Rovers and rout as rockin’ Robins fly up the table

THE start of the season has been a slow burner for Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson but his players are taking some stopping now. Three Championship wins on the bounce and the scoring return of record buy Famara Diedhiou after his six-game ban for spitting were just two of the bonuses heading into the international break. Having conceded an early goal, direct from Charlie Mulgrew’s corner, City showed character to fight back through Josh Brownhill’s free-kick just before half-time. The second half was all City as they racked up three more goals from Marley Watkins, Diedhiou and Marlon Pack. ‘The second half we put them to the sword,’ said assistant coach Jamie McAllister. ‘There was free-flowing football and we were creating chance after chance. The lads deserve their break now and that has given us a platform to build on.’ It is a sign of a confident team that going behind galvanises it into action. Keeper Niki Maenpaa was caught flat-footed by Mulgrew’s opener and there was no-one covering the near post either. However, when Blackburn’s Ryan Nyambe fouled Matt Taylor, up stepped Brownhill to curl the ball into the top corner from just outside the box. Rovers had a wonderful opportunity to restore the lead before half-time, Maenpaa saving well from Adam Armstrong after Bristol defender Adam Webster appeared to be fouled. On the sidelines, Johnson was shown the yellow card by referee David Webb for his protests. In the second half, a moment of inspiration allowed Watkins to make it 2-1. Matty Taylor chested Niclas Eliasson’s cross into the path of the Wales international, who shot past David Raya from 10 yards. Johnson made a double change on 66 minutes, introducing Diedhiou and Callum O’Dowda for Watkins and the excellent Taylor. Diedhiou scored the third goal with a low drive. Fed by Andreas Weimann on the break, he converted thanks to a slight deflection. City captain Pack rounded off a sparkling second-half display, heading home from around eight yards with eight minutes left after a cross from the right had been flicked on. ‘From our point of view, it was a case of missed chances in the first half — that could have put the game to bed,’ said Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray. ‘We lost a bit of discipline for the third and fourth goals with so many attacking players on the pitch.’