Bristol City maintained their impressive, unbeaten start to the Championship season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at a restless Hillsborough, effectively settling the contest inside the opening half hour. An early own goal from debutant Harry Amass was followed by composed finishes from Emil Riis and Anis Mehmeti as the visitors sliced through an unsettled Owls side to record a win that underlined the contrasting trajectories of the two clubs.
Beneath a backdrop of loud protests against Wednesday's owner Dephon Chansiri, City controlled long spells of the game and repeatedly threatened to add to their tally, with Mehmeti striking the post after the break and going close on several other occasions. The hosts, hampered by summer departures and transfer restrictions that have thinned their squad, failed to register a shot on target and slipped to a fourth defeat in five league outings, while unbeaten City climbed to third in the table, just two points behind early leaders Middlesbrough.
Lightning Start Leaves Wednesday Reeling
Even before kick-off there was an uneasy edge inside Hillsborough, and it spilled over almost immediately once the action began. Wednesday's support, fed up with the club's off-field turmoil, directed their anger towards the club's hierarchy as chants against Chansiri reverberated around the ground, and that mood darkened further when the home side fell behind inside the opening minutes.