Match ends, Bristol City 8, Walsall 2.
Bristol CityBristol City8WalsallWalsall2
Champions Bristol City thrashed Walsall, prior to being presented with the League One trophy at Ashton Gate.
Jordy Hiwula slotted the Saddlers into a surprise lead, but Aden Flint's volley and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas's penalty turned the match around.
Hiwula scored again to equalise before the rout began in the second half.
Defender Flint added two more for his hat-trick, Emmanuel-Thomas and Kieran Agard completed braces and Marlon Pack also scored in a remarkable 45 minutes.
Former Swindon Town centre-half Flint's treble was the highlight for the hosts, as he took his personal tally up to 15 for the season and capped an amazing afternoon for Steve Cotterill's side.
The game, which had little riding on it for either team, had been evenly poised before Agard's strike on the counter-attack early in the second half sparked a Saddlers capitulation.
The Robins, who lifted the league trophy in front of a jubilant Ashton Gate crowd, ended their campaign on 99 points, the highest tally ever achieved in the club's history.
Dean Smith's Walsall, meanwhile, finished 13th in the table, having gone seven matches unbeaten before their miserable final-day defeat.
Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol:
"In the first half, we were a bit sloppy. There were a few reminders needed at half-time. I said 'if we play properly, we'll score a few' and in the second half we did that. It was just a little prick of their conscience.
"This season, from minute one until the 93rd minute on the last day of the season, they've played properly every week.
"I said to the strikers at the end of the game that they should be ashamed of themselves when someone like Aden Flint has gone out there and scored three.
"I didn't want to look at him, because I knew the size of the grin that was going to be on that face. He's had a brilliant season."
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fielding
- 22Ayling
- 4Flint
- 3Williams
- 24TavernierSubstituted forWagstaffat 80'minutes
- 7Smith
- 21Pack
- 15FreemanSubstituted forElliottat 83'minutes
- 23Bryan
- 19Agard
- 10Emmanuel-ThomasSubstituted forBurnsat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Osborne
- 8Elliott
- 11Wagstaff
- 13Richards
- 17Cunningham
- 20Burns
Walsall
Formation 4-3-3
- 13MacGillivray
- 2PurkissSubstituted forDowningat 68'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 4O'Connor
- 15Chambers
- 14BenningSubstituted forTaylorat 68'minutes
- 7ChambersBooked at 72mins
- 12CainSubstituted forSawyersat 68'minutes
- 8Mantom
- 18Morris
- 9Bradshaw
- 30Hiwula-Mayifuila
Substitutes
- 1O'Donnell
- 3Taylor
- 6Downing
- 10Sawyers
- 17Flanagan
- 21Cook
- 27Forde
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 11,960
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol CityAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home13
- Away7
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 8, Walsall 2.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol City 8, Walsall 2. Kieran Agard (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Korey Smith.
Booking
Paul Downing (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Marlon Pack (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Downing (Walsall).
Goal!
Goal! Bristol City 7, Walsall 2. Aden Flint (Bristol City) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Wade Elliott (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Craig MacGillivray.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joe Bryan (Bristol City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Wade Elliott replaces Luke Freeman.
Post update
Attempt saved. Andy Taylor (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Scott Wagstaff replaces James Tavernier.
Post update
Attempt saved. Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Andy Taylor.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Tavernier (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Adam Chambers (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Korey Smith (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
Post update
Derrick Williams (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
