Flint puts City close to safety

ADEN FLINT scratched Bristol City’s name from the list of likely relegation candidates with a warrior’s winner.

The centre-back, who has not missed a Championship match all season, thumped in the towering header that looks set to preserve his club’s status.

Barnsley led a pulsating game twice but Flint’s 74th-minute clincher means City manager Lee Johnson could breathe more easily with a six-point cushion and far better goal difference than sinking Blackburn.

“I would love to be celebrating, but we just can’t yet,” said Johnson. “Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to because the fat lady is warming up her vocal chords.

“I have been telling Aden about scoring that goal for three days. I knew if we we delivered the ball into that area, he would score. It’s been a tough few months but we’re delighted.”

Johnson was again indebted to the prodigious talent of on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.

The 19-year-old scored his 26th goal of an exceptional first senior season and linked seamlessly with Jamie Paterson, City’s other scorer.

Barnsley led through Alex Mowatt’s deflection of George Moncur’s shot and then went ahead again through Moncur’s powerful 20-yard drive.

But after Abraham had shown his striker’s instinct with the first equaliser, Paterson displayed his own promise by lobbing Adam Davies to make it 2-2.

Jonson said: “Tammy was outstanding again. He has better footwork than Michael Flatley. Jamie looked like a £25million player, certainly good enough for the Premier League.”

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom rued the ankle injury that denied him skipper Marc Roberts early on.

He said: “That was a game-changer. We haven’t got much cover at the back at the moment.” Possession 52% 48% Shots On Target 8 4 Shots Off Target 8 4 Blocked Shots 8 4 Corners 11 4 Fouls Conceded 8 11 Offsides 0 0 Yellow Cards 1 1 Red Cards 0 0