Stoke 0-2 Bristol City: Nakhi Wells and Andreas Weimann score as visitors continue impressive start

  • Nakhi Wells and Andreas Weimann scored as Bristol City won 2-0 against Stoke
  • Wells scored just before half-time before Weimann added another late on
  • Bristol City have taken maximum points while Stoke have one point out of six 

Lee Johnson always ensured Bristol City were in the Championship play-off conversation - in the past three seasons at least - but they never quite got themselves into the top six.

While these are early days, there are more and more signs of encouragement that his former assistant Dean Holden might finally get them there.

There was some criticism from the Robins fanbase when owner Steve Lansdown decided to look within Ashton Gate when appointing Johnson's successor, especially when more prominent names such as Steven Gerrard and Chris Hughton had been linked. 

Nakhi Wells celebrates after his goal put Bristol City ahead in their clash versus Stoke

Nakhi Wells celebrates after his goal put Bristol City ahead in their clash versus Stoke

Wells showed impressive composure as he found the net during the Championship clash

Wells showed impressive composure as he found the net during the Championship clash

Andreas Weimann made sure of Bristol City's victory when he scored in the closing stages

Andreas Weimann made sure of Bristol City's victory when he scored in the closing stages

But Holden couldn't have done any more so far this season as he quickly places his stamp on a team who should be good enough to be in the promotion shake-up once again.


They had an impressive hold on this contest and claimed a deserved three points at what is traditionally one of the trickier Championship away venues. It is now four wins from four in this fledgling season in league and cup.

Nahki Wells scored on the stroke of half-time to give just reward for an opening 45 minutes of Bristol dominance. The way they shut down the contest after half-time was equally impressive and Andreas Weimann capped a fine afternoon's work by adding a late second. 

Weimann is congratulated by his team-mates following his goal, which made it 2-0 to his side

Weimann is congratulated by his team-mates following his goal, which made it 2-0 to his side

By contrast, there are alarming signs that Stoke face a depressing re-run of last season's relegation strife. They may have shocked Wolves in the Carabao Cup but they've also scored just once in four matches.

Worse still, they didn't muster a single shot on target and manager Michael O'Neill doesn't have to search too far to diagnose the malfunctions within his team.

The Northern Irishman looked thoughtful as he chewed gum in his technical area, mulling on a dearth of creativity and probably little chance of rectifying it on the club's shoestring transfer budget.

When 33-year-old Steven Fletcher, a free signing after his release by Sheffield Wednesday, is your only summer acquisition in attack, there is every chance of a long season in prospect.

Sam Vokes was ineffective in the first half, and Jacob Brown faded. Fletcher replaced Vokes at half-time but also received scant service. 

Bristol City forward Wells attempts to get the better of Stoke defender James Chester

Bristol City forward Wells attempts to get the better of Stoke defender James Chester

Stoke's Jacob Brown tries to win the ball from Bristol City's Jack Hunt during Sunday's game

Stoke's Jacob Brown tries to win the ball from Bristol City's Jack Hunt during Sunday's game

MATCH FACTS 

Stoke City (3-4-1-2): Davies; Chester, Batth, Martins Indi (Tymon 80); Smith, Mikel, Clucas (c), Fox; Powell; Brown (Campbell 65), Vokes (Fletcher 46)

Substitutes not used: Butland (GK); Oakley-Boothe, Thompson, Collins

Manager: Michael O'Neill

Booked: Powell

Bristol City (3-5-2): Bentley; Vyner, Moore, Mawson (c); Hunt, Paterson (Brunt 76), Bakinson, Weimann, Rowe; Wells (Diedhiou 82), Martin (Semenyo 76)

Substitutes not used: O'Leary (GK); Eliasson, S Sessegnon, Palmer

Manager: Dean Holden

Scorers: Wells 45+2; Weimann 89

Booked: Paterson

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands)

 

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Had there been Stoke fans present, there would surely have been vocal discontent at such a toothless performance and Weimann's 89th-minute clincher would have sparked a mass rush for the exits.

'We are aiming to be at the top end of the Championship,' said Holden. 'Covid has changed the world and part of the message to the players is that when s*** hits the fan, we find solutions to the problems.

'You might not be able to get together and have social gatherings so we had to find a way to get a spirit going.

'We saw that today in the performance we had control of the game. We created chances and were clinical when we got them and I don't remember Stoke having a chance at our goal.'

O'Neill had spoken about wanting to turn the bet365 Stadium into the kind of forbidding place that used to throw the likes of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal off their stride. But there was little evidence of that here.

'In the current climate, it's hard to gauge home form in an empty stadium,' he said. 

'We didn't start the game well, we were slack in possession and not brave enough at times.

'We lost a really poor goal before half-time and gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb.'

That goal by Wells was a superb improvised finish after Chris Martin had knocked down Jack Hunt's long diagonal into the box. 

Despite having his back to goal and keeper Adam Davies looming, Wells swivelled and hooked the ball into the top corner.