Youngsters Benarous and Scott shine: Key talking points from Bristol City’s 1-0 win over Stoke City

Bristol City sent their home fans happy as they fought to defeat Stoke City 1-0 at Ashton Gate in a EFL Championship midweek fixture.

Tyreeq Bakinson scored the only goal as the Robins out muscled the Staffordshire side in a gritty affair with Joe Allen being sent off to make for a torrid evening for the Potters.

City moved themselves up to 18th, distancing themselves from a relegation scrap, as they try to look up rather than down.

Time to make Ashton Gate a fortress

Home wins have been a rarity and this was just the second win that home fans have witnessed this year since the return of fans.

Given the draw against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, there is a chance now to at least make AG a place in which it is hard for away teams to play at.

Credit has to be given to the fans who made for an atmosphere which inspired the team to victory. Nigel Pearson in his post-match press conference put praise on the supporters.

His opinions were matched by those in attendance, City fan Ashton Adams said: “Ashton Gate when the crowd is behind the team.. is my happy place. Resilient to the end tonight. Felt like the League One days that did.”

Martin McConachie meanwhile said: “Another Bristol City performance where, I swear, the crowd got them over the line. The noise in stoppage time was immense, the team need that every game from the start.”

You can’t win anything with kids…

Alan Hansen once said you can’t win anything with kids. It’s a saying which came back to bite him and it is always used when young players do well.

The theme for City right now is fielding young players and you have to hand it to Nigel Pearson, it’s the experience that they need.

It isn’t always going to go right for them but this was a night in which the performance and the result came.

Ayman Benarous, who to the surprise of neutral fans is only 18-years-old, but on Tuesday evening, he put in a performance beyond his years.

Benarous was composed by making a number of key tackles, as well as playing a number of accurate passes.

Alex Scott is another player that is enjoying a run in the side and some of the tackles he made earned an applause from the crowd.

He was fortunate to perhaps stay on the pitch as he lunged in on Steven Fletcher but once he was cautioned, he calmed down his play.

Fortune needed...

There was a feeling of fortune from that win last night. Stoke had two chances which they should have taken early on. Steve Fletcher in the first minute hit the crossbar whilst Jacob Brown failed to pounce on Joe Williams’ error.

The goal from Bakinson was taken against the run of play and then there was some fortunate refereeing decisions. As mentioned, Scott was lucky to stay on the pitch for a foul. Some tussling in the box then came from a corner in which the Sky Sports commentators believed were multiple incidents of a potential penalty.

Steve Fletcher then headed against the crossbar for a second time, which perhaps showed that luck was really on their side in the win.

There was nothing fortunate about Joe Allen’s red card for Stoke though, as he was sent off in stoppage time. Credit to the City players for tempting the Welshman into making that foul.