Two goals in the first 11 minutes of the game from Aaron Wilbraham was enough to guide Bristol City to a comfortable 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in their Championship clash this evening.
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The home side took the lead in the fourth minute when Jonathan Kodjia flicked the ball into the path of Wilbraham, and the forward maintained his composure to slot an effort past Dorus De Vries.
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City doubled their advantage as the visitors failed to clear their lines from a cross into the box and Derrick Williams sent a cross back into the middle for Wilbraham to head into the net.
Forest almost got back into the game when Jack Hobbs peeled off at the back post to guide a powerful header towards goal, but Frankie Fielding made a good reaction save to tip the ball over the bar.
Steve Cotterill's men responded as Luke Freeman carved out space for himself on the edge of the box and curled an effort towards the bottom corner, but his strike went just wide of the post.
In the second half, Forest responded and came close to reducing the deficit when Daniel Pinillos was allowed to raid forward from the back and strike a low effort towards the corner, but Fielding made the save to turn his shot away.
The visitors came closer as Henri Lansbury collected a loose ball on the edge of the box following a corner and attempted to guide his strike on the half-volley into the net, only to see his effort clatter off the post and bounce clear.
City almost secured the three points when Elliott Bennett released the run of Kodjia in the box, but his powerful strike to the corner was well saved by De Vries.
Wilbraham should have sealed his hat-trick eight minutes from time when he latched on to a cross in the box and headed at goal. De Vries kept the header out, but the rebound fell straight back to the forward, although he could only fire his effort straight at the keeper.
However, Cotterill's side held out for the win to move out of the relegation zone up to 19th in the table, while Forest remain in 14th place.
Simon Sinclair
