Bristol City 0-1 Cardiff City: Perry Ng header gives Bluebirds Severnside derby win

Cardiff City claimed victory over Bristol City in the Severnside derby thanks to a second-half header from Perry Ng.

The goal settled a game of few chances, with Bristol City left frustrated late on when Tommy Conway turned the ball home only to be denied by an offside flag.

After last weekend’s timely win over Stoke City – Cardiff’s first victory in five matches – Erol Bulut’s side are celebrating back-to-back Championship triumphs for the first time since October.

For Bristol City, by contrast, this was a third successive league defeat.

They slip into the bottom half of the table, with Cardiff up to 11th with the day’s later fixtures still to come.

Bristol City were within four points of the top six after ending Southampton’s long unbeaten run last month, but they have lost pace in the play-off race thanks to dispiriting defeats by Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and now Cardiff.

Only goal difference separated Liam Manning’s side and their Welsh neighbours at kick-off, so perhaps it was no surprise that there was little between the teams in what was a tepid first half.

The home side briefly threatened when Andy King and Taylor Gardner-Hickman saw shots blocked, before Haydon Roberts’ corner reached Mark Sykes and his crisp effort was beaten away by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

Cardiff rarely threatened, either, with the recalled Turnbull prodding harmlessly wide from Josh Bowler’s low cross.

The best attempt of the first half came from Ng, but the defender’s beautifully struck long-range shot arrowed into the arms of Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary.

The pattern of the contest continued after the break, with two sides who have struggled to score goals this season looking short of attacking inspiration.

But Cardiff’s set-pieces have been a weapon throughout the campaign, and the breakthrough came from their first corner of the afternoon.

Turnbull delivered from the left and Ng rose above Joe Williams to head the ball low beyond the helpless O’Leary.

The hosts huffed and puffed as they chased an equaliser, with Sykes’ header comfortably saved before Gardner-Hickman dragged a shot wide.

Gardner-Hickman then crossed for Rob Dickie, whose header was parried by Horvath, before Conway swept in the rebound.

The assistant referee’s flag ended Conway’s celebrations – and that ensured there were boos from some sections of the home crowd at full-time.

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning:

“I didn’t think overall in the game there was a huge amount of quality which is something that’s not new to us. We have been speaking about it too much.

“There’s a reason we are one of the lowest scorers in the league. We had 17 shots, 12 inside the box, and we don’t really test the keeper at all. We have to improve.

“We have to have everyone stepping up and taking responsibility because again it wasn’t good enough.

“Possibly it’s confidence. Being good enough is the next bit. Players have to step up and deliver and execute. We have done it before but we haven’t done it consistently enough.

“In 30-odd games, our highest scorer is six goals I think. When you look at it, we haven’t scored enough goals.”

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

“We started good and we finished good. A goal from a set-piece again – I know we are one of the best teams from a set-piece.

“It was a game where whoever scored the first goal would win.

“We had some really bad moments [this season]. We had lost many games in a row. But we never stopped staying together.

“Together we can make great things, as we saw today and in the last game. I think we will push for many more wins.”