Article body analysed
Football
Bristol City
vs Queens Park Rangers. Sky Bet Championship.
3: 00pm, Saturday 4th October 2025.
Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: Attendance24, 200.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers at Ashton Gate on Saturday; Richard Kone and Paul Smyth strike in second-half as Julien Stephan's side earn comeback win. Saturday 4 October 2025 18: 34, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Substitute Paul Smyth netted a late winner as QPR came from behind to snatch a 2-1 Championship victory over Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The home side took a 32nd-minute lead when Neto Borges did well to volley a deep Mark Sykes cross from the right back across goal and Emil Riis found himself in space to bury a well-placed header past Paul Nardi. But Rangers hit back after 66 minutes when City's defence failed to deal with a ball into their box from the right and Richard Kone pounced to smash a fierce volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards. The winner came after 84 minutes, Smyth outjumping his marker at the far post to score with a pinpoint header from a right-wing cross by Jimmy Dunne. It was the second time in the space of four days City had surrendered a lead in a home game while Rangers stretched their unbeaten run to six games. City's team showed one change from the midweek 1-1 draw with Ipswich, bringing in Mark Sykes for Ross Mc Crorie, while Rangers head coach Julien Stephan made six changes from the goalless home draw with Oxford. It was the visitors who looked the more threatening side in the opening exchanges, Rumarn Burrell showing up well in some incisive moves without troubling City goalkeeper Radek Vitek.
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But the hosts should have gone in front after 15 minutes when Riis got behind the Rangers defence to cut the ball back from the left and Scott Twine somehow contrived to fire over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy. Riis' goal was the only effort on target from either side in the first half. It led to City taking control and they saw the half out with few alarms, Karamoko Dembele firing well wide from Rangers' only strike of note. Burrell started the second half as he had begun the first and had an early shot blocked before Kone's equalising goal came just moments after Stephan had made a double substitution, sending on Smyth and Harvey Vale. City almost retook the lead after 73 minutes when Anis Mehmeti made room inside the box only to put his low shot inches wide and then Rob Atkinson headed wide from Borges' near-post corner. Substitute Mc Crorie wasted another good chance, dragging his left-footed shot from inside the box wide of the near post after 81 minutes. After Smyth's winning strike, City had a loud penalty shout rejected when Borges went down and substitute Yu Hirakawa headed over when he should have found the target. Bristol City's Gerhard Struber: "We have to be sharper in both boxes. We had clear chances to score more goals and failed to defend our own box from crosses. "These are things we have to work on. But we could also have done with a little help from the referee who did not see a clear push on Ross Mc Crorie and a foul on Neto Borges, which should have led to penalties. "These things happen in football and we have to deal with them. For the way we plan to play, every player has to be fully prepared mentally and physically to deal with situations throughout the game. "There is no room for lapsing from that. Today there were times when it was too easy for them to create from cross balls. We did not apply enough pressure and on the second balls we were not ready. "I can also recall at least four moments where we have to score from the positions are players were in. Scott Twine, Ross Mc Crorie, Anis Mehmeti and Yu Hirakawa all had great chances in front of goal. " QPR's Julien Stephan: "It is a very good result for us because we were away from home against very good opponents and because it was the first time this season we have turned around a game in which we were behind. "Over the last six games we have seen confidence grow among the players and this performance will build on that further. "But we need to stay humble because it is very early days in the season and there is a lot more work to be done if we are to improve further. "We started this game really well, collectively well-organised, and had chances to go ahead before they scored. "That meant it was difficult for the players to accept mentally when we fell behind and for 15 minutes or so before half time we struggled a bit. "But I was really impressed with the spirit and character shown by my players in the second half. There was a lot of intensity and a good press, so for their honesty I believe the team deserved their win. "When you want to build something, you need time. The Championship is a marathon, a long, long journey, and while we will enjoy the moments, we need to be aware we have to keep working hard. " The £250, 000 is up for grabs with Super 6, and as always it is completely free to play. Entries by 3pm Saturday.
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