Goals from Mark Sykes and Nahki Wells took Bristol City into the Championship
play-off places with a 2-1 victory over Norwich at Ashton Gate.
Sykes fired the home side in front after six minutes with a curling left-footed shot, having cut in from the right to finish a move started by Rob Dickie’s strong run out of defence.
It was 2-0 after 23 minutes when Norwich defender Jose Cordoba was caught in possession looking to play out from the back and Joe Williams fed Wells, whose clever turn and low shot from an angle beat goalkeeper George Long.
Borja Sainz gave Norwich hope with a low, close-range finish from Callum Doyle’s 82nd-minute cross, but despite late pressure they could not force an equaliser.
The hosts made four changes from their 1-1 midweek draw at Sheffield United, bringing in Cameron Pring, Mark Sykes, Anis Mehmeti and Wells, while Norwich reacted to a 3-2 home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday by calling Long, Josh Sargent and Jacob Sorensen into the starting line-up.
The Canaries responded well to Sykes’ early strike and Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary had to make diving saves in quick succession from Doyle and Emiliano Marcondes.
Soon after Sainz hit the foot of a post with a low 14th-minute drive.
Wells’ goal was reward for the home side’s press, which had their opponents in difficulty building from the back.
Nakhi Wells doubled Bristol City’s advantage in the first half
But still Norwich threatened and Sargent shot into the side-netting from another good opening.
The visitors were wide open to counter-attacks and only Wells will know how he failed to make it 3-0 after 36 minutes when Long dived to parry a Max Bird shot and was on the ground when the striker moved unmarked on to the rebound.
Somehow the keeper recovered to deflect the shot over.
Sainz shot wide from six yards from Kellen Fisher’s cross with O’Leary’s goal at his mercy after 37 minutes and the game looked far from over at the break.
Shooting towards their own fans, Norwich began the second half brightly and Ante Crnac fired over from Doyle’s 50th-minute cross.
The Canaries then made a change, sending on Marcelino Nunez for Cordoba.
Bristol City sent on powerful striker Sinclair Armstrong for Wells and started to play more direct. A slick move down the right after 67 minutes ended with Sykes having a shot deflected for a corner.
Still Norwich refused to lie down and Sargent forced a flying save from O’Leary with an effort from distance, while at the other end Armstrong fired into the side-netting.
Sainz’s goal gave Norwich renewed belief and the visitors kept going to the death, but when a last minute free-kick from Nunez flashed wide their hopes were dashed.
The managers
Bristol City’s Liam Manning:
“It would have been nicer if we had not conceded the late goal, but the lads then put bodies on the line and I couldn’t be prouder of the way they have handled a really busy programme.
“They are a fantastic group. Yes, we can manage the late stages of games better, but we have a lot of young players who are still learning. They create some great moments and are prepared to fight for the team when we have backs to the wall.
“Tonight we showed some real quality at times going forward and created a lot of chances. Of course, I will look at the table and I am delighted our fans have something to get excited about.
“But it will only mean something after 46 games and my job is to keep everyone focused because only by continuing to work hard can we hope to achieve our aims.”
Norwich’s Johannes Hoff Thorup:
“It was a strange game in many ways and the reaction in the dressing room is a lot different to when we lost on Tuesday night.
“Then there was a lot of negativity. Tonight we know we created more chances than you can expect away from home and we lost because of very fine margins.
“It was more than fair that our fans criticised our performance against Sheffield Wednesday, especially the second half. Tonight they were fantastic and applauded the players at the end.
“We are probably where we should be in the league, which is mid-table. But there are really positive signs going forward.
“We seem to be punished for every mistake at the moment. But the response to conceding the goals was excellent and I see a group of players who are doing their very best.
“Our goal came a little too late. A bit earlier and I would really have fancied our chances.”
