BRISTOL CITY took a share of the spoils with Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s season opener at Ashton Gate in front of a crowd of 22,395.

We got off to a flying start in front of a boisterous home crowd on a hot summer’s day in BS3.

Our tempo and energy was impressive and winger Eliasson, making his first league start, was proving too much to handle for Forest’s right-back.

It was another league debutant Weimann that benefited from the lively Eliasson in just the fifth minute of play.

The Swedish youngster whipped a lovely ball into the box and Weimann’s goal bound header could not be kept out by Pantilimon in the Forest goal.

City remained on top for the first 20 minutes but then Karanka’s Forest side grew into the game more and began to take hold of possession.

Nevertheless, opportunities for either side remained far and few between.

Less than a minute into the second half, Forest were back on level terms.

The goal wasn’t too dissimilar to the one City had scored. Guedioura put a pinpoint cross into the area and Murphy’s deft header to the far post had Maenpaa in the City goal easily beaten.

City had to do the majority of the defending for the remainder of the game but limited Forest to half chances.

Head coach Johnson’s substitutions in the 68th minute bringing on Taylor and Smith helped us in that regard.

City now look forward to a game at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (3pm) before Plymouth Argyle travel to Ashton Gate in the first round of the Carabao Cup at 7.45pm.

City could lose their third key player for big money this summer, with a bid accepted for Joe Bryan from Aston Villa.

Should the 24-year-old depart City, he will follow Reid and Flint who have already left for a combined £17 million approx.

Expectations this season are that City compete in the top-half of the Championship.

Attaining a place in the playoffs won't be easy after losing so many influential players in one transfer window, but Johnson likely won't rule out the possibility.

It was good to see some fighting spirit from City and to see them digging deep to keep Forest at bay when Karanka's men were on the ascendency.

Not a bad start to the season.