Goals from Tommy Conway and Rob Atkinson helped Bristol City claim bragging rights in the Severnside derby with a 2-0 win over Cardiff at Ashton Gate.
The home side took the lead in the 41st minute when Nahki Wells crossed from the left and Conway scored his fourth goal of the season with a tricky header.
Center-back Atkinson made it 2-0 with a 64th-minute Joe Williams header from the left wing and Nigel Pearson’s team earned a well-deserved three points on his 59th birthday.
Cardiff had to make a substitution in the 7th minute when Joel Bagan suffered a head injury in a collision with Alex Scott and was replaced by Jack Simpson.
Bristol made an early strike, Conway broke through on the left to see his 14th-minute shot from a tight angle saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.
Cardiff’s Callum O’Dowda scrambles for the ball with Bristol City’s Jay Dasilva (left) and Rob Atkinson
Han-Noah Massengo put the ball in the visitors’ net five minutes later, but his header after Andreas Weimann’s cross was disqualified for a foul on Allsop as he jumped up.
Suddenly, the home side’s defense looked vulnerable when Max Watters dashed in a 38-minute long pass from Mahlon Romeo only to hit Dan Bentley’s net.
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Tommy Conway and Alex Scott ‘humming’ for three points
Seconds later, Cedric Kipre hit a long shot at the end of a Cardiff penetration before the balance changed again with Conway’s goal.
It was almost 2-0 before half-time when Weimann’s volley from the right of Allsop’s goal hit the underside of the crossbar and started again.
It was thought Cardiff had equalized in first-half injury time, but Sheyi Ojo’s close-range shot after a pass from former Bristol City winger Callum O’Dowda was disallowed for offside.
The home side had a good chance to double the lead early in the second half when Jay Dasilva shot wide into the far corner from Weimann’s cross.
Williams had a low shot wide of the post and Atkinson narrowly shot as Cardiff came under heavy pressure.
Cardiff City’s Andy Rinomhota and Bristol City’s Han-Noah Massengo vie for ownership
Boss Steve Morison responded with a double substitution in the 57th minute, bringing in Mark Harris and Jaden Philogene-Bidace for Watters and Ojo.
Cardiff’s Romaine Sawyers and Bristol City’s Massengo both had shots wide of the post. Then came Atkinson’s goal and a strike in Cardiff saw Bentley bravely save at the feet of first Harris and then another substitute, Rubin Colwill.
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Nigel Pearson is really pleased with the players and fans after Bristol City’s win
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Steve Morison was disappointed by his poor finishing ability on the Cardiff side
Dasilva risked a penalty when he crossed to Romeo’s back, but referee Thomas Bramall didn’t see anything wrong.
Weimann scored from close range in the 78th minute, but was clearly offside from a Wells pass and the flag was raised.
It made no difference when Cardiff’s belated attempts to get back into the game met solid resistance
