Second-half goals from Scott Twine and Sam Bell earned Bristol City a 2-0 victory over bottom-club Sheffield Wednesday at Ashton Gate, a result that strengthens the Robins' Championship play-off challenge. After a first half dominated by the hosts but lacking a finish, City finally found a way past the impressive Murphy Cooper to claim a deserved three points.
Twine broke the deadlock on 64 minutes with a powerful header from Ross McCrorie's driven cross, before substitute Bell settled the contest 14 minutes later, sweeping home from the edge of the area after fellow replacement Sinclair Armstrong had surged clear to draw Cooper out of position. For Wednesday, it was another difficult afternoon at the foot of the table, though one laced with emotion as long-serving captain Barry Bannan was withdrawn late on in what is expected to be his final appearance for the club.
City on Top but Wasteful Before the Interval
Bristol City, who had made four changes from their midweek defeat at Ipswich by bringing in McCrorie, Jason Knight, Cameron Pring and George Earthy, started on the front foot. They immediately penned Wednesday back, forcing errors and pushing the visitors deep towards their own penalty area. The first scare for the away side came as early as the fifth minute, when Pring's shot was fumbled by Cooper, only for no City player to react quickly enough to latch onto the loose ball.