From the Bristol City website:
📝 REPORT: BRISTOL CITY 0-2 AFC BOURNEMOUTH
City suffered defeat at the hands of the Championship’s unbeaten AFC Bournemouth, who returned to top the table with a 2-0 victory at Ashton Gate.
Jamal Lowe scored the first, before a screamer from Jordan Zemura just before half-time left City with a lot of work to do.
The Robins were left without midfielder Joe Williams who was unable to continue after he picked up an injury in the early exchanges of the contest.
City now look for a quick response when they return to BS3 to host Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night (October 19th, 7.45pm).
THE BACKGROUND
Nigel Pearson’s men returned to Ashton Gate off the back of October’s international break, and in good spirits too after battling to a 3-2 win over Peterborough United a fortnight ago.
He made just one change for the visit of Scott Parker’s Cherries, with Nathan Baker brought in to partner Tomas Kalas in defence, with Rob Atkinson missing due to illness.
WHAT HAPPENED
Williams’ afternoon was cut short inside the 13th minute as he pulled up while sprinting. He was assessed but quickly made his way around the pitch and was given a warm round of applause by the home fans. He was replaced by Nahki Wells.
However, City’s afternoon took another turn as Lowe tucked home to put the visitors ahead inside the 21st minute. It came from a right-sided Jack Stacey cross and Lowe stuck out his leg to fire the Cherries into the lead, with the following celebrations dedicated to teammate David Brooks, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
City’s best chance of the half fell for Wells but he couldn’t make enough contact on the turn, while the Cherries continued to press on with the majority of the ball as the half progressed.
The Robins looked slower than their usual selves when presented chances to clear danger, while the away team threatened to get comfortable. And they did just that, doubling their lead before the break.
Wells had earlier fired over from an O’Dowda cross, while at the other end Dominic Solanke headed over but Bournemouth deservedly pounced again, this time through a piece of creative magic from Zemura.
Ryan Christie’s cross-field pass picked out Zemura on the left hand side and he cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner from an acute angle.
City struggled to clear their lines as AFC Bournemouth picked up where they left off after the break. A stop from Bentley kept out a venomous drive from Christie, before, Billing, Solanke and Christie all fired wide soon after.
Pearson’s side were struggling to compete against an energetic opponent and on another day, better finishing would have added more daylight to the scores.
City had a brief spell where they threatened more but Wells couldn’t quite get on the end of George Tanner’s inviting header across the face of goal, before Weimann found Jay Dasilva unmarked who saw a rare shot blocked.
Those moments had the crowd on their feet as City looked for encouragement from the stands but Dasilva was soon back at the other end to clear a Solanke shot off the line, while Mark Travers made a comfortable from Chris Martin’s header at the other end.
City would play the final stages with ten men after Andy King was forced off the field with no substitutes remaining for the hosts, who will look to quickly bounce back against Forest in three days’ time.
THE TEAM:
Bentley, Tanner, Kalas, Baker, Pring (Bakinson, 66) James, King, Williams (Wells, 14), O’Dowda (Dasilva, 46), Weimann, Martin. Subs not used: O’Leary, Simpson, Scott, Palmer.
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