Same Again: Bristol City 0-1 Lincoln City

Neither side made a change at the break, with Ashton Gate decidedly quiet as the second half got under way. City were soon giving the away end something to get behind, though, with Dom’s attempted cross cleared for a corner in the 47th minute. Adam’s initial delivery was dealt with, but we recycled possession and found him again, this time picking out Deji at the back post, where he headed wide.

We threatened again three minutes later when Freddie released Chieo, who weaved his way into the penalty area but shot straight at Tickle. A few groans were beginning to come from the home supporters, with virtually all the singing coming from the away end, and there were signs of frustration on the pitch as well. Tolaj reacted angrily to a foul by Ryley, with a little shove off the ball adding to the tension.

Then, in the 53rd minute, we took the lead. A mix-up in the Bristol City defence saw Dickie leave Tickle in no man’s land, Ben nipped in to steal possession and Freddie was on hand to stroke the ball into the unguarded net. The noise was now very much coming from our supporters, while a foul on Deji shortly afterwards drew a huge chorus of boos from the home sections as the temperature inside Ashton Gate began to rise.

The hosts looked rattled, and we were quick to go after them. Cardines miscontrolled in the 56th minute, allowing Adam to pounce, advance down the flank and send in a cross which was put behind for a corner. That caused chaos in the penalty area, with Chieo eventually seeing a shot cleared for a throw, before another defensive mistake presented Freddie with an opportunity three minutes later. This time, however, he curled his effort high and wide.

Wallace was replaced by Ballard, who was immediately involved as Bristol City finally threatened at the other end. Hirakawa found himself clear on the right, but George saved with his feet, with the hosts recycling possession and eventually winning a corner. Ballard tried to lift the home supporters, although Cardines’ delivery was poor and Freddie hacked it behind for another corner.

Tolaj was perhaps fortunate to avoid further punishment in the 62nd minute after shoving a City player over off the ball, another indication of how frustrated the striker had become. We then made our first change, with Reeco replacing Chieo, as the hosts began to build some pressure in search of an equaliser.

By the 67th minute, the atmosphere had changed considerably, with the home crowd finding their voice. Ballard was rather harshly adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of our penalty area, prompting another round of boos for the referee, before those turned to cheers when Ryley was booked for a foul a minute later. The approval did not last long, with Tolaj appearing to have a shot blocked only for a goal kick to be awarded, while George also went into the book for time-wasting.

We made two further changes in the 70th minute, sending on Rob and Daniel for Adam and Freddie. Shortly afterwards, Dickie went down with what looked a nasty injury, prompting an unhappy reaction from the Bristol City bench, although it had not looked a foul. The stoppage allowed the players to take on drinks, but the sight of the defender needing a stretcher was an unpleasant one.

Dickie was brought off for Robert Atkinson in the 75th minute as part of a triple change. Scott Twine also made way for Greenwood, while Elijah Adebayo replaced Tolaj, giving the hosts fresh options as they continued to chase the game.

There was a scare in the 79th minute when Sonny was dispossessed in our penalty area, but the resulting shot was blocked for a corner. That delivery caused further problems before an effort finally came through to George, who held on. His long kick then helped us win a corner at the other end, which we worked short to Daniel, whose low drive took a deflection before Tickle gathered.

Cameron Pring made way for Bell in the 86th minute, and another Bristol City corner soon followed. That failed to beat the near post, drawing more groans, although the hosts came straight back with a cross which Eissat headed over. The frustration continued into added time when a home player tried to catch the ball, believing it had gone out for a throw, only to concede a free-kick because it was still in play.

Ballard threatened again in the 95th minute, twisting and turning on the edge of the penalty area before getting a shot away, but dragging it wide. Chris Cohen then became the latest name in the referee’s book in the 97th minute, although it was not clear what had prompted the caution.

That was the final action of the game, with City seeing out a huge win.