BRISTOL City recorded their first victory in six attempts over Severnside rivals Cardiff City on Saturday in an action-packed game.

A bumper crowd of 21,692 were in attendance, including a sizeable following from Wales to witness a full-blooded match between two sides near the top of the Championship.

The first 15 minutes were played mostly in the middle third of the pitch with some strong tackles going in from players on both sides.

But the home fans didn’t have long to wait until the deadlock was broken. In the 20th minute, Djuric flicked on a high ball to Bryan who played a square pass to Irishman O’Dowda.

The former Oxford United winger dribbled forward before curling the ball with his left foot into the far corner of the net to put City 1-0 up.

Despite being a full Irish international at 22 years old, O’Dowda struggled to break into the first team last season but this season he is starting to show some real consistency to his performances.

Djuric and Bryan both then had opportunities to double City’s advantage but Etheridge in the visitors’ goal held firm.

Cardiff carried a threat too though and Bogle equalised just before half-time, not helped by some poor defending from Bryan and Magnusson.

Ten minutes into the second-half Bogle turned from hero to villainas he was sent-off for a late tackle on Pack. It was a proper ‘striker’s tackle’ and deserved of a red card.

City were in the ascendency and took the lead in the 66th minute. Magnusson made up for his earlier error of judgement with a characteristically huge throw-in into the box.

The ball was met by the head of defender Flint for the game’s decisive goal.

The result keeps City in fourth place in the Championship, now just a point behind third-placed Cardiff, going into this week’s international break.