A STUNNING 11th-minute strike from Adam Randell and two goals from Irish international Sinclair Armstrong set Bristol City on course for a thumping 5-0 New Year’s Day victory over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate.
The former Plymouth midfielder shocked the massed ranks of Pompey fans behind the goal with the sweetest of right-footed shots into the top corner from 25 yards after a cross into the area had been cleared into his path.
The quality of that effort was almost matched by Anis Mehmeti after 24 minutes, his precise strike from outside the area skidding low past Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid following a defensive mix-up.
It was 3-0 five minutes after the break, thanks to Scott Twine’s first-time, left-footed shot from 10 yards from a Neto Borges cross.
More calamitous defending saw Armstrong slot the fourth from close range nine minutes later after fellow substitute Sam Bell had won possession on the right of the box.
An unstoppable Armstrong drive, rifled home in stoppage time, completed the rout as the impressive Robins kept in close touch with the Championship play-off places, while Pompey were left to lick their wounds.
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City played in white and black, rather than their traditional red and white, as a tribute to the team which clinched promotion to the top flight with victory over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate 50 seasons ago and wore the strip for away games in the old First Division. Many of those players were introduced to the crowd before kick-off, along with manager Alan Dicks, now aged 91.
They saw their old club dominate the first half, allowing Portsmouth just one clear sight of goal. That came after 19 minutes when Ibane Bowat headed just over from a John Swift free-kick on the left.
City were by far the more threatening. After two quality goals had put them in command, Mehmeti was twice denied by Schmid’s saves, the second diving to his right after Galway native Conor Shaughnessy’s wayward pass had put Pompey in trouble.
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Twine volleyed narrowly wide in first-half stoppage time, and there were jeers from Portsmouth’s large contingent of travelling fans at the half-time whistle, having seen their side make sloppy defensive errors.
That continued at the start of the second half when another mix-up resulted in Emil Riis having a shot deflected wide.
After Twine’s goal, City head coach Gerhard Struber sent on Yu Hirakawa, Armstrong and Bell, returning after a lengthy injury absence to claim an assist for the fourth.
Pompey boss John Mousinho also made full use of his bench with five second-half changes, but could do nothing to lift a nightmare performance as Armstrong squandered two great chances to extend City’s lead before his emphatic late finish.
Tom Cannon of Sheffield United celebrates scoring. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Meanwhile, Sheffield United continued their strong run of form at home as they beat Leicester 3-1 on New Year’s Day at Bramall Lane.
Goals from Japhet Tanganga, Tom Cannon and Callum O’Hare were enough to give the Blades a very comfortable win following a brilliant performance.
Leicester had very little going forward all evening and are now 19 games without a clean sheet in the Championship.
The first half was totally dominated by the hosts, with Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks getting a lot of joy down the right-hand side.
First, Brooks’ cross was met by Patrick Bamford, but his volley was comfortably saved. Brooks linked up with Bamford once more, but Jakub Stolarczyk was there to stop him.
Sam McCallum’s cross was teasing, and O’Hare very nearly got his head to it, but he could not quite stretch far enough.
The hosts took the lead in the 36th minute. McCallum’s corner from the right was met by captain Tanganga and his header flew straight past keeper Stolarczyk, as he became the latest Blades defender to get his first goal for the club from a corner.
Brooks finally got the reward his good play deserved when he assisted Cannon in the 52nd minute. He burst down the right and set up the striker perfectly, who now has two goals against former clubs in his last two games.
Leicester finally started to make some progress in United’s half around the hour mark; first Ben Nelson’s shot flew just over the bar, and then Abdul Fatawu curled an effort from range just wide.
At the other end, Djibril Soumare curled an effort from distance just wide.
Seriki also deserved an assist, and he got one, running to the touchline and squaring to O’Hare, who was there to tap in and make the points safe in the 88th minute.
The visitors did manage to grab a consolation goal two minutes into added time; Jordan James’ deflected effort from distance found its way past keeper Michael Cooper and into the bottom corner.
In League One, Dublin-born defender Pierce Sweeney scored the only goal, as 15th-place Exeter City beat Luton Town 1-0.
Elsewhere, there were mixed fortunes for Irish players in the 1-1 draw between mid-table rivals Wigan and Barnsley.
Limerick’s Dara Costelloe opened the scoring for the hosts — it was the forward’s third goal of the season.
Ex-Ireland international David McGoldrick then set up Adam Phillips’ equaliser before club captain Luca Connell was sent off late on.
Former Irish international Ronan Curtis registered a goal and two assists as bottom-of-the-table Port Vale beat Blackpool 5-1.
In League Two, Cork’s Aaron Drinan scored his 19th goal in 23 appearances as second-place Swindon beat Gillingham 2-0.
In the same division, Irish duo Darragh Burns and Jaze Kabia combined for the latter’s late winner, as Grimsby beat Fleetwood 1-0.
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Irish international scores twice as Bristol City boost Championship promotion push
Updated at 20.20
A STUNNING 11th-minute strike from Adam Randell and two goals from Irish international Sinclair Armstrong set Bristol City on course for a thumping 5-0 New Year’s Day victory over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate.
The former Plymouth midfielder shocked the massed ranks of Pompey fans behind the goal with the sweetest of right-footed shots into the top corner from 25 yards after a cross into the area had been cleared into his path.
The quality of that effort was almost matched by Anis Mehmeti after 24 minutes, his precise strike from outside the area skidding low past Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid following a defensive mix-up.
It was 3-0 five minutes after the break, thanks to Scott Twine’s first-time, left-footed shot from 10 yards from a Neto Borges cross.
More calamitous defending saw Armstrong slot the fourth from close range nine minutes later after fellow substitute Sam Bell had won possession on the right of the box.
An unstoppable Armstrong drive, rifled home in stoppage time, completed the rout as the impressive Robins kept in close touch with the Championship play-off places, while Pompey were left to lick their wounds.
City played in white and black, rather than their traditional red and white, as a tribute to the team which clinched promotion to the top flight with victory over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate 50 seasons ago and wore the strip for away games in the old First Division. Many of those players were introduced to the crowd before kick-off, along with manager Alan Dicks, now aged 91.
They saw their old club dominate the first half, allowing Portsmouth just one clear sight of goal. That came after 19 minutes when Ibane Bowat headed just over from a John Swift free-kick on the left.
City were by far the more threatening. After two quality goals had put them in command, Mehmeti was twice denied by Schmid’s saves, the second diving to his right after Galway native Conor Shaughnessy’s wayward pass had put Pompey in trouble.
Twine volleyed narrowly wide in first-half stoppage time, and there were jeers from Portsmouth’s large contingent of travelling fans at the half-time whistle, having seen their side make sloppy defensive errors.
That continued at the start of the second half when another mix-up resulted in Emil Riis having a shot deflected wide.
After Twine’s goal, City head coach Gerhard Struber sent on Yu Hirakawa, Armstrong and Bell, returning after a lengthy injury absence to claim an assist for the fourth.
Pompey boss John Mousinho also made full use of his bench with five second-half changes, but could do nothing to lift a nightmare performance as Armstrong squandered two great chances to extend City’s lead before his emphatic late finish.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United continued their strong run of form at home as they beat Leicester 3-1 on New Year’s Day at Bramall Lane.
Goals from Japhet Tanganga, Tom Cannon and Callum O’Hare were enough to give the Blades a very comfortable win following a brilliant performance.
Leicester had very little going forward all evening and are now 19 games without a clean sheet in the Championship.
The first half was totally dominated by the hosts, with Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks getting a lot of joy down the right-hand side.
First, Brooks’ cross was met by Patrick Bamford, but his volley was comfortably saved. Brooks linked up with Bamford once more, but Jakub Stolarczyk was there to stop him.
Sam McCallum’s cross was teasing, and O’Hare very nearly got his head to it, but he could not quite stretch far enough.
The hosts took the lead in the 36th minute. McCallum’s corner from the right was met by captain Tanganga and his header flew straight past keeper Stolarczyk, as he became the latest Blades defender to get his first goal for the club from a corner.
Brooks finally got the reward his good play deserved when he assisted Cannon in the 52nd minute. He burst down the right and set up the striker perfectly, who now has two goals against former clubs in his last two games.
Leicester finally started to make some progress in United’s half around the hour mark; first Ben Nelson’s shot flew just over the bar, and then Abdul Fatawu curled an effort from range just wide.
At the other end, Djibril Soumare curled an effort from distance just wide.
Seriki also deserved an assist, and he got one, running to the touchline and squaring to O’Hare, who was there to tap in and make the points safe in the 88th minute.
The visitors did manage to grab a consolation goal two minutes into added time; Jordan James’ deflected effort from distance found its way past keeper Michael Cooper and into the bottom corner.
In League One, Dublin-born defender Pierce Sweeney scored the only goal, as 15th-place Exeter City beat Luton Town 1-0.
Elsewhere, there were mixed fortunes for Irish players in the 1-1 draw between mid-table rivals Wigan and Barnsley.
Limerick’s Dara Costelloe opened the scoring for the hosts — it was the forward’s third goal of the season.
Ex-Ireland international David McGoldrick then set up Adam Phillips’ equaliser before club captain Luca Connell was sent off late on.
Former Irish international Ronan Curtis registered a goal and two assists as bottom-of-the-table Port Vale beat Blackpool 5-1.
In League Two, Cork’s Aaron Drinan scored his 19th goal in 23 appearances as second-place Swindon beat Gillingham 2-0.
In the same division, Irish duo Darragh Burns and Jaze Kabia combined for the latter’s late winner, as Grimsby beat Fleetwood 1-0.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
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