Nuno heaps more fuel on Robins fire
In a feisty encounter, Bristol City assistant coach Jamie McAllister was booked in the tunnel at half-time after he took exception to Nuno’s celebrations of Ivan Cavaleiro’s ultimately winning goal – although the confrontational Wolves manager later said: “For once I did nothing wrong.”
Two red cards were shown in the corresponding league fixture last season and City manager Lee Johnson said there was plenty of history between the two dugouts.
“To be fair, they are a fiery bench and we are a fiery bench,” he said. “It was a bit of handbags and I don’t know what started it but it was nothing.”
With the handbags, a contested drop-ball and a frantic finale in which City goalkeeper Frank Fielding fired in a shot from a corner, this was a good old-fashioned cup tie with no quarter given by either side.
“Both teams fought very hard and we had to be brave,” said Nuno. “I’m very happy, it was very tough but I’m happy for the fans and it was a moment of joy.
“We try to find solutions but it was hard when they put so many behind the ball and with long balls into the box all the time.
“In the first half, we had space and the chances to score, but then they changed it and they are a tough team. Now we will see what comes next.”
The slight superiority in class that took Wolves into the quarter-finals began to show only once a forgettable opening half-hour had dragged to a close.
Cavaleiro’s goal after 28 minutes was the first shot in the game and a credit to Matt Doherty’s determination on the right flank.
The wing-back all but ran through Jay Dasilva, took a moment to look up and then picked out Cavaleiro, whose side-footed shot somehow found a way through Tomas Kalas and Fielding on the line.
Two minutes later Doherty was at it again. First he played a one-two with Leander Dendoncker, then did the same with Raul Jimenez before hitting a deflected shot against the face of the post.
It was inevitable that, with promotion to fight for, Johnson was going to alter his team for the tie, but five changes were clearly too many to keep the momentum of a side who had won nine games on the trot – a feat unparalleled anywhere in Europe.
The manager duly adjusted at half-time, bolstering his midfield with the introduction of Marlon Pack and Matty Taylor in a switch to a back three, and those changes seemed to give the home side more belief.
John Ruddy was nearly caught out in the 68th minute when some good play by Josh Brownhill enabled Bailey Wright to flick the ball towards goal, leaving the Wolves goalkeeper needing to divert the attempt behind.
Doherty kept up his fine afternoon by clearing a Bristol City corner off the line with 12 minutes to go, before Pack hit a firm shot straight into the arms of Ruddy moments later.
More chances – including Fielding’s – went begging in stoppage-time, and as the emotions subsided and calm analysis took over, slow-motion replays showed a half-hearted penalty appeal for handball against Doherty in the first half was in fact a very valid one.
“I am not sure we were playing Wolves or the Harlem Globetrotters,” said Johnson with gallows humour. “There were at least three handballs – including one in the build-up to the goal. At least the referee was consistent!”
Fielding; Wright, Kalas, Webster, Dasilva; Eliasson (Taylor 46), Brownhill, Morrell (Pack 46), O’Dowda; Diedhiou, Palmer (Paterson 66). Wright, Kalas.
BRISTOL WOLVES
Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty (Neves 81), Saiss, Moutinho, Jonny; Dendoncker, Cavaleiro (Gibbs-White 70); Jimenez (Traore 90). Moutinho, Gibbs-White. Cavaleiro 28.
M Atkinson (W Midlands).
Booked: Referee: CITY (4-4-2): (3-4-2-1): Booked: Goal:
as high a level as you’re going to see. He’s got lots to work on but he had an end product today and he was sensational.”
After Ezri Konsa saw red for hacking down James, Bersant Celina and George Byers booked the Swans a quarter-final spot for the second season in succession.
A half-empty Liberty Stadium greeted the teams amid talks of a boycott against Swansea’s owners. The absent fans looked as if they had picked a good game to miss as Brentford controlled the first half and took the lead with a classic counter-attack goal after 28 minutes.
Romaine Sawyers won the ball on the edge of his own area and sent Said James and was shown a red card by referee Stuart Attwell.
Celina then punished the Bees’ indiscipline after 67 minutes when he tricked his way past a pair of defenders and beat Daniels. And the fourth came in the final minute of normal time as Byers slotted in from the edge of the area for his second goal in two weeks.
SWANSEA (4-2-3-1):
Nordfeldt; Roberts (Harries 90), Van der Hoorn, Carter-Vickers, Naughton; Fulton, Grimes; James (Asoro 90), Byers, Celina; McBurnie (Baker-Richardson 77).
Van der Hoorn, Celina. Daniels 49 og, James 53, Celina 66, Byers 90.
BRENTFORD (3-4-3):
Daniels; Konsa, Jeanvier, Barbet; Canos (Dasilva 69), Mokotjo (McEachran 78), Sawyers, Odubajo; Watkins, Maupay, Benrahma (Kirk 69). Barbet, Konsa, Sawyers. Konsa 61. Watkins 28.
S Attwell (Warwickshire).
Booked: Sent off:
Referee: Booked: Goals: Goal: