Aaron Wilbraham double lifts Bristol City off the bottomVeteran striker Aaron Wilbraham netted two early goals to lift Bristol City off the bottom of the Championship table with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate.And but for an outstanding second-half display from Forest goalkeeper Dorus de Vries, the hosts would have marked their first home win of the season with a more emphatic scoreline.City poured forward from the start and took a fourth-minute lead when new loan signing Elliott Bennett saw his right-wing cross flicked on by Jonathan Kodjia for Wilbraham to sidefoot home at the far post with the aid of a deflection.The 35-year-old frontman was celebrating again seven minutes later after rising powerfully to head home a Derrick Williams cross from the left.Wilbraham had been preferred to another new loan recruit, Simon Cox, up front and it proved an inspired decision by boss Steve Cotterill, in charge of City for the 100th time.Forest almost replied on 17 minutes when a Jack Hobbs header from Henri Lansbury's corner brought a brilliant save from Frank Fielding.But it was a rare first-half threat from the visitorsLuke Freeman's shot from long range was inches wide and Kodjia had a volley deflected for a corner as City continued to look the more dangerous side.Kodjia's direct running often had the visitors in trouble, while Freeman and Korey Smith were energetic forces for the hosts in midfield.Forest's attack lacked a quality final ball and most of their first-half efforts came from distance
Lansbury failed to trouble Fielding from 30 yards, but the visitors were gaining a greater share of possession as half-time approached.Forest began the second half brightly, with Daniel Pinillos and Lansbury shooting wide from outside the box.City had a narrower escape on 57 minutes when a poor clearance fell to the impressive Lansbury, whose volley from the edge of the box hit the angle of post and crossbar.Wilbraham went close to a hat-trick when volleying over on 65 minutes.At the other end Forest substitute Jamie Ward saw his angled drive pushed wide of his near post by Fielding.De Vries kept the visitors in the game with outstanding saves from Kodjia, Luke Ayling and Wilbraham twice as City looked to press home their advantage.The home fans cheered their team to victory in the dying minutes and gave them a standing ovation at the end.Last season's League One champions have taken a while to adjust to the higher level, but on this evidence are capable of climbing the table quickly
Source : PA
Source: PA