Scott Golbourne and Dave Cotterill start the match for City who also welcome back Tommy Doherty in midfield. Tony Dinning has been dropped from the squad. Barnsley are without influential skipper Tony Vaughan who has been ruled out for the rest o the season with a groin injury. Barnsley who have been playing better since the departure of Paul Hart but are suffering from a string of injuries.
Bournemouth are already a goal down at Walsall.
A poor kick by Steve Phillips goes unpunished as Simon Johnson puts a gift of a chance wide. A cross is not dealt with by Scott Golbourne but Barnsley can't get a head on the ball. Chopra is almost put through as Barnsley enjoy a lively opening. Wilkshire has a shot which almost breaks to Lita as City begin to get into the game. Another poor clearance by Phillips from a Coles back pass but it comes to nothing although City look nervous and have not made the explosive start demanded by their manager.
Good work from Steve Brooker leads to Citys first corner as Luke Wilkshires shot is deflected. The corner is wasted. Scott Golbourne plays a superb cross field ball to Lita and seems to have shaken off early nerves.
Luton lead Swindon 1-0 with a Kevin Nicholls penalty.
Phillips claims well at the feet of Nicky Wroe who had been put through by Michael Chopra. A decent cross by Cotterill reaches Steve Brooker who shoots over. Steve Phillips claims a dangerous free kick comfortably. Jacob Burns sends Leroy Lita flying and Wilkshires free kick is cleared with a little difficulty with Brooker and Lita closing in. Chopra has a shot from 30 yards deflected straight into the arms of Steve Phillips. Good work by Scott Golbourne leads to a Lita effort that is blocked.
Brkovic has scored Lutons second against Swindon. Sheffield Wednesday are a goal up at home to Blackpool. Bradford are two goals down at Peterborough who score two in two minutes. The G*s are a goal up at Bury.
A decent cross again from Cotterill is cleared then Lita manages to find Scott Brown who thunders a shot against the bar. Chris Shuker is booked for a foul on Scoitt Golbourne. Lita just fails to get onto a Brooker through ball but wins a corner from which a Brooker header is tipped onto the bar by Flinders.
Swindon succeed where City failed and get a goal back at Luton.
Cotterill turns his man brilliantly and is dragged down but the referee gives nothing and the same thing happens two minutes later, perhaps Cotterill's aggressive style works against him? Michael Chopra is booked for desent following a Simon Johnson foul when breaking clear of the City defence.
Bournemouth have equalised at Walsall.
A Jamie Smith cross is almost converted by Leroy Litas overhead kick back across the six yard area. Two minutes of injury time are played before the half time whistle goes. City have played fairly well with the youngsters Cotterill, Brown and Golbourne particularly impressive. But a draw today is not enough.
HT 0-0
Chopras shot is saved by Phillips in the opening seconds of the second half. But City win a corner at the other end. Golbourne takes it, an indication of his confidence, but it is caught by Flinders.
Blackpool have equalised at Hillsborough. Bournemouth have the lead at Walsall and the need for a City win is increased. Tranmere have taken the lead at Hartlepool though.
Jacob Burns shoots well wide and the game seems to have all the makings of a goal-less draw. Scott Brown crosses and Lita just fails to connect with a diving header. Michael Chopra is booked for a foul, it is his second yellow and he is off
RED CARD (Michael Chopra 60 mins)
Louis Carey goes off to be replaced by Clayton Fortune.
Hull lead Torquay 1-0 with a goal from Craig Fagan. Bradford have a goal back at Peterborough but trail 2-1.
Brookers header is brilliantly saved by Flinders. Doherty and Burns start to fight and after consulting his assistant the referee books Doherty, Chris Shuker is just given a talking to for his involvement, a booking would have meant a sending off.
Jamie Smith goes off and is replaced by Scott Murray as City switch to a back three and attempt to press for a winner with twenty minutes left. Murrays first touch is a cross towards Lita which is cleared. Danny Nardiello on loan from Man Utd comes on for Barnsley. Scott Brown has another shot but the 19 year old keeper Flinders makes another good save.
Lee Matthews has scored for Port Vale against his old boss Danny Wilson's MK Dons. Bradford are now level at Peterborough. Hull are now 2-0 up at home to Torquay. Bury have an wequaliser against the Gas.
Lita is put through on goal but his first touch lets him down. Brooker has a header over when well placed. Barnsley force a corner with ten minutes left to play. Steve Phillips produces a brilliant save from Nicky Wroe. Paul Heffernan comes on for the impressive Scott Brown.
Luton are now 3-1 up against Swindon. Sheff Weds have retaken the lead against Blackpool.
A Murray cross finds Brooker and his header is deflected over. City huff and puff but do not look likely to get a winner. Dave Cotterill has a shot just over and three minutes added time is announced. Luke Wilkshire has a shot palmed behind for a corner. The final whistle goes and despite results elsewhere going our way, and despite playing against ten men for half an hour, City fail to capitalise, but move above Swindon into 8th.
FT 0-0
Attendance 9,321
Teams
Bristol City
S Phillips, J Smith, L Carey, D Coles, S Golbourne, D Cotterill, T Doherty, S Brown, L Wilkshire, L Lita, S Brooker
Subs: S Murray, P Heffernan, C Fortune, B Orr, C Skuse
Barnsley
S Flinders, D Tonge, B Hassell, P Reid, T Williams, C Shuker, J Burns, N Wroe, S McPhail, M Chopra, S Johnson
Subs: M Boulding, R Williams, T Baker, D Scarsella, D Nardiello
Ref: M Fletcher
Bournemouth are already a goal down at Walsall.
A poor kick by Steve Phillips goes unpunished as Simon Johnson puts a gift of a chance wide. A cross is not dealt with by Scott Golbourne but Barnsley can't get a head on the ball. Chopra is almost put through as Barnsley enjoy a lively opening. Wilkshire has a shot which almost breaks to Lita as City begin to get into the game. Another poor clearance by Phillips from a Coles back pass but it comes to nothing although City look nervous and have not made the explosive start demanded by their manager.
Good work from Steve Brooker leads to Citys first corner as Luke Wilkshires shot is deflected. The corner is wasted. Scott Golbourne plays a superb cross field ball to Lita and seems to have shaken off early nerves.
Luton lead Swindon 1-0 with a Kevin Nicholls penalty.
Phillips claims well at the feet of Nicky Wroe who had been put through by Michael Chopra. A decent cross by Cotterill reaches Steve Brooker who shoots over. Steve Phillips claims a dangerous free kick comfortably. Jacob Burns sends Leroy Lita flying and Wilkshires free kick is cleared with a little difficulty with Brooker and Lita closing in. Chopra has a shot from 30 yards deflected straight into the arms of Steve Phillips. Good work by Scott Golbourne leads to a Lita effort that is blocked.
Brkovic has scored Lutons second against Swindon. Sheffield Wednesday are a goal up at home to Blackpool. Bradford are two goals down at Peterborough who score two in two minutes. The G*s are a goal up at Bury.
A decent cross again from Cotterill is cleared then Lita manages to find Scott Brown who thunders a shot against the bar. Chris Shuker is booked for a foul on Scoitt Golbourne. Lita just fails to get onto a Brooker through ball but wins a corner from which a Brooker header is tipped onto the bar by Flinders.
Swindon succeed where City failed and get a goal back at Luton.
Cotterill turns his man brilliantly and is dragged down but the referee gives nothing and the same thing happens two minutes later, perhaps Cotterill's aggressive style works against him? Michael Chopra is booked for desent following a Simon Johnson foul when breaking clear of the City defence.
Bournemouth have equalised at Walsall.
A Jamie Smith cross is almost converted by Leroy Litas overhead kick back across the six yard area. Two minutes of injury time are played before the half time whistle goes. City have played fairly well with the youngsters Cotterill, Brown and Golbourne particularly impressive. But a draw today is not enough.
HT 0-0
Chopras shot is saved by Phillips in the opening seconds of the second half. But City win a corner at the other end. Golbourne takes it, an indication of his confidence, but it is caught by Flinders.
Blackpool have equalised at Hillsborough. Bournemouth have the lead at Walsall and the need for a City win is increased. Tranmere have taken the lead at Hartlepool though.
Jacob Burns shoots well wide and the game seems to have all the makings of a goal-less draw. Scott Brown crosses and Lita just fails to connect with a diving header. Michael Chopra is booked for a foul, it is his second yellow and he is off
RED CARD (Michael Chopra 60 mins)
Louis Carey goes off to be replaced by Clayton Fortune.
Hull lead Torquay 1-0 with a goal from Craig Fagan. Bradford have a goal back at Peterborough but trail 2-1.
Brookers header is brilliantly saved by Flinders. Doherty and Burns start to fight and after consulting his assistant the referee books Doherty, Chris Shuker is just given a talking to for his involvement, a booking would have meant a sending off.
Jamie Smith goes off and is replaced by Scott Murray as City switch to a back three and attempt to press for a winner with twenty minutes left. Murrays first touch is a cross towards Lita which is cleared. Danny Nardiello on loan from Man Utd comes on for Barnsley. Scott Brown has another shot but the 19 year old keeper Flinders makes another good save.
Lee Matthews has scored for Port Vale against his old boss Danny Wilson's MK Dons. Bradford are now level at Peterborough. Hull are now 2-0 up at home to Torquay. Bury have an wequaliser against the Gas.
Lita is put through on goal but his first touch lets him down. Brooker has a header over when well placed. Barnsley force a corner with ten minutes left to play. Steve Phillips produces a brilliant save from Nicky Wroe. Paul Heffernan comes on for the impressive Scott Brown.
Luton are now 3-1 up against Swindon. Sheff Weds have retaken the lead against Blackpool.
A Murray cross finds Brooker and his header is deflected over. City huff and puff but do not look likely to get a winner. Dave Cotterill has a shot just over and three minutes added time is announced. Luke Wilkshire has a shot palmed behind for a corner. The final whistle goes and despite results elsewhere going our way, and despite playing against ten men for half an hour, City fail to capitalise, but move above Swindon into 8th.
FT 0-0
Attendance 9,321
Teams
Bristol City
S Phillips, J Smith, L Carey, D Coles, S Golbourne, D Cotterill, T Doherty, S Brown, L Wilkshire, L Lita, S Brooker
Subs: S Murray, P Heffernan, C Fortune, B Orr, C Skuse
Barnsley
S Flinders, D Tonge, B Hassell, P Reid, T Williams, C Shuker, J Burns, N Wroe, S McPhail, M Chopra, S Johnson
Subs: M Boulding, R Williams, T Baker, D Scarsella, D Nardiello
Ref: M Fletcher