Smith’s late goal fires Bristol City into dreamland

What an incredible noise. What an incredible finish. After 90 sweatinfused minutes, in which it appeared nothing could separate the second-placed team in the Premier League from the third in the Championship, this tie seemed to be heading into extra-time.

Then, in the last moments of added time, Korey Smith burst into the Manchester United penalty area to score the goal which took Bristol City into the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, and an appointment with Manchester City.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling of pride, to beat Manchester United is incredible,” said City manager Lee Johnson. “It has been a long time since we had a result like that at Ashton Gate.”

This is what they have long craved hereabout, a test against the best in the land. And, as Johnson’s side added the most distinguished to their growing collection of Premier League scalps in this season’s League Cup, it is clear they finally have a team to match their ambition.

Everything about City oozes aspiration. It is an impressive development at Ashton Gate, a £45million upgrade on the dishevelled shed that stood here when the club last played in the top flight 37 years ago. This, as Chairman Stephen Lansdown insisted in the souvenir match programme, is a Premier League club in waiting.

And how the ground was ringing at the final whistle. This was a noise that could have been heard in Cardiff. No wonder they were celebrating: here was evidence that they are legitimate contenders, proof there is more to City than architectural flourishes.

That was obvious from the start. Johnson, depicted on the front of the programme bursting out of his shirt to reveal superhero garb, made his intentions clear, making only one change from the weekend Championship victory over Nottingham Forest; Jose Mourinho made 10 after United’s win at West Bromwich Albion.

In the home team’s line-up were three former United trainees: Luke Steele, Jamie Paterson and Josh Brownhill. Together with their colleagues, the United old boys started at a zip in their effort to discomfort their former club-mates.

From the opening salvoes, Johnson had his players pressing, harrying and charging into every opponent. Daley Blind, playing in the centre of United’s three-man midfield, soon found he had absolutely no time to dawdle on the ball.

Paul Pogba, on his return to the side following a three-match suspension, was not given any help in rediscovering his radar; every time he tried to deliver a trademark long-range pass, he had a red shirt immediately blocking his view.

And when, as they frequently did, City snaffled possession, they moved the ball quickly and positively. Swift interchanges involving Joe Bryan, Paterson and Brownhill constantly fizzed across the front of the second-string United backline.

They created chances too. Smith seemed to have skipped into a goalscoring position as he followed up Bobby Reid’s flick, only to be robbed by a magnificently timed last-ditch tackle by Blind.

Meanwhile, a powerful shot by left-back Hordur Magnusson obliged Sergio Romero to dive fulllength to push the ball round the post and behind for a corner.

That was not the Icelander’s only weapon. Every time City won a throw in the United half, his howitzer chucks, which so discombobulated England in the Euros, were as good as free-kicks.

But United were not without moments of their own. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, captaining the side on his first start of the season for Mourinho’s men, contrived to turn a shot on to the bar via a hefty deflection.

Then, fed by a pass from the industrious Scott Mctominay, Marcus Rashford zipped a shot from distance that slammed against Steele’s post. Bristol, though, were clearly unwilling to flunk their audition.

As the first half came to an end, United were being increasingly pegged back, pushed deep, unable to create.

And when they played their out ball up to Ibrahimovic, they discovered that his recent long lay-off had done nothing to increase his velocity.

As the second half began, City were straight back into their zip routine. Bobby Reid, the diminutive frontman, had a shot into the United side-netting.

And then came the first suggestion that City not only could match the Premier League’s finest, they could better them.

On 51 minutes the industrious Bryan galloped down the left of the United defence, running on to Marlon Pack’s shrewd forward pass.

He hit the ball first time, unleashing a screamer of a shot beyond Romero.

The new stands were vibrating with a chant celebrating the local academy graduate: “Joe Bryan, he’s one of our own.”

Almost immediately, however, United were back in it. They had won two free-kicks as the half began, which Marcus Rashford took from almost the same spot, about 25 yards from Steele’s goal.

The first hit the wall, the second forced Steele quickly to barrel across as the ball deflected fiercely towards the bottom corner.

And when United won a third kick from the same position, Ibrahimovic elbowed the youngster out of the way and hit a shot low through the breaking wall over Steele’s arms and into the net.

With the game now balanced, both sides pushed to prevent the imposition of extra time. City forced Romero into a series of saves.

At the other end Steele and, with a superb tackle, Bryan made last second interventions to prevent the City party coming to a premature conclusion.

Then, just as the referee looked ready to blow the whistle to indicate 30 minutes of further entertainment, Smith piled forward on to the substitute Matty Taylor’s flick to skewer the ball into the corner of Romero’s net.

Cue mayhem. Cue pitch invasion. Cue Bristol City seizing control of the future.