BRISTOL CITY 1-2 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy, Christie, Adams, Webster, Seaborne, Baker (Marshall 72), Barton, Daniels (Clarke 77), Thomas, Delfonseo, Moussa (Fleck 67) Subs Burge, Willis, Garner, G.Thomas.
Bristol City: Moore, Williams, Flint, Bryan (Pack 46), Cunningham, El Abd (Burns 64), Elliott (Barnett 64) Gillett, Baldock, Emmanuel-Thomas, Wagstaff. Subs: Fielding, Moloney, Elliott, Reid.
HT BCFC 0-2 CCFC FT BCFC 1-2 CCFC ATT 11,272
Goals Frank Moussa 6, Andy Webster 24, Wes Burns 80 Referee A.Woolmer
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Coventry City made it tough going at times it but worked well for a great 2-1 win at Bristol City.
Another Tuesday night game, this one due to the Sky Blues run in the FA Cup saw Coventry City arrive at Ashton Gate for a re-arranged League One fixture.
It was raining as we arrived in Bristol and walked to the ramshackle Wedlock End and took our place in front the backless seats.
As usual, there was plenty of noise from the 686 strong City support, who saw a City side which included Nathan Delfounseo and Adam Barton in for John Fleck, who was recovering from a sickness bug, but minus Rory Donnelly who has gone back to Swansea City never to return, took to the pitch.
There has been plenty of talk about dodgy betting practices over recent months and something which some of the City fans were questioning as dubious came right at the start of the game when Bristol City kicked off against a City side in yellow and kicked the ball straight out for a throw.
The noisy City support, who were taking great delight in bantering a City supporter who resembled either Jim Bowen off Bullseye or famed former British ski jumper Eddie The Eagle, only had six minutes to wait to go mental at the first City goal.
And it was another one from Franck Moussa to go into his growing list of goal of the season contenders as the Belgian got down the left, danced his way past a few defenders and got into the area before confidently stroking the ball past Moore in the Robins goal.
The City fans went mad charging over in absolute delight towards the Bristol fans, who had seen their team move out of the relegation zone with a win over Carlisle on Saturday.
After a Joe Murphy shot on target, a great ball from Baker played in Christie who surged down the right to win a corner.
In the 23rd minute and as the City fans were dancing away to a chorus of "Twist N Shout", there was a corner and when the ball came over, there was Andy Webster to get the final touch and take the ball into the net.
Again, the City support, some of whom thought Adam Barton had scored went mad.
Carl Baker curled a shot at Moore and the Robins won a 36th minute corner which was confidently dealt with by the City defence.
The closest a home side there for the taking, came to scoring was when Joe Murphy went for a walk and left his goal wide open. Thankfully, the open goal was missed by Sam Baldock hitting the post and this led to City, breaking away and getting a 44th minute corner.
There were puddles forming on the pitch but the second half started with Baker and Christie on the attack.
Murphy made a good save to concede a 52nd minute corner which ended up in the side netting through Cunningham.
Playing up front on his own, Nathan Delfonseo did plenty of running against a Bristol City side relying on hit and hope crosses and long range shots.
Bristol City used all of their substitutes and in the 67th minute, Steve Pressley decided to replace Franck Moussa who had worked really hard, with John Fleck coming.
Five minutes later and there was a second change with Mark Marshall or Speedo as he was soon nicknamed by a few terrace wags, came on for Carl Baker, who looked less than pleased at being substituted.
Marshall was booked within three minutes of coming on but the free kick failed to trouble Joe Murphy.
With the City fans advising the home fans that they might as well swim home, Seaborne who had an excellent game along with Andy Webster in the heart of City’s defence, made a good clearance.
Billy Daniels went off in the 78th minute with Jordan Clarke coming on but in the 80th minute, The Robins won a corner. Emmanuel-Thomas knocked it over and substitute Wes Burns headed in, setting up a grandstand finish.
Marshall fired at Moore from twenty yards for a City team who had given Bristol City too much possession in the second half and had another effort before five minutes of added time was announced.
It was a nervy time but the relief when the final whistle came and City had taken a much needed win to move up to tenth in the table.