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Famara Diédhiou came back from suspension to hit a Boxing Day beauty when City beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at Ashton Gate.
Chris Martin had tipped City to a well-deserved lead at halftime with his third goal of the season in all competitions, before Wycombe fought back with a deflected shot from Garath McCleary.
Dean Holden would have to handle the game with injuries that forced Zak Vyner and Callum O’Dowda to retire, both with impressive games, but their substitutes at Opi Edwards and Diédhiou joined for the latter’s winner’s ray late in the game. .
That would be their third late winner of the season, following goals against Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, with their impact this time putting City back on the winning track as the Robins go within a play-off point.
City started the game with the same XI that ended in Deepdale last time. It was a team that pushed Preston North End and Holden would have expected the same display of attack and energy in the second half for the Boxing Day game against Wycombe Wanderers. Diédhiou was available for the national team after having served his suspension and the forward was named to the bench.
It took City a while to find his attack intent, wary of Wycombe’s threat of counterattack. For the hosts, it was the ball or the finishing touch that lacked quality in the early exchanges, but overall Holden saw his team start off brilliantly.
An injury scare for Jack Hunt stopped the game, but the right-back was able to continue and City soon began to put the visitors to the rear.
There was some promise from the wide areas and it was through O’Dowda that City broke the deadlock. Tyreeq Bakinson’s first pass, beautifully weighted, found Tommy Rowe, who opened O’Dowda on the left side. The Republic of Ireland international shot his cross to the back post and Martin was there to guide the ball over the line.
He set the tone when City changed their attacking style, but Antoine Semenyo saw a blocked shot, while Martin was dazzled when the hosts chased a second goal.
Holden’s men also started the second half with the lead, and Wells had a great opportunity to double City’s lead in the first minute. Semenyo showed his knack for stepping away from danger and unleashing Wells on goal, but the forward’s low effort dragged him out.
O’Dowda then produced a fierce cross that was thrown by Ryan Allsop at Vyner’s body, who was unable to react fast enough, before the Chair Boys could clear.
Vyner, who along with Tomas Kalas had been a rock in the back all afternoon, was forced to retire due to injury, with Adrian Mariappa introduced in his place.
But Wycombe didn’t give up and forced a draw, with Mariappa in the middle. The former Watford defender blocked an opening shot from Josh Knight, but there was carnage in the area as the visitors knocked on the door. The ball returned to McCleary and when Mariappa went to block the shot, the ball unfortunately deflected from him and passed to the defenseless Dan Bentley.
Holden soon looked to his bench again with Diédhiou hired to replace Wells, before O’Dowda’s injury meant he would be replaced by the young Edwards.
The duo played their role in City press for a winner with Diédhiou nearly grabbing an assist as he slipped on Semenyo, who shot wide, but there was no mistake a minute later!
Martin was involved with a cut cross that Wycombe could only clear to Edwards, whose touch left the ball awaiting the arrival of Diédhiou, who hit the ball into the net on the half volley … Allsop had no chance!
The Robins had to defend to the death, but did so to see all three points before a trip to Luton Town on Tuesday night (Dec 29th, 7.45pm KO), live on Robins TV.
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