Famous Fixtures: Cardiff City vs. Bristol City
Ahead of the Robins’ visit to CCS on Sunday afternoon, we take a look back at some other famous fixtures that the two sides have shared in South Wales…
February 25th 2018 – Cardiff City 1-0 Bristol City
Prior to the Robins’ last visit to CCS, both sides were vying for promotion to the Premier League as the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season began to turn into its final quarter.
The Bluebirds were in second place behind only Wolves on the league table, while Bristol City were competing for a spot in the Play-Offs, sitting in sixth place.
A win for either side would boost their chances of promotion as the pressure from surrounding teams rose around them, and a tense first half at CCS resulted in both sides going into the break goalless.
The Bluebirds had the better of the chances throughout a taut encounter, but it was the introduction of Ken Zohore that proved vital to the outcome.
In the 82nd minute, the Danish striker was on hand to sensationally put away a low cross from Joe Ralls, securing his sixth goal of the 2017/18 season and his second in as many matches.
With the deadlock broken and the home crowds celebrating jubilantly, City did well to hold on to their narrow yet deserved lead.
With the final whistle blown in South Wales, the Bluebirds had secured a four-point cushion in their automatic promotion spot ahead of Aston Villa, continuing their impressive record at home against their Severnside rivals.
October 14th 2016 – Cardiff City 2-1 Bristol City
With the return of Sol Bamba to the field at CCS on Saturday so fresh in the memory of the City faithful, it would be equally difficult to forget the dream debut that the Ivorian defender had for the Bluebirds in October 2016.
Bristol City’s visit to CCS early in the 2016-17 season came following a good start to their league campaign, as the Robins were again pushing for promotion, sitting at fifth on the Sky Bet Championship league table.
It was the hosts who took the lead at 25 minutes, however, as Peter Whittingham slotted a penalty kick away for City to the joy of the home crowds in yet another tense affair at CCS between the Bluebirds and the Robins.
If the first goal had excited the City faithful, then the second truly raised the roof. Bamba, who had fit into his new side immediately and had commanded his role at the back, doubled Cardiff City’s lead explosively with a fantastic rebounded volley off the back of Sean Morrison’s own effort.
August 14th 2011 – Cardiff City 3-1 Bristol City
With debutants such as Sol Bamba having made such historic impacts in previous meetings between these two clubs, we can also be reminded by the efforts of players with many more appearances for the Bluebirds under their belts.
Such is the case with Robert Earnshaw, whose return to Cardiff City got off to a perfect start at the beginning of the 2011/12 season.
The striker, who not played in the blue shirt since 2004, made his CCS debut during the fixture against the Robins, and made sure to bag a goal to mark the occasion.
Capping off an early lead taken by City through both Mark Hudson and Craig Conway, Earnshaw added the hosts’ third with little more than 30 minutes of the match played.
The Welsh international made no mistake when he was presented with a loose ball from ‘keeper David James, who had parried Don Cowie’s shot towards the feet of the striker.
With a late response from the visitors coming in the 82nd minute, CCS celebrated with the blowing of the final whistle, winning the two opening matches of the season for the first time in nine years.
