Bristol City 1-0 Sheffield United: Robins leave it late to make it four wins in a row
- Published
Marley Watkins headed in his second goal in as many games to seal victory at Ashton Gate
Bristol City extended their winning run to four Championship games with victory over Sheffield United thanks to Marley Watkins' late headed goal.
The 27-year-old attacker, a summer signing from Norwich, guided in Callum O'Dowda's cross with a deft flick to register his second goal in as many games.
The Blades bossed possession throughout and saw David McGoldrick miss a host of first-half opportunities.
But the home team improved after half-time and should have already been ahead before the late winner.
City head coach Lee Johnson had made the bold decision to switch his formation to 3-5-2 to match up against the visitors, who had won on their last three visits to Ashton Gate.
Robins keeper Niki Maenpaa produced a smart save to keep out John Lundstram's piledriver early in the second half.
Johnson then abandoned his change of shape on the hour, altering the course of the game.
Famara Diedhiou - making his first start of the season after serving a six-match ban for spitting - passed up a great chance to break the deadlock, firing horribly wide after being sent clear by Marlon Pack's pass.
Pack then called for a penalty when his goal-bound attempt seemed to strike an arm in the box, but City were celebrating Watkins' winning goal just 60 seconds later.
The fourth straight win takes City up to third in the early Championship table, while United drop to fifth.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson said:
"It was an excellent performance. I trusted our fitness, I trusted our substitutes and the boys upped their game at the right time and the last half hour was all us.
"We've got a strong bench and I think that is a real positive moving forward.
"They gave us the lift we needed and I am delighted for Marley to get another goal."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"I thought it was a very good away performance without the most important bit, winning.
"I thought we played really well first half but we should have come in a goal up, possibly two.
"The first goal in this division is so important and they got it and it changed the whole dynamics of the game.
"We've played well and lost and that is possibly the hardest thing to take as a manager."
