Bristol City produced their performance of the season as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over a Leicester side that had started the evening in 4th place. Goals from Sproule, Skuse and Sno gave City a vital win as they now move to just one point outside of the play-off positions.
City started in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation with Sproule and Haynes providing width and pace as Evander Sno, Paul Hartley and Cole Skuse provided a formidable midfield three in the centre of the park as Marvin Elliot and Lee Johnson were dropped.
Leicester were first to get an effort on goal but Orr was well positioned to head over, and Wellens then hit a shot a long way wide. Former City keeper’ Chris Weale was then called into action but he did well to save from Nicky Maynard after Haynes had provided the top scorer with the chance to shoot.
Leicester were then controversially denied a penalty when Dean Gerken appeared to impede Martin Waghorn as the striker tried to round the keeper’ but the referee surprisingly ruled that there had been no foul.
City took the lead on 19 minutes after Ivan Sproule scored a fantastic opening goal. When it looked as though full-back Ryan McGivern had done well to show the winger inside, a sudden burst of pace saw Sproule beat his man, before performing the trick on three more helpless defenders before finishing well to send the travelling support into raptures.
The early goal gave City confidence as the visitors began to dominate the game. Hartley, Skuse and Sno were magnificent in the middle, winning everything and giving very little away. City’s dominance led to another goal, with Cole Skuse striking home a left-footed effort from 30 yards into the top corner, in what is, without doubt, his finest ever goal for City.
City went into the half-time break not only 2-0 up but also completely on top in all areas of the pitch in an all-round fine performance from the side.
City switched to a 4-5-1 formation in the second half with Ivan Sproule and Danny Haynes tucking in to limit Leicester’s time on the ball, which worked well as City comfortably held on in the opening stages of the second half.
Leicester’s goal efforts were limited to long shots as City looked comfortable, with McAllister almost adding to the lead with a well-struck free kick which was saved by Weale. City were once again fortunate to not concede a penalty when the ball struck Fontaine’s hand in the box, and to add insult to injury, Skuse carried the ball forward 60 yards before slotting an inch-perfect pass to Sno who side footed home to give City a 3-0 lead.
Leicester then had a man sent off, as Martin Waghorn expressed his frustration with the evening’s events by sliding in dangerously on Jamie McAllister to receive a deserved red card.
City couldn’t quite hold on to a clean sheet, as Weale pumped a long ball forward which McCombe and Gerken both failed to deal with, allowing Fryatt a simple chance to reduce the lead to 3-1, which he did with aplomb.
City’s overall performance was absolutely superb, and gave the 576 visiting fans something to cheer about as the side attacked with width, pace and numbers in an all round excellent team performance. The midfield, with Skuse and Sno in particular, were outstanding, and given Ivan Sproule’s recent personal tragedy, there was no man more deserving than him to set City on their way to a much-needed three points.
Leicester: Weale, Brown, Hobbs, Morrison, McGivern, King, Oakley, Wellens, Gallagher, N’Guessan (Fryatt, 68), Waghorn
Goals: Fryatt 90 (+1)
Sent Off: Waghorn 80
City: Gerken, Orr, Nyatanga, Fontaine, McAllister, Sproule, Hartley, Sno, Skuse, Haynes, Maynard
Goals: Sproule 19, Skuse 29, Sno 76
Attendance: 19,349
Referee: S D Cook |
