Bristol City moved into the Championship play-off spots beating Norwich City 2-1 at Ashton Gate on Friday night.
Fantastic first half strikes from Mark Sykes and Nahki Wells before a second half Borja Sainz goal saw the Robins up to fifth and made it seven games unbeaten for the Robins.
GET IN THERE! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DrK19mXzni
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) March 14, 2025
Manager Liam Manning was adamant the fans got to see how far the side had come was impressed by how much his players wanted the win.
“That’s probably the most pleasing in terms of just culturally. You can see how hard they work, how all in they are, competitive, willingness to run, to fight, to scrap, to hold each other accountable is another big thing,
“They’re talking on the pitch and solving problems and driving things so, they’re a fantastic group that deserve all the plaudits,” Manning said.
C I T Y pic.twitter.com/oHp9kqCs0H
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) March 14, 2025
The Robins made four changes from their point at Sheffield United on Tuesday as Cameron Pring, Mark Sykes, Anis Mehmeti and Nahki Wells replaced an injured George Tanner, Yu Hirakawa, Scott Twine and Sinclair Armstrong.
The Canaries made three changes from their defeat at Sheffield Wednesday as George Long replaced Vicente Reyes in goal and Jacob Wright and Anis Slimane dropped to the bench for Logan Sargent and Jacob Sorensen.
It didn’t take long for the Robins to break the deadlock as Mark Sykes curled a beautiful effort into far corner on six minutes.
Two in a week for Sykesy! 🎯pic.twitter.com/03jzFl4UxZ
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) March 14, 2025
The Canaries looked to respond on 13 minutes but were twice denied superbly by Robins goalkeeper, Max O’Leary, before Borja Sainz smashed the outside of the post.
The Robins doubled their lead on 23 minutes when, after some sloppy play in the Norwich defence, Joe Williams found Nahki Wells who turned and fired into the bottom corner.
A lovely, lovely goal. 😇pic.twitter.com/1SlY6GBkvO
— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) March 14, 2025
Sainz almost instantly responded for the Canaries but his effort struck the side netting before Canaries goalkeeper, George Long, miraculously denied Wells from point-blank range on 35 minutes.
Sainz was at the centre of another missed opportunity when he somehow turned a low Kellen Fisher cross past the post from six-yards on 38 minutes.
Norwich went closest firstt in the second period when Callum Doyle fired a low cross into the six-yard box but Ante Crnac somehow fired over on 51 minutes.
Sykes almost added a third for the Robins on 67 minutes when he drilled an effort goal but Canaries defender, Shane Duffy, did well to divert it behind.
O’Leary was called into action again on 75 minutes when he produced a flying save to deny Josh Sargent.
Scott Twine and Sinclair Armstrong went close for the Robins shortly after but Twine’s effort was dealt with by Long and Armstrong could only find the side netting.
On 82 minutes Sainz finally found the net when he lashed home into the bottom corner from close range to poke a late scare into the Robins.
Borja Sainz pulls one back for Norwich City! 😯
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 14, 2025
Is there a comeback on? 👀 pic.twitter.com/N3MFNtpVOg
But it wasn’t enough for the Robins to complete the league double over the Canaries for the first time since 2009.
Line-ups:
Bristol City- O’Leary (GK), Pring, Bird (, Williams (Earthy 58′), Mehmeti (Twine 69′), Knight (C), Vyner, Dickie, Sykes (Bell 80′), Wells (Armstrong 58′), Roberts
Unused subs- Bajic (GK), Hirakawa, Bell, Cornick, McGuane, Morrison
Norwich City- Long (GK), Duffy, Doyle, Sainz, Sargent, Marcondes (Schwartau 68′), Crnac (Stacey 68′), Sorensen, McLean (C), Cordoba (Nunez 53′), Fisher (Slimane 68′)
Unused subs- Reyes (GK), McConville, Wright, Forson, Hernandez
Player of the Match- Mark Sykes (Bristol City)
Officials- Sam Allison (Referee), Alex James, Greg Read (Assistant Referees), Tom Nield (Fourth Official)
