Three second-half goals brought Southampton’s unbeaten run to an end as Bristol City claimed an impressive 3-1 victory at Ashton Gate.
Sam Bell, Rob Dickie and Harry Cornick all scored second-half goals for City to secure an important three points over the Saints.
Adam Armstrong scored a consolation goal for the visitors in added time from the penalty spot.
The win makes it consecutive wins for the Robins, moving up to 11th in the table.
Bristol City dominated the opening stages of the game and City had their first sight at goal in the third minute when Joe Williams’ quick thinking on a deep free-kick set Knight away who found Bell who fired into the side netting.
Conway also sent an early warning shot when Knight picked him out and after dropping his shoulder fired low at the Saints goal.
After a high-energy start, the hosts continued to apply the pressure and Haydon Roberts’ deep cross fell to George Tanner who volleyed wide of the target.
The visitors showed their quality in the 18th minute when Armstrong, Will Smallbone and David Brooks linked up well before Sam Edozie’s shot struck the crossbar.
City’s midfield machine Jason Knight had a snapshot after turning away well from the Saints defender but he couldn’t find the target.
Saints forced O’Leary into his first save in the 25th minute when Smallbone fired from a tight angle – only earning his side a corner. City got the corner clear and countered with pace via Anis Mehmeti who ran the length of the pitch before firing from distance – but straight at Gavin Bazunu.
Zak Vyner blocked consecutive efforts by Armstrong after Kyle Walker-Peters beat Bell and Roberts and played the forward through on goal.
Approaching the 40th minute Rob Dickie showed his skill, winning the ball in City’s half, calmly finding Knight whose unbelievable pass was poised to find Mehmeti but Banzunu was quick out of his area.
In the latter stages of the half Shea Charles combined with Armstrong who forced a save from O’Leary, consequently, the ball fell to Joe Williams who fed Mehmeti for another promising counterattack.
Less than a minute after the restart confusion between Roberts and Dickie presented Armstrong with an opportunity but he chose to pass to Edozie who fired low and hard, narrowly missing the target.
City’s breakthrough would come in the 53rd minute when Anis Mehmeti evaded Ryan Manning before drilling a low and hard cross across the goal line to Bell whose sliding effort hit the back of the net.
O’Leary maintained City’s advantage with a good save moments later after substitute Stuart Armstrong’s cross picked out Walker-Peters who volleyed at the City keeper.
Liam Manning made a double substitution just after the hour mark with Knight and Bell making way for Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Harry Cornick.
Full of energy, Matty James charged through the middle of the park – battling with Smallbone – before feeding Cornick earning City a corner.
The resulting corner doubled City’s advantage. Rob Dickie climbed the highest and headed home Williams’ sublime delivery.
The 76th minute saw two further substitutions as Roberts and Conway made way for Ross McCrorie and Nahki Wells.
City added a third in the 82nd minute when Gardner-Hickman fed McCrorie who’s crossed picked out Cornick – sprinting into the area – and he made no mistake in front of Ashton Gate’s South Stand.
Liam Manning made a final change in the 86th minute with Dire Medbude replacing Mehmeti for his Bristol City debut.
Southampton scored a consolation goal in the fifth minute of added time when Adam Armstrong stepped up to convert from the spot after Cornick brought down Walker-Peter in the area
The highly anticipated fixture ended 3-1 in City’s favour and Liam Manning and his side look ahead to QPR in four days’ time.
Starting XI: O’Leary, Tanner, Vyner, Dickie, Roberts (McCrorie 76′), James (C), Williams, Knight (Taylor Gardner-Hickman 63′), Bell (Cornick 63′), Conway (Wells 76′), Mehmeti (Mebude 86′)
Substitutes: Bajic, Knight-Lebel, King, Sykes.
ATT: 24,674
NEXT UP AT ASHTON GATE
City welcome QPR to Ashton Gate on Saturday, February 17th (3pm)
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