Perry Ng is now Cardiff’s joint-top scorer this season, having drawn level with six-goal Kion Etete
Cardiff City claimed victory over Bristol City in the Severnside derby thanks to a second-half header from Perry Ng.
Defender Ng showed strength and desire to score his sixth goal of the season – making him the Bluebirds’ joint leading scorer – from David Turnbull’s corner.
The goal settled a game of few chances, with Bristol City left frustrated late on when Tommy Conway turned the ball home only to be denied by the offside flag.
After last weekend’s timely win over Stoke City – Cardiff’s first victory in five matches – Erol Bulut’s side are celebrating back-to-back Championship triumphs for the first time since October.
For Bristol City, by contrast, this was a third successive league defeat.
They slip into the bottom half of the table, with Cardiff up to 11th with the game’s late fixtures still to come.
Bristol City were within four points of the top six after they ended Southampton’s long unbeaten run last month, but have lost pace in the play-off race thanks to dispiriting defeats by Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff.
Only goal difference separated Liam Manning’s side and their Welsh neighbours at kick-off, so perhaps it was no surprise that there was little between the teams in a tepid first half.
The home side briefly threatened when Andy King and Taylor Gardner-Hickman saw shots blocked, before Haydon Roberts’ corner reached Mark Sykes and his crisp effort was beaten away by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
Cardiff rarely threatened, either, with the recalled Turnbull prodding harmlessly wide from Josh Bowler’s low cross.
The attempt of the half came from Ng, but the defender’s beautifully struck long-ranger arrowed into the arms of Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
The pattern of the contest continued after the break, with two sides who have struggled to score goals this season looking short of attacking inspiration.
But Cardiff’s set-pieces have been a weapon throughout the campaign, and the breakthrough came from their first corner of the afternoon.
Cardiff have now won three straight Severnside derbies
Turnbull delivered from the left and Ng rose above Joe Williams to head the ball low beyond the helpless O’Leary.
The hosts huffed and puffed as they chased an equaliser, with Sykes’ header comfortably saved before Gardner-Hickman dragged a shot wide.
Gardner-Hickman then crossed for Rob Dickie, whose header was parried by Horvath, before Conway swept in the rebound.
But the assistant referee’s flag ended Conway’s celebrations – and ensured there were boos from some sections of the home crowd at full time.
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 4-2-3-1
1O’Leary
2McCrorie26Vyner16Dickie24Roberts
10King8Williams
22Gardner-Hickman12Knight17Sykes
21Wells
- 1O’Leary
- 2McCrorie
- 26Vyner
- 16Dickie
- 24RobertsSubstituted forPringat 82’minutes
- 10KingBooked at 48minsSubstituted forMehmetiat 61’minutes
- 8Williams
- 22Gardner-HickmanBooked at 76mins
- 12KnightSubstituted forCornickat 82’minutes
- 17SykesSubstituted forMebudeat 82’minutes
- 21WellsSubstituted forConwayat 62’minutes
Substitutes
- 3Pring
- 9Cornick
- 11Mehmet
- 15Conway
- 23Bajic
- 27Knight-Lebel
- 47Mebude
Cardiff
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Horvath
38Ng12Phillips4Goutas30Wilson-Esbrand
23Siopis8Ralls
14Bowler15Turnbull27Colwill
9Etete
- 1Horvath
- 38Ng
- 12Phillips
- 4Goutas
- 30Wilson-EsbrandBooked at 67minsSubstituted forCollinsat 77’minutes
- 23Siopis
- 8RallsSubstituted forWintleat 65’minutes
- 14BowlerSubstituted forTannerat 64’minutes
- 15Turnbull
- 27ColwillSubstituted forO’Dowdaat 78’minutes
- 9EteteBooked at 15minsSubstituted forMéïtéat 51’minutes
Substitutes
- 2 Romeo
- 6Wintle
- 11O’Dowda
- 17Collins
- 20 Diédhiou
- 22Méïté
- 32Tanner
- 41Turner
- 45Ashford
Referee:Sam Allison
Attendance:24,035
Live Text
Match ends, Bristol City 0, Cardiff City 1.
Second Half ends, Bristol City 0, Cardiff City 1.
Attempt missed. Cameron Pring (Bristol City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Taylor Gardner-Hickman following a set piece situation.
Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City).
Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Cardiff City) right footed shot from long range on the right is too high. Assisted by Perry Ng.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ollie Tanner (Cardiff City).
Foul by Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Bristol City).
Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt blocked. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Jamilu Collins.
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Perry Ng.
Attempt blocked. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Offside, Bristol City. Tommy Conway is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Taylor Gardner-Hickman with a cross.
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Perry Ng.
Attempt missed. Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Taylor Gardner-Hickman with a cross following a set piece situation.
Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
2024-03-02 14:26:46
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