How Did They Do?

'Grew in stature' - Bristol City player ratings after Robins beat Exeter City in the Carabao Cup
Our City reporter's view from Ashton Gate as Dean Holden was able to secure a 2-0 win in his first game as permanent head coach

Dan Bentley - 7
The City no.1 kicked well and calmly kept the ball from the chasing Bowman and Jay. Did well to handle a difficult Williams free-kick in the first half as well as stop a Jay shot from the edge of the box.

Zak Vyner - 6
Not enough ambition in his play although mastered most of the duels that came down City's right side. Went down at one point in the second half but was soon back up to ping a magnificent 35-yarder to Hunt's feet and begin an attack.

Taylor Moore - 7
Being in the centre suited him as he raided forward with the ball from the back three into the vacant space, kick-starting plenty of City attacks. Grew in stature as he tamed Bowman and co repeatedly across the game.

Tommy Rowe - 6
Didn't look out of place in the back three, helping Dasilva to deal with the danger offered by Randell Williams. His overlapping runs down the left created space for the excellent Dasilva to cross at times too.

Jack Hunt - 7
Great cross for the goal, with Holden's 3-5-2 enabling the right-wing back to spend more time attacking than defending. And an even better for the second as he slotted through the legs of the defender in front to set up Semenyo.

Jay Dasilva - 8
Initially caught out by Williams in the duel of the game but roared back to handle the sparking Exeter City dangerman with gloves on, while several exquisite touches saw Dasilva strutting forward on the attack as he beat his marker and carried down the left flank. A couple of Tigerish tackles in the second half capped his display.

Han-Noah Massengo - 8
The Frenchman was another who started slowly but who grew into the game, scampering around in front of the back three to win plenty of challenges and dispossess Jay and Bowman before they could get shots away. One delicious piece of footwork saw him horribly upended just before the break.

Jamie Paterson - 7
Converted Hunt's pull-back in the first half in his biggest contribution but a couple of sloppy free--kicks given away in the second half redressed the balance. One neat pass did set up Diedhiou to shoot however.

Andi Weimann - 7
Wasn't always accurate with his through-balls but made the telling pass on 35 minutes to set up Hunt to cross and City to score via Paterson.

Nahki Wells - 6
Got two shots away down the left channel in the first half, while a sublime flick with his foot while holding up the ball showed his hold-up play. Whacked another left-footed blast wide in the second period too.

Famara Diedhiou - 5
Miscontrolled in the area in the first half when a driven cross from Paterson reached him before heading a Rowe corner wide from a few yards out. Sliced horribly wide in the second half. Not his best day at the office.

Substitutes
Tyreeq Bakinson - n/a (80', for Massengo)
Slotted into the back four taking Moore's place as the central centre-back, pushing Moore wide.

Antoine Semenyo - n/a (81' for Diedhiou)
Scored his first goal as the substitute started the move by collecting the ball wide before his shot was deflected to Hunt, before another low cross was collected and stabbed in from two yards out.

James Morton - n/a (89', for Rowe)
Ran on to take a corner as he got injury time playing just in front of the back four.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/grew-stature-bristol-city-player-4488679

Report: Bristol City 2-0 Exeter City
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/report-bristol-city-2-0-exeter-city/

 

It's good to see that including substitutes 5 of the team that played all came through our own academy.