Semenyo and Palmer shine as City set up cup showdown against Villa
Bristol City 4 Northampton Town 0
CHRIS Martin capped his first Bristol City start with a goal as the Robins overcame Northampton Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Keith Curle is, of course, no stranger to this part of the West Country having played for City and come through at Bristol Rovers, but his Northampton side were outclassed on the manager’s return to the South West.
But despite Martin’s score, he was overshadowed by the outstanding Kasey Palmer and Antoine Semenyo, who scored three goals between them and grabbed three assists too, to settle this contest, as the visitors were unable to even get a shot on target during the game.
The battle to host Aston Villa in round three of the Carabao Cup took place in balmy conditions in BS3, and the warm weather led to some hot stuff on the pitch from City.
Nine changes were made by Dean Holden for the game from the team which began against Coventry in the league on Saturday - risky Robins rotation or a sign of the strength in depth?
The latter as it played out. Debuts for Fulham loanees Steven Sesseg- non and Alfie Mawson were the headline rotations, while a first senior start for Tyreeq Bakinson was handed out, as Palmer, Niclas Eliasson (down the left flank) and Semenyo were given recalls.
There was no fast start as against Coventry, just an elbow in the throat for captain Tomas Kalas in a clash with Benny Ashley-Seal, before after just six minutes the Czech Republic international went off with an apparent shoulder/arm injury: a big contrast to Saturday’s match-winning display, as Taylor
Moore replaced him and Mawson became the new captain.
The first decent attack of note came via a set-piece as Semenyo turned his marker and drove at the defence, a foul giving the opportunity to shoot. Eliasson accepted the invitation and almost got the party started as his curling free-kick smacked Jordan Mitchell’s left upright. No one could profit from the rebound.
Semenyo continued to trouble the visitors, combining nicely with Martin after one neat turn before he then set up up his strike partner for his first Bristol City goal.
The lively Eliasson flighted over a deep cross which Semenyo climbed high to meet, squaring possibly unintentionally - for Martin to nod in from a few yards out, rewarding the 31-year-old’s good play in the first half, as he held the ball up well for the home side.
Zak Vyner then stung the palms of Mitchell from long-range with a blockbuster effort to bring the first half proceedings to a close.
Three minutes after the break, the lead was doubled as Semenyo grabbed a second assist, this time laying off to Palmer to slalom through the middle of the Northampton defence, round Mitchell and slide into the open goal.
Palmer should have had another later in the second period as he headed an Eliasson corner down and into the corner of the net only for Semenyo to be harshly ruled offside, despite not touching the ball as he sped past him and into the goal.
Newcomer Sessegnon looked bright and set up several late chances with his crossing, Semenyo heading the best over the bar, while Chris Brunt was introduced late on for Bakinson.
Semenyo wrapped things up on 83 minutes to crown a fine evening for him, then Palmer grabbed a fourth with a composed finish too. Dean Holden’s 100 per cent record continues. Bring on the Villa.