Bristol City got back to winning ways on Tuesday night, defeating Stoke City 2-0 to launch themselves up to seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table, and within two points of the play-off positions.
Anis Mehmeti’s goals in the 11th and 73rd minutes were enough to give the Reds all three points in a comprehensive victory over Mark Robins’ Stoke. The Robins made up for their attacking woes in Sunday’s home loss to Swansea by creating plenty of chances from open play and limited their opposition to just five shots, none of which were on target.
The victory means that with another three points in Saturday’s trip to Cardiff for the Severnside derby, they could enter the Championship top six for the first time in 2025.
But before attention turns to City’s trip across the Severn Bridge, here’s our take on some standout performances under the lights, with a few moments you may have missed.
Good Day: Anis Mehmeti
The only natural place to start is with Anis Mehmeti, who showed his quality with two composed finishes, even if Liam Manning did think he “shinned” the second.
With eight touches in the opposition box, the Albanian international was the go-to creative outlet for the Robins, with five more touches than any other player. The attacking midfielder was involved early, creating an opportunity for Scott Twine after eight minutes. Mehmeti timed a run perfectly to remain onside and meet a lofted Zak Vyner pass, before centering the ball for Twine, who saw his attempt saved.
Three minutes later, he was on the scoresheet, with more excellent movement to position himself to receive and tap home a low Mark Sykes cross from close range. Those early pieces of positive play gave the 24-year-old confidence to be more adventurous going forward, resulting in a brace in one of his best performances in a City shirt.
Good Day: Rob Dickie
After the dampening news that fellow centre-back Luke McNally is set for an extended period on the sidelines, a strong defensive performance was needed to demonstrate Liam Manning’s faith in the other options at the club and he got exactly that.
Rob Dickie in particular was a standout in the middle of the centre-back trio that included Haydon Roberts in the spot to his left, which McNally had made his own. He, Roberts, and Zak Vyner have made a combined 71 Championship appearances this season, but before Wednesday, they had not started together as a back three all campaign.
You wouldn’t have known, because Roberts and Vyner arguably had their best games for a little while, whilst Dickie put in an outstanding performance in the air. The Robins won 72 per cent of the aerial duels in the clash, with the former QPR defender winning 10 of his 11 battles, ending with a 91 per cent success rate.
In the absence of McNally, the City vice captain was also a threat from set-pieces, heading Scott Twine’s free-kick just wide after 49 minutes before playing a key role in the second of Mehmeti’s goals. The imposing defender jumped to lift a header from Max Bird’s corner into the six-yard box, which Stoke midfielder Wouter Berger failed to deal with before it fell into the path of the on-rushing Mehmeti.
Good Day: Sinclair Armstrong
Sinclair Armstrong started just his second game since returning from the hamstring injury he suffered away at Sunderland in early December, and as in recent games against Oxford United and Blackburn Rovers, he caused the opposition defenders problems.
One of the 21-year-old’s biggest strengths is his speed, which he used on multiple occasions against Stoke to push City down the field, whether it be a counter-attack down the middle or a game-breaking run into the channels.
In both the Blackburn and Oxford matches, Armstrong was a menace in situations like these and caused the opposing defences to foul him twice, with one in each game resulting in a goal.
His straight-line pace is enough to make a defence second guess itself, which was the case against Sheffield United at Ashton Gate in November. With Armstrong beaming down on him, goalkeeper Mike Cooper came out at the wrong time and brought the Irishman down, winning a penalty, which Anis Mehmeti converted.
On Wednesday night, it was nearly a fourth foul that resulted in a goal for the striker after 48 minutes, when he carried the ball from deep into the City half, got himself out of a tackle from Michael Rose and sprinted away before unleashing Mehmeti wide, who won a foul. Rob Dickie then headed just wide from Twine’ free kick.
It seems that Armstrong is getting better and more confident week on week and is just waiting on a goal to kickstart what could potentially be an exciting end to the campaign.
Bad Day: Luke McNally
Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, it wasn’t a great day for Luke McNally. The defender missed the first of what is expected to be a long injury layoff recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will put him out for at least the rest of the season.
McNally will be a huge miss for Manning’s Reds, as, after a so-so start, he had established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet with several impressive performances.
His standout form in recent months hasn’t gone unnoticed, with him amassing Whoscored’s seventh-highest overall rating this season among all Championship players, with an average score of 7.13.
Defensive cover was already looking pretty thin before McNally suffered the injury, but it’s even more so now, with just Rob Dickie and Zak Vyner left as natural centre-backs. Of course, the likes of George Tanner, Haydon Roberts, Cam Pring, and Josh Campbell-Slowey are capable of filling in and as when required in the backline.
Moments you may have missed
Elsewhere, Geoff Merrick, Chris Garland, Trevor Tainton, David Rodgers, Gerry Sweeney, Jimmy Mann, Peter Aitken and Julian Marshall, also known as the ‘Ashton Gate Eight’, were honoured on Wednesday evening, to mark last week’s 43rd anniversary of the day that saw eight players tear their contracts up to save the club from liquidation.
Photos of the eight players were displayed on the television screens ahead of kick-off, and applauded by the 18,457 fans in BS3, before a further period of applause in the eighth minute. As the minute’s applause began, a banner with the words ‘Eight men had a dream’ and photos of all eight players were displayed in Section 82.
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At half-time, former City defender Nathan Baker was introduced on the big screens and interviewed by stadium announcer Toby Osborne. Alongside doing the halftime draw, Baker was asked about City’s playoff prospects, to which he replied: “The potential and everything is there, this is also a great fan base, it’s one of the reasons I joined the club.”
Also at half-time, two City fans, Jamie and Sam, participated in the Thatchers Apple Roll, which Sam eased to victory in, stretching his arms wide as he crossed the finish line.
With nothing to sing about for the over 800 Stoke fans that made the trip from Staffordshire, they resorted to chanting, “We’ve got the ball,” after 53 minutes, and ‘ole-ing’ every time their team made a pass early in the second half.
Meanwhile, the singing section at Ashton Gate frequently chanted the name of cult hero Harry Cornick, despite the fact the 29-year-old was not introduced for his second Championship appearance of the season.
After the final whistle, Anis Mehmeti was presented with the Former Players’ Association Man of the Match award by the Eight’s Sweeney, and he was also awarded the Thatcher’s Pick of the Match.