Match ends, Bristol City 3, Port Vale 1.
Bristol CityBristol City3Port ValePort Vale1
Bristol City moved four points clear at the top of League One with a comfortable victory over Port Vale.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas put City ahead in the first half when he fired in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards out.
Joe Bryan's shot deflected off Freddie Veseli and looped over Chris Neal for 2-0 and Matt Smith capitalised on a poor back-pass to slot home the third.
Mark Marshall grabbed a consolation for Vale on 77 minutes with a low shot under goalkeeper Frank Fielding.
The visitors had a late flurry of chances, with Aden Flint having to clear off the line from Michael O'Connor, but City held out.
Steve Cotterill's side have now gone seven games unbeaten in the league and have a five-point cushion in the automatic promotion spots.
Port Vale dropped to 16th but are only six points off the play-offs in a congested table.
Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol:
"At times we played some very good football and at other times we were a bit sloppy.
"We were disappointed to concede a goal. At 3-0 we switched off a little bit.
"I knew this sort of performance would happen tonight, after MK Dons.
"After every big game it's difficult to get the lads back up. But I'm really pleased with the way we manoeuvred our way to three points."
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fielding
- 22Ayling
- 4Flint
- 3WilliamsSubstituted forCunninghamat 70'minutes
- 24Tavernier
- 8ElliottSubstituted forPackat 76'minutes
- 7Smith
- 15Freeman
- 23Bryan
- 10Emmanuel-Thomas
- 9SmithSubstituted forAgardat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Little
- 11Wagstaff
- 12Saville
- 13Richards
- 17Cunningham
- 19Agard
- 21Pack
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Neal
- 21Veseli
- 4Robertson
- 6DuffyBooked at 67mins
- 3Dickinson
- 7BirchallBooked at 37minsSubstituted forMooreat 68'minutes
- 17BrownSubstituted forLinesat 63'minutes
- 15O'Connor
- 20Marshall
- 28CampionSubstituted forLuerat 63'minutes
- 11Pope
Substitutes
- 2Yates
- 5McGivern
- 10Lines
- 12Johnson
- 16Luer
- 18O'Sullivan
- 19Moore
- Referee:
- Brendan Malone
- Attendance:
- 10,890
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol CityAway TeamPort Vale
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 3, Port Vale 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tom Pope (Port Vale) header from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Korey Smith (Bristol City).
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Tom Pope (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Luke Ayling (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Michael O'Connor (Port Vale).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Chris Lines (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt saved. Tom Pope (Port Vale) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Kieran Agard replaces Matt Smith.
Post update
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Bristol City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
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Hand ball by Matt Smith (Bristol City).
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Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Frederic Veseli.
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Greg Cunningham (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tom Pope (Port Vale).
Goal!
Goal! Bristol City 3, Port Vale 1. Mark Marshall (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Marlon Pack replaces Wade Elliott.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Luke Ayling.
Post update
Foul by Wade Elliott (Bristol City).
Post update
Michael O'Connor (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
