Bristol City climbed back to second in the Championship thanks to a Severnside derby win over Cardiff, secured by Chris Martin’s early goal. Dean Holden’s side moved two points behind the faltering leaders, Reading, with a gritty win. They are likely to be overtaken on Saturday but victory in south Wales continued a strong start to the season, despite a recent blip that ended in midweek.
Bristol City went ahead in just the second minute as Martin tapped home Antoine Semenyo’s cross inside the six-yard box with the home defence static. It was the former Derby forward’s first Championship goal this season.
Cardiff had plenty of chances in a lively first half, with Kieffer Moore’s header forcing a fine save from Daniel Bentley. Harry Wilson put two efforts from distance over the bar before Moore headed over from a corner, catching himself nastily on a post following his miss.
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Harrogate end Skelmersdale's FA Cup run
Ninth-tier Skelmersdale United's hopes of causing an FA Cup upset at Harrogate Town lasted barely a minute before Calvin Miller (pictured) put the hosts ahead.
Miller struck on the rebound after Mark Beck hit the post, and Beck added a second just before the break with a header. Jake Lawlor and Aaron Martin put Harrogate 4-0 up, with Danny Mitchley's late goal only a consolation for the North-West Counties League side.
Skelmersdale were in the first round proper for the first time since 1971, while Harrogate were playing their first FA Cup tie as a Football League side. Victory moved them into the second round for the second time in their history, having reached that stage in 2012-13.
In the second half, the former Bristol City man Marlon Pack was booked for a foul on Nahki Wells, before Wilson saw a header saved. Robert Glatzel replaced Sheyi Ojo as Neil Harris reverted to a more direct 4-4-2 formation.
The chances kept coming for the hosts, with Joe Ralls mistiming a shot with his weaker right foot and Moore seeing another header saved by Bentley. Callum O’Dowda had a rare chance for the visitors, but his shot was deflected wide.
The Cardiff goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who was virtually redundant in the second half, went up for a corner in added time but that made no difference as defeat left the Bluebirds mired in mid-table.
“I’m thrilled, to be honest,” Bristol City manager Holden said after his side’s second away win this week following the 2-1 success at Huddersfield on Tuesday. “We’ve had a winless run, people getting a bit edgy, but we stuck to our way of working. Chris deserves that goal – he’s one hell of a selfless team player.”
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