Chris Martin’s first league goal for Bristol City was enough to give Dean Holden’s side victory over Neil Harris’ Cardiff City in the first Severnside derby of the season.
The former Derby frontman turned in from Antoine Semenyo’s cross two minutes into the game after an excellent team move surprised the home side.
The Bluebirds had plenty of chances to level the score but were unable to convert any of their 17 attempts throughout the game much to the frustration of Harris.
Both sides had won in midweek with the Reds coming from behind to beat Huddersfield Town and Cardiff thrashing Barnsley 3-0.
Holden made the surprising tactical shift to a 4-3-3 formation having favoured 3-5-2 since he took over from Lee Johnson with an attacking midfield trio of Adam Nagy, Jamie Paterson and Callum O’Dowda.
The energy of this midfield three showed early on moving the ball up to Nahki Wells and Semenyo to find Martin who turned the cross past Alex Smithies to put the Robins ahead.
Shortly after Daniel Bentley had to tip Junior Hoillet’s cross out after it nearly found its way past the City keeper into the top corner before being cleared by O’Dowda.
Bentley was once again called into action after Marlon Pack’s corner found the head of Keiffer Moore who’s header was tipped round the post with the deftest touch.
Leandro Bacuna was the next to test Bentley with a strongly driven effort from outside the box forcing an unconvincing block from the Red’s stopper as it swerved in the air.
Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson swung in another corner once again met by the head of Moore whose free header flew over the bar with a chance he should’ve put away before half-time.
Wilson continued to carry a threat in the second half as his header forced a smart save from Bentley after Joe Bennett’s cross bounced just ahead of the Welsh international.
The pressure continued to mount as Paterson’s back pass was under hit and Bentley had to rush to clear injuring Wilson as both players slid into a 50-50 challenge.
“I’m absolutely gutted, I feel like I’ve had my wallet pinched out my pocket”
Neil Harris believed that Cardiff deserved more from the game
O’Dowda had the Robin’s best chance of the half seeing his curling shot from the outside of the box blocked by Curtis Nelson to force the shot over Smithies’ bar.
Joe Ralls became the latest Cardiff player to miss an opportunity to equalise as his volley was mistimed under pressure from Nagy and floated over the crossbar.
Tomas Kalas repeatedly competed in the air against Moore to silence the Welsh striker denying him multiple clear-cut opportunities to score in the closing stages of the match.
The result was Holden’s side second consecutive win, helping them climb to fifth in the table entering the November international break. They next face Derby County on Saturday, October 21.
Cardiff fall to 15th in the table on 13 points leading to the international break, they next travel to the Den to face Millwall after the international break.
Dan Carter Sport 
One thought on “Bristol City win the Severnside derby with Chris Martin’s first Championship goal proving enough to beat the wasteful Cardiff City”