Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored both goals as Bristol City beat Doncaster Rovers 2-0 at Ashton Gate to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
© Getty Images
The hosts came close to taking the lead after just two minutes when Greg Cunningham picked out Matt Smith, but the striker could only nod wide.
Frank Fielding was called into action in the City goal courtesy of efforts from Curtis Main and James Coppinger, although both were fairly routine stops for the keeper.
Emmanuel-Thomas then sent Scott Wagstaff through on goal, but the midfielder lost his composure and rushed an attempted lob over the crossbar.
City continued to push for the opening goal and came close again through Mark Little and Aden Flint, both of whom squandered decent openings inside the box.
The latter was involved when the deadlock was finally broken, however, as Marko Marosi was only able to parry Flint's header straight to Emmanuel-Thomas, who nodded home the rebound from a yard out.
Doncaster pushed for an equaliser before the break and very nearly got it when Coppinger looked to have beaten the keeper, but Little was there to clear the ball off the line.
Fielding was then forced into another save to deny Enda Stevens in the dying stages of the half as the hosts hung on to their lead until the interval.
City almost doubled their lead in freak circumstances at the start of the second half when Marosi's attempted clearance hit the back of Smith, but luckily for Rovers the ball did not deflect into their net.
Emmanuel-Thomas turned creator on a couple of occasions shortly after, but neither Marlon Pack nor Smith could nod home his respective crosses.
Flint had an even better chance from an Emmanuel-Thomas delivery shortly after the hour mark, but he lifted his shot over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
It was down to Emmanuel-Thomas himself to give his side a cushion, however, doubling the lead with a cool finish after City had caught Doncaster on the break.
Smith almost made things even more comfortable five minutes from time when he fired narrowly wide, but City still saw out the victory to progress into the fourth round, where they will face either Everton or West Ham United.
Barney Corkhill
