MANN & BOY
Weimann shows new son Louie he’s the daddy in front of goal by taming Lions with hat-trick
Weimann 7, 73, 85 MILLWALL
23,
RICHARD LATHAM
BY
ANDI WEIMANN’S match-winning hat-trick was inspired by the youngest spectator at this Championship thriller.
The forward’s two-week old son Louie was attending his first match and received a special wave from his proud dad as part of a goal celebration.
“I now have three kids, so there was a goal for each of them,” said Weimann.
“It was my first hat-trick at Ashton Gate and a great way to mark Louie’s first game.
“I’m also pleased for the team. Last year was a poor one for Bristol City and we were determined to start 2022 on a winning note.”
Weimann capitalised on a mis-hit clearance from Bartosz Bialkowski to fire the Robins into a seventhminute lead, lifting his shot over the Millwall keeper from 25 yards.
But City had lost their previous two home games after scoring early and teenage centre-back Ryley Towler, recalled from a loan spell at Grimsby, was exposed as the Lions roared back.
First, he allowed Tom Bradshaw to escape his attention and head home a left-wing Murray Wallace cross on 23 minutes from close range for his fifth goal in as many games.
Then Towler conceded a clear penalty by bringing down Benik Afobe from behind and the striker got up to net with a low spot-kick on 29 minutes.
The youngster was replaced at half-time, one of two changes by manager Nigel Pearson that helped turn the game.
Sub Han-Noah Massengo provided the cross for Weimann to net with a sweet first-time shot on 73 minutes to level.
And five minutes from time, Weimann was in the right place to fire his 12th goal of the season from eight yards after an Alex Scott shot had been blocked on the line.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett said: “We conceded three poor goals and overall I am disappointed.
“We did well in the first half to overcome a rare Bartosz error and looked in control at half-time.
“They made substitutions and changed their shape, but we should have done a lot better defending their second-half goals.”
It was only City’s fourth win in 21 home games under Pearson, who named seven academy products in his starting line-up.
“We needed to start the new year on a positive note and the second-half fightback did great credit to the players,”
he said. “After a good opening 20 minutes, we had let things slip and I told the players at half-time that the next 45 minutes could be a turning point in our season. They responded brilliantly.”