Bristol City on verge of the Premiership

4:38pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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BRISTOL CITY will contest the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, May 24 after defeating Crystal Palace 4-2 on aggregate in the semi final. City will play either Hull City or Watford.

On Saturday City had travelled to Selhurst Park and picked up a 2-1 victory over the Eagles. Backed by just over 2,000 travelling fans, in a game broadcast on Sky, Palace had started the brighter team. But City soon imposed themselves on the game and the best chance of the first half fell to Dele Adebola whose header was saved well by Palace 'keeper Julian Speroni.

Then just after the break City got the goal that their play had deserved. A well worked free kick routine nicknamed the weasel' saw Nick Carle slide the ball to captain Louis Carey who smashed the ball home for his first goal in 19 months.

But in-form Palace eventually found a way back into the game on 87 minutes when Carey fouled Jose Fonte in the penalty area. Ben Watson hammered home the resulting penalty to level the score.

However, City deservedly regained the lead in the second minute of stoppage time when last year's promotion hero David Noble unleashed an unstoppable 30 yard drive into the top corner of the net to make it 2-1.

On Tuesday the return leg was played at a buzzing Ashton Gate. The atmosphere was ferocious from the first minute and Palace looked uncomfortable as City pressed for an early goal that would all but end the tie.

But against the run of play City gifted their opponents the opening goal. A lack of communication between Basso and defender Jamie McCombe saw Watson send a looping header into the net.

City battled hard for the rest of what was an enthralling encounter but it was Palace who had the best chance to score and win the tie. Carle was adjudged to have hacked down Tom Soares in the penalty area. Watson stepped up to take the penalty kick - just as he had done on Saturday - but this time he smashed the ball against Basso's right hand post.

Ashton Gate was a cauldron of noise as the game entered extra time.

Then, just before the first period of extra time was due to end Lee Trundle curled a wonderful left footed shot from 20 yards to send the home fans into delirium.

Six minutes later Michael McIndoe ensured City's passage to the final with a thunderous free kick from all of 30 yards.

As the final whistle blew thousands of City fans invaded the pitch to celebrate a fantastic achievement in the club's first season back in the Championship.

Tickets go on sale this week for the big day at Wembley with 36,000 City fans expected to travel.