Town defeated by a goal in each half at Ashton Gate
- Huddersfield Town defeated by two goals at Bristol City
- Nahki Wells and Antoine Semenyo the scorers
- Town made to rue big chances missed
Town were made to pay for missing their big chances at Bristol City, with the hosts hitting a goal in each half to secure the three Sky Bet Championship points.
Tom Lees and Ollie Turton had both headed very presentable chances off target before former Terrier Nahki Wells hit the target to put the home side ahead in the first half, and it was a similar story in the second 45, with Duane Holmes and Pat Jones going close before substitute Antoine Semenyo punished the men in black.
It was a shame for Danny Schofield’s side, who had good spells in the game at Ashton Gate.
The hosts had chances too and went close inside the fourth minute when dangerman Andi Weimann hit the post with a slightly scuffed effort. Lee Nicholls was needed to save the follow-up curler from midfielder Alex Scott, too.
Having defended for the opening 10 minutes, Town started to settle on the ball and build chances. Sorba Thomas was always a threat down the left and his excellent cross created Town’s first chance, with Jordan Rhodes – making his first league start of the season – heading over under heavy pressure.
It was just before the quarter hour that Lees had what was arguably Town’s best chance of the night, through a corner won by Tino Anjorin. Thomas’s excellent near post delivery found Lees at the near post, but he seemed to get too much contact on the ball and sent it arrowing over the crossbar from close range.
Ollie Turton, playing right wing-back, had similar luck 10 minutes later after Hogg’s looping ball forward released Thomas into space. He skipped past defender Vyner before swinging a fantastic deep cross onto the unmarked Turton’s head, but the ball seemed to skim off his forehead and went wide of the far post.
Bristol City made Town pay in the 35th minute when Weimann laid the ball back to left back Jay Dasilva, and his cross was headed home at close range by Bermudian Wells, who was on the move early to rise about the defence.
Town had to defend for the rest of the first half but came out of the blocks flying in the second and Lees soon forced the goalkeeper into a save with another header from a Thomas corner.
Wells headed wide soon after from a very similar move to the first goal, but Town were on top at this stage – and went as close to an equaliser as they did on the hour mark. Duane Holmes had only been on the pitch mere moments when he seized upon a poor pass out of defence to race clear, only to see goalkeeper Dan Bentley save his effort from the angle.
The substitutes made an impact for Town, and young Pat Jones went close to a second in as many appearances with 10 minutes left. Jack Rudoni’s forward ball could only be headed into the air by defender Vyner, and Pat met the second ball on the volley. That touch deflected the ball beyond Bentley, but the ball hit the far post before being cleared.
Moments later, it was effectively game over. Bristol City immediately went forward, and an early ball sent the pacey Semenyo one-on-one with Lees. He managed to work enough room to hit a powerful right-footed shot between Nicholls and the near post to double the advantage.
Nicholls pulled off a superb diving save to deny defender Rob Atkinson a Bristol City third late on before a final Town corner caused havoc in the six-yard box.
Town’s team (3-4-3)
Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees, Jonathan Hogg (c), Yuta Nakayama; Ollie Turton (Kaine Kesler-Hayden, 59’), Jon Russell, Jack Rudoni, Josh Ruffels (Pat Jones, 74’); Tino Anjorin (Duane Holmes, 59’), Jordan Rhodes (Danny Ward, 59’), Sorba Thomas
Unused subs
Jacob Chapman; Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Etienne Camara
Gate
18,569
Town fans
394
