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Bristol City beat Norwich to go fifth in the Championship Click on the report tab to read the report from Ashton Gate Sykes bent Bristol City into early lead & Wells fired in second before break Sainz pulled goal back for Norwich late on 10 games on Saturday including QPR v Leeds at 12: 30 GMT Steel City derby on Sunday (12: 30) Get involved #bbcefl Alex Winter HT: Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Every weekend from here has a "crucial" feel about it and the table could have a different look by Saturday evening. First up tomorrow, leaders Leeds head to QPR and Millwall host Stoke in the two lunchtime games. Burnley then travel to Swansea and Sunderland visit Coventry among the 3pm games. And then the small matter of a Steel City derby to follow on Sunday! Championship fixtures #bbcefl Sulaimon Adelekan: My gut feeling says Middleborough and Blackburn to finish fifth and sixth respectively. HT: Bristol City 2-0 Norwich James Piercy BBC Sport at Ashton Gate The scoreline and Nahki Wells' missed chance indicates the home side have been very much on top, which is true to an extent but such is the potency of the Norwich attack, you feel the Robins need a third. Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz have offered plenty of threat and the latter really should have reduced the deficit, kicking the post in frustration having struck the woodwork earlier. Johannes Hoff Thorup has the opportunity now to make some necessary adjustments, because they looked so vulnerable whenever the Robins attacked, particularly through the middle of the field. The next goal, should there be one, looks to be very important. HT: Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Gary Owers Former Sunderland & Bristol City midfielder on BBC Radio Bristol That was excellent from City. They got off to a flyer with Mark Sykes' excellently taken goal and they continued in that vain and got the second. Norwich have threatened with Max O'Leary making a few saves and they've hit the post. HT: Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Che Wilson Former Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk Norwich are more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, so let's go and do it. The next goal is vital in this game and if we can get it then it's game on. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Bristol City go in ahead but it's been an end-to-end game. Mark Sykes' superb curling finish with his left foot gave them the lead after just six minutes. Nahki Wells doubled the advantage, also with a very skillful strike, after Norwich were caught in possession deep in their own half. The visitors have threatened, struck a post and forced Max O'Leary into some sharp work in the Bristol City goal. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich One minute added on. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Bristol City were about to launch a counter attack until Kellan Fisher intervenes with a cynical foul and goes into the book. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich James Piercy BBC Sport at Ashton Gate Max Bird is being afforded way too much space through midfield. In fact, so are Jason Knight, Joe Williams, Anis Mehmeti. .. basically anyone who drifts into an advanced central area. The experienced Kenny Mc Lean is the defensive midfielder but he's being completely overwhelmed and outmanned in there and needs some assistance. It's one that Johannes Hoff Thorup simply has to address at half-time. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Oh wow what a miss! A sweeping attack from Norwich and a low cross from Kellen Fisher on the right finds Borja Sainz. All he has to do is turn it in from inside the six-yard box but he skews it wide! The flag had gone up for offside - wrongly according to the replays - but still, how has Sainz not scored? Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Norwich trying to break out of their own half, Joe Williams drags his man down and is rightly booked. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Che Wilson Former Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk That's a fantastic save. Norwich should be 3-0 down. George Long has put himself in that position, he's made a hash of it but he makes a fantastic save. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Oh wow how is it not 3-0! Max Bird's shot from outside the box is well palmed away by George Long diving up to his left. The ball falls for Nahki Wells with the goal at his mercy but Long gets down to save again. Wells had to go high, but fired it pretty much straight at the keeper. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Che Wilson Former Norwich defender on BBC Radio Norfolk It's alarming that Bristol City have got the space to run at the Norwich City defence. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Bristol City have been able to come forward with great purpose so far and again they break out of midfield to send Anis Mehmeti away. He drives into the area, shoots on his right foot but that's blocked, before a second effort is high and wide. Jason Knight is then booked for catching Emi Marcondes from behind. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich You wouldn't bet against more goals here. Norwich threaten again with a cross to the far post that John Sargent gets up to head down back across goal but there's no-one there to reach it. Bristol City then get in behind at the other end and Nahki Wells is in on goal but a heavy touch gives Norwich keeper George Long the chance to come out and smother. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Gary Owers Former Sunderland & Bristol City midfielder on BBC Radio Bristol City have got a nice cushion and they are worth it but they still have to be careful because Norwich have got talent at the top end of the pitch. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich James Piercy BBC Sport at Ashton Gate I was just about to write how the Canaries were sticking to their game plan of playing from deep, inviting the City press and then trying to play direct into Sargent or Sainz. The trouble is, the Robins are a pretty good pressing team and Bird - who's been excellent so far - stole it off Cordoba before some quick interchanges allows Williams to send Wells beyond the defence. It looks like it's going to be a long night for the men from Norfolk. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Gary Owers Former Sunderland & Bristol City midfielder on BBC Radio Bristol That's all about the quality of the passing and movement. Yes the finish was good but some of the approach play from City this evening has been fantastic. It's a real forward's goal. Wells gets his shot low and hard beyond the keeper. Bristol City 2-0 Norwich Very close for Norwich to immediately get back in the game. A floated ball towards the top of the area is superbly taken down by Josh Sargent who turns into space and fires a low right foot strike just past the left-hand post with the goalkeeper beaten. Bristol City striker Nahki Wells scored his eighth goal of the season Bristol City moved into the Championship play-off places with victory over Norwich City as the Canaries' own promotion hopes drifted further from view. Mark Sykes' smart finish gave the Robins an early platform, further reinforced by Nahki Wells' low finish as Norwich surrendered possession in their own defensive third. An 18th goal of the season from Borja Sainz, who had struck the post in the first half and also missed from close range, ensured a nervy finish to the game at Ashton Gate. Bristol City now occupy fifth place in the table having leapfrogged Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion, who both play on Saturday. Norwich, now winless in four matches, are seven points from the top six having played a game more than their rivals and their play-off hopes appear to be over. A pre-match light show was not received with much enthusiasm by the home support but their side's start to the game certainly was. Norwich had enjoyed their first serious spell of possession inside the Robins half but Rob Dickie was wise to the threat using his long legs to good effect to win the ball back and play into the path of Max Bird who in turn released Sykes. The Republic of Ireland international advanced and had options inside the penalty area but instead checked back onto his left foot and with his confidence high, after a goal in midweek against Sheffield United, bent a delightful finish into the far corner. Having gained the advantage, the Robins then got a little sloppy as first Shane Duffy and Emiliano Marcondes tested Max O'Leary. Possession was then cheaply conceded inside their own half by the hosts allowing Sargent to feed Sainz who beat the City goalkeeper only for his driven effort to clip the outside of the post. Norwich had maintained their desire to build from deep, inviting the Robins press and then trying to move quickly through midfield but Jason Knight and Bird swamped Jose Cordoba who conceded possession and two passes later, Joe Williams was rolling a ball into Wells beyond the defence. The Bermudian clinically placed his finish into the far corner with George Long unable to react. Exactly how it was not 3-0 shortly after, only Wells knows. Norwich did not get tight enough to Bird on the edge of the area who forced a save from Long but his tame parry was straight at Wells who, with a near open goal somehow placed his shot back towards the Canaries keeper who made a fine save. Despite the two-goal disadvantage, Norwich had maintained their threat in the final third and the hosts' cushion never looked particularly secure. Ante Crnac blazed high and wide from close range as they began the second half with the necessary intent but not necessarily the required finesse. Sargent was a constant problem for the Robins defence and forced a diving stop from O'Leary from just outside the area but Liam Manning's substitutions added fresh legs and energy in midfield which seemed to turn the momentum of the game back in his side's favour. Sainz had looked likely to score all game and set up a nervous final 10 minutes with a close-range finish. Norwich pumped balls into the box which led to a series of corners but they lacked conviction in front of goal. Marcelino Nunez had one last chance to rescue a point for the visitors in the final minute of added time, but sent a 25-yard free-kick just wide. Mark Sykes (far right) has scored in successive games for Bristol City Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol: "A nervy last five minutes but it is testament to the group and another experience ticked off. "We have been in that position numerous times this season and dropped points so to get one over the line, huge credit goes to the lads for staying calm and sticking at it – running, fighting and competing and doing the gritty side of the game that is so important. "We have had some tough times along the way since I have been here, we have taken a bit of stick, but it was around building something, the way we work – coaching takes time, especially how we coach the players, to make decisions and not be robots. "Naturally along the way, you going to get it right and get it wrong. It's a young group so you have to suck up some tough experiences along the way but what we've done is made sure our behaviours are always good. "We don't get too hung up if it's been poor and we don't get carried away when it's been good – that's been a massive strength. " Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We are in a difficult place in the moment and it takes a lot from us to get something out of the good stuff that we do, and we get punished really hard on the one or two mistakes we made in the game. "The first passing mistake we made in the final third and they punished us – a brilliant finish but a situation we should deal with better. "Our response to that was really, really good – to create one or two big, big chances that we normally score. But after they scored the second we were a little bit all over the place. "It was a good time for half-time and we made an okay plan for the second half but mostly praise for the players for not letting frustration take over. "The goal came a little bit too late but we gave it a push, we tried – even though the circumstances were not in our favour. " This video can not be played Liam Manning: "I thought we carried a real threat. .. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 14th March 2025 at 21: 51 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Liam Manning Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Johannes Thorup Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Liam Manning Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Johannes Thorup Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Bristol City are looking to complete a league double over Norwich City for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign. Norwich have won four of their last seven league visits to Bristol City (D2 L1) and are looking to win consecutive games at Ashton Gate for the first time since March 1975. Bristol City have won seven of their last 10 home league matches (D2 L1) and haven’t conceded more than once in any of those 10 games. Norwich City are unbeaten in their last three away league games (W1 D2), last enjoying a longer unbeaten run on the road between February and April 2023 (five). Anis Mehmeti has scored seven goals in his last nine league starts at Ashton Gate and has scored nine goals at home this season. The last Robins player to reach double figures for home league goals in a season was Andreas Weimann in 2021-22 (12). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.