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Barnet 3 BristolCity 2
DIFFERENT manager, same story.
BristolCity suffered a second knock-out blow of the season from Barnet last night as the League Two side gave Gary Johnson the same treatment they had dished out to Brian Tinnion.
The Robins' first loss to the Londoners came in the Carling Cup in August. And while last night's LDV Vans Trophy exit may not prove to be a major blow to City's campaign, a series of familiar defensive errors will worry Johnson ahead of a series of crucial League One fixtures.
The manager also witnessed some enterprising attacking play from his side but goals from Ben Strevens, Jason Norville and Dean Sinclair were enough to give the Bees great heart ahead of next week's League Cup trip to Manchester United.
Scott Murray and Guy Madjo were on target for City, who made two changes from the team that started Saturday's 1-0 win over Tranmere. Scott Brown replaced the injured Steve Brooker with Dave Cotterill moving up front.
It was Brown's first appearance since his arrest last week after a nightclub fracas in Bristol. Bradley Orr, who was also detained, began on the bench.
City could have been behind after just four minutes. Damian Batt's cross was headed back by Ismail Yakubu but Nicky Bailey shot wide of the far post when he looked certain to score.
Cotterill, given a rare chance to play in his favoured striking role, almost latched on to a Luke Wilkshire header on the half-hour but Barnet keeper Scott Tynan, a former City trialist, dived to smother.
A minute later Murray teed up Marcus Stewart who dragged his shot just wide. Then, as City upped the tempo, Brown headed down for Cotterill, who turned and shot only for Tynan to make a routine save.
Then Cole Skuse tried his luck with a left-footed volley which forced Tynan to dive full length to push the ball wide for a corner.
But City were made to pay for their first half misses when Barnet went ahead on 41 minutes. Persistent work from Bailey on the left saw his cross headed in by lone striker Strevens.
But the Robins hit back within two minutes when Stewart found space on the left and his low centre was turned in by Murray, who took a knock for his troubles.
Barnet almost hit back straight away when the small figure of Bailey headed the ball past Steve Phillips, but Brown was well-placed to clear off the line.
City, attacking down the Underhill slope, began the second half in fine style with Skuse forcing a fine save from Tynan, Stewart sliding the ball just wide and Cotterill also testing the home keeper.
However, the visitors were behind again on 60 minutes when Osei Sankofa gave the ball away to Norville on halfway.
Sankofa got back to make a tackle but Strevens and then former Watford striker Norville forced pointblank saves from Phillips before Norville's deflected effort finally beat the keeper at the near post.
City could have been level again straight away when Murray released Cotterill, who side-stepped the keeper and appeared to be brought down.
However, referee Trevor Parkes gave a goal kick, much to the fury of the visiting fans.
Stewart was then only just wide with a shot from the edge of the box after a long clearance from Phillips, but Barnet got their third on the counter-attack when Sinclair galloped on to a through-ball from Ian Hendon and lobbed past the City keeper.
Substitute Madjo reduced the deficit to 3-2 with ten minutes to go when Wilkshire's skidding low shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded to the Cameroonian who knocked in his first goal for the club.
Barnet (4-5-1): Tynan; Batt, Hendon, Yakubu, Gross; Soares (Hatch 90), Sinclair, Bailey, Bowditch, Norville (Graham 90); Strevens. Subs not used: Flitney, Grazioli, Garcia.
BristolCity (4-4-2): Phillips; Carey, Sankofa, Fortune (Bridges 76), Woodman; Murray, Skuse, Wilkshire, Brown (Madjo 76); Stewart, Cotterill. Subs not used: Burch, Keogh, Orr. |
