Cardiff City's derby woes continue as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Severnside rivals Bristol City.
The loss means they have come out on the losing side in their last five derby matches, much to the bitter disappointment of the Bluebirds fans.
By Glen Williams
They just didn't look themselves and the Robins didn't really allow them to play. And the hosts were good value for their win, with goals in each half from Tommy Conway and Rob Atkinson enough to down Steve Morison's men at Ashton Gate. Another tough one to take for the travelling supporters.
The afternoon got off to the worst of starts for the Bluebirds. With Jamilu Collins out for the season, Joel Bagan was given his chance to shine in his stead, but following a third-minute clash of heads with Alex Scott, the Cardiff man came off the worse of the two and had to be substituted inside the first 10 minutes. The second time in as many matches that has happened to a Bluebirds left-back.
It meant a little reshuffle and as a result, the visitors struggled to find their feet. The Robins took 14 minutes to fire their first warning shot when Jay Dasilva slotted a perfectly-weighted pass through to Tommy Conway, who hit a well-struck shot straight at Ryan Allsop before the rebound bounced to Andi Weimann, who couldn't keep his volley down.
Minutes later, Bristol City had the ball in the back of the net. Weimann's dangerous cross was collected by Allsop, but Han-Noah Massengo clattered into him and the ball popped into the Cardiff goal. Celebrations were muted, though, as the referee rightly awarded Cardiff a free-kick.
It was a physical start, though, and the Bluebirds were coming off second best in their individual battles.
They did, though, manage to impose themselves a little as the half wore on. The best chance came by virtue of a beautiful, arced ball over the top from Cedric Kipre, straight into the path of Max Watters. The striker only had the goalkeeper to beat, but his one-v-one chance was saved by Dan Bentley and tipped over the bar.
The next chance for Cardiff saw Kipre, of all people, burst into the box and he was found by a clever Romaine Sawyers pass, however the defender's shot was low and narrowly wide of the post.
Cardiff would be made to pay, though. The hosts burst up the other end of the field and took the lead shortly before half-time. Nahki Wells' excellent cross was inch-perfect for Conway, who got in front of substitute Jack Simpson to head well into the far corner beyond Allsop.
And Cardiff were lucky not to go into the break two goals behind. Weimann was picked out with a chipped ball over the top from a free-kick and the forward belted a half-volley from a tight angle, only to see it bounce off the underside of the bar and away from danger.
The hosts continued to impress after the break, though. Joe Williams sent one stinging, low effort careering towards the bottom corner before a deflection took it just wide of the mark.
When the second came, just after the hour mark, it always looked to be on the cards. The Robins were hitting Cardiff with diagonal balls all afternoon and it soon proved telling.
Kal Naismith floated in a lovely free-kick and Rob Atkinson always looked the most likely to win it - and he did just that. He dived in and headed low and hard and quickly past Allsop to double the lead.
Rubin Colwill and Jaden Philogene at least tried to inject a bit of potency into the Bluebirds' attack. Colwill stabbed through a lovely ball into the path of fellow substitute Mark Harris, but his attempt to round the goalkeeper was quelled well by the man with the gloves.
It all just petered out thereafter. Cardiff were well and truly beaten and they could have very few complaints, really. The derby curse just cannot be shrugged off at the minute.
Bristol City XI: Bentley; Atkinson, Naismith, Vyner; Scott, Williams (King 82), Massengo (Wilson 88), Dasilva; Weimann; Conway (Martin 79), Wells (Klose 90).
Subs: O'Leary, Tanner, Pring.
Cardiff City XI: Allsop; Romeo (Etete 83), Ng, Kipre, Bagan (Simpson 8); Wintle, Rinomhota (Ralls 65), Sawyers (Colwill 65); O'Dowda, Watters (Harris 57), Ojo (Philogene 57).
Subs: Alnwick.
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