BRISTOL City moved a step closer towards automatic promotion to the Championship with an emphatic 3-0 victory over West Country rivals Swindon Town at Ashton Gate on Tuesday evening in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

A sell-out crowd were treated to a high-intensity game. City were out to avenge a controversial 1-0 defeat at the County Ground earlier in the season when they played the majority of the game with just 10 men. But revenge proved to be sweet on Tuesday night as City had the rub of the green and ran out convincing, and in the end deserved winners.

The away side had the balance of play early on but City struck through striker Agard with just nine minutes of the first half remaining. City’s high pressing game paid dividends and Freeman fed the former Rotherham man, who finished impressively from close range. Prior to this it has to be said that it appeared City were robbed of two clear penalties – both culminating from fouls on defender Flint. Firstly the big man was held back when a Smith cross came into the box and then he was clearly elbowed off the ball by Swindon’s Branco in a second incident. Frankly, the Brazilian defender should’ve been sent off for the latter offence and a penalty awarded to City.

The second half was an end-to-end affair with both teams going close on occasion. But Swindon proved to have a soft underbelly late on and City struck decisively for the win. Firstly, the excellent Joe Bryan finished superbly from the edge of the area on 80 minutes to make it 2-0 and then with just three minutes remaining Wilbraham tapped in Freeman’s cross to make it 3-0 to the home side.

City are now eight points clear of second-placed Preston who they face this Saturday at Deepdale in a game that could potentially settle the League One title.

Certainly, if City win then the league is ours to lose. But Preston have been in excellent form, winning seven of their last ten games. I fancy a draw here but here’s hoping City can do the business and all but secure a first league title in over fifty years.

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