes into the second half and the lively Danny Swanson curled wide from twenty yards and Bryan struck the bar.
A 57th tackle from behind by O'Brien gave the Robins a free kick that was eventually punched away by Allsop and the ball stayed in the Robins half until a City free kick two minutes later.
Pennington got in a cross which was hacked away and then the Everton loanee fired at Fielding.
The City support were calling for Nouble to be introduced but what the Sky Blues needed was a midfielder to put his foot on the ball.
City won two corners on the trot and Barton headed a McQuoid cross over.
In the 67th minute, Pressley made his change with Ryan Haynes coming on for Danny Swanson at the same time as Agard replaced Matt Smith.
The City fans got their wish and on came Nouble in the 71st minute just before Madine headed a free kick just over at the end where the 832 City fans were.
With sixteen minutes left, Bristol City further increased their lead when a ball from the left was not dealt with by the City defence and Arron Wilbraham simply headed unmarked past the badly placed Allsop on his left.
James Maddison came on for the last eight minutes and battled but luck was not with the Sky Blues and their cup interest was over for another season.
Some of the City support called for SISU to go, others called for Pressley to go and the Mad Hatters had a discussion with Reda Johnson who had a poor game at left back, whilst the rest made their way home disappointed that yet again, the Sky Blues again lacked a cutting edge.