Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's
EFL Cup semi-final first leg between
Manchester City and Bristol City at the Etihad Stadium!
Man City clearly come into this match as the overwhelming favourites and will be looking to get the job all but done this evening, but they have been nowhere near as dominant in this competition while Bristol City have been no stranger to a giant killing so far this season, so it promises to be a fascinating encounter.
We will have a close look at both teams in a short while, but let's start with some team news...
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Bravo; Danilo, Stones, Mangala, Zinchenko; Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Yaya Toure, Sterling; Sane
MAN CITY SUBS: Ederson, Walker, Aguero, Delph, Fernandinho, Diaz, Adarabioyo
BRISTOL CITY STARTING XI: Fielding; Wright, Flint, Baker, Magnusson; Brownhill, Pack, Smith, Bryan; Paterson; Reid
BRISTOL CITY SUBS: Steele, Vyner, Kelly, Eliasson, Walsh, Engvall, Taylor
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, the headline news from the Manchester City camp is that Sergio Aguero is left out of the starting lineup, and the team sheet released by City appears to suggest that either Sane or Sterling will feature as the main striker in his stead this evening.
Gabriel Jesus is still injured of course, leaving City without a recognised striker in their XI tonight, although Aguero does still make the bench. There should still be no shortage of goals in that Man City lineup, though.
Raheem Sterling will arguably be the main man to watch for Bristol City, with the England international having popped up with lots of important goals already this season in what has been a career-best campaign for him even at this stage.
Sane has been no stranger to goals and assists himself either, and he was on the scoresheet just a few days ago in the FA Cup win over Burnley. Interesting, Sterling and Sane have both started those two cup games having also featured in the preceding Premier League game, so there isn't much rest for them during this busy period.
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Bernardo was also on the scoresheet against Burnley having climbed off the bench to cap off the scoring, and the winger's inclusion in the starting lineup this evening is one of four changes made by
Pep Guardiola to that FA Cup team on Saturday.
Kevin De Bruyne is the most notable player to come back into the side has he replaces David Silva, who has returned to Spain to be with his premature son after starting the last two games. Mangala and Yaya Toure make up the four changes as Guardiola tries to keep things fresh.
Claudio Bravo, who was the hero in the penalty shootout against Leicester in the last round, retains his place as the cup goalkeeper having also played against Burnley at the weekend, while there is also more game time for Danilo, Zinchenko and Gundogan, all of whom have not seen much in the Premier League this season.
It is a still a strong starting XI from the home side despite only perhaps four players from it making it into a full-strength lineup, which goes to show the depth at Guardiola's disposal.
Bristol City, meanwhile, are able to start the quarter-final hero Korey Smith in the middle of the park following an injury scare during the FA Cup defeat to Watford at the weekend.
Smith was forced off at half time at Vicarage Road after picking up a knock, but he has recovered in time to start this match and will be hoping to down another Manchester club after scoring the late winner to knock United out in the last round.
There is also a notable inclusion on the bench for Bristol City today as Liam Walsh is thrown straight into the matchday squad, having only joined on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Everton earlier this week.
Walsh is on the bench alongside Matt Taylor, who has been involved in more EFL Cup goals than any other player this season (two goals, two assists), but still doesn't make the starting lineup tonight.
A number of players do return to the starting lineup this evening, though, with Bristol City having rested many of their first-teamers for the FA Cup tie with Watford in preparation for tonight's game, which clearly takes priority at this stage.
Captain Bailey Wright is amongst those to return alongside the likes of Nathan Baker, Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid, leaving Bristol City more or less at full strength for this daunting trip.
Indeed, the visitors have made no fewer than eight changes to their starting lineup tonight from their FA Cup defeat at Watford, including a nod in goal for Frank Fielding, who was left out of the quarter-final win over Manchester United too.
Aside from that change between the sticks, though, this is exactly the same starting XI which recorded that famous victory at Ashton Gate, so they will be full of belief that they can do something similar tonight.
Of course, for all of Manchester United's strength and star quality, facing them at Ashton Gate is still a different kettle of fish from taking on this Manchester City side at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City have been by far and away the dominant force in English football this season and the dream of a quadruple is still very much alive. There is still a long way to go, of course, but the Premier League title looks all but sewn up, the draw has favoured them in this competition, they have cruised through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and they are among the favourites for the Champions League too.
It is shaping up to be a truly incredible campaign which will be remembered for decades to come.
The hope for Bristol City tonight will be that Man City's dominance hasn't quite stretched into this competition, despite them still managing to reach the semi-finals.
It only takes one off day to end City's quadruple hopes, and the closest that has come to happening has been in this competition. Indeed, Guardiola's side have needed penalties to get through the last two rounds, drawing 0-0 with Wolves and then 1-1 against Leicester.
They also only scraped past West Brom 2-1 in the third round too, so they haven't been the unstoppable force we are used to seeing in the EFL Cup.
Even so, they remain clear favourites to not only win this tie but also go all the way to lift the trophy. Many will even expect them to get the job all but done this evening against Championship opposition, allowing them to take their foot off the pedal for the return fixture in two week's time,
City are, after all, unbeaten in their last 35 matches on English soil, a run which stretches back to April and includes 29 games unbeaten this season.
Across all competitions City have only been beaten once all season - away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League - and their record grows even greater when you consider that they have won a staggering 29 of their 32 outings this term.
It is even a surprise when City draw a game now such has been their dominance, so anything other than a heavy defeat would be an acceptable result for Bristol City tonight - so long as they are not out of the tie entirely.
Man City have won their last 15 matches here at the Etihad Stadium across all competitions, scoring 47 goals in that time at an average of over three per game whilst conceding only nine since their 1-1 draw with Everton in August.
You have to go back to December 2016 for the last time Man City lost a game here, with Chelsea running out 3-1 winners then. Since that defeat, Man City have won 25 and drawn seven of their 32 home games.
Man City have also won eight of their last nine EFL Cup home games stretching back to September 2012, with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United in October 2014 the only exception during that time.
City have scored 33 goals across that period too, although they have only had one EFL Cup game here so far this season and they drew a blank in that one, requiring penalties to edge past Championship leaders Wolves.
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City did make it through, though, and they have now progressed from their last eight League Cup ties against lower-league opposition, scoring 28 goals in the process since a September 2008 loss at the hands of Brighton.
City's run last season was ended by local rivals and eventual winners Manchester United in the fourth round, meaning that this could still be Pep Guardiola's first trophy in England if he lifts it this season. City have won the League Cup four times in the past - including twice in the last four seasons - so they have decent pedigree in the competition.
The same could not be said of tonight's opponents, who are appearing in the semi-final of a major cup competition for the first time since 1988-89.
In fact, this is the joint-closest Bristol City have ever come to getting their hands on this trophy, having also previously reached the last four in 1970-71 and 1988-89. You have to go all the way back to 1909 for their only ever appearance in the major cup final, when they were beaten in the FA Cup showpiece.
This is very much unfamiliar ground for Bristol City, then, but they could be mixing with the likes of Manchester City on a regular basis next season if they keep up their promotion charge in the Championship.
Lee Johnson's side have emerged as unlikely candidates for not only the playoffs, but also one of the automatic promotion spots with only two points separating them from second-placed Derby County. Bristol City are currently five points clear of fifth too, so their main focus can be on those automatic promotion spots.
As things stand it is a three-way battle between Derby, Cardiff and Bristol City for second place, with leaders Wolves streaking clear at the top of the table, but things could have been even better for Bristol had it not been for their recent slump in form.
Lee Johnson's side have lost their last two Championship outings - the first time they have been beaten back-to-back all season - and including the FA Cup defeat to Watford as well they come into this game off the back to three successive losses.
This is now their worst losing run in more than a year, and is a severe dip in form from their record if six wins and no defeats in their seven games prior to that, so Lee Johnson will be desperate to arrest that quickly so that their promotion charge doesn't fade in the second half of the season.
It may well be that the players began to have one eye on this match, but they have now lost as many games in their last three outings as they had in their previous 29 across all competitions this season.
A 5-0 defeat at Aston Villa will be the most worrying of those defeats, and coupled with the 3-0 loss to Watford in the FA Cup at the weekend Bristol City come into this match having conceded eight goals without replay in their last two away games.
Even so, their away form this season has been a massive improvement on last term. City had been unbeaten in 12 outings on the road before those two defeats and have only lost three away games all season, whereas at this stage last term they had already been beaten nine times on their travels.
Defeat today would make it three consecutive away losses for the first time since December 2016, but only leaders Wolves have picked up more away points so far this season, so there may be a glimmer of hope for them to come away from this game with something.
Bristol City have certainly impressed on the road in this competition too, winning their last four such games stretching back to August 2015, although their only away game of this season's run was a 3-2 triumph over Watford.
Bristol City have won all five of their EFL Cup games this season inside normal time, including four against Premier League outfits, which is the joint-best tally from a non-league club since Sheffield Wednesday in 1990-91 - and they went on to lift the trophy.
Bristol City are also the top scorers in this season's competition with 16 goals from just 32 shots on target, whereas Man City are surprisingly the lowest scorers remaining having found the back of the net only three times from 20 shots on target.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Etihad Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!
The fact that this is in the EFL Cup makes this more difficult as Man City have generally underperformed in the competition this season, whereas Bristol City have punched above their weight. However, now that they are only a few wins away from the trophy I expect Man City to take this one very seriously now, and if they do it is hard to see Bristol City being able to stop them.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Man City 4-0 Bristol City
These two teams have not met each other in any competition since August 2007, back when Manchester City were managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson and they didn't quite have the plethora of stars to call upon as they do now.
Even so, Man City still ran out 2-1 winners in their League Cup second round tie in August, with Emile Mpenza and Rolando Bianchi on the scoresheet.
That 2007 meeting is the only time these two have faced each other since 1980, but Man City have still had the better of the most recent clashes between these two.
Tonight's hosts have only lost one of their last seven editions of this fixture, winning four and drawing two in that time, including a 3-1 win on Bristol City's most recent away game against Man City.
Should Bristol City somehow manage to pull off a win tonight then it would not only be one of the biggest shocks in recent years, but it would also be their first win away to Man City for more than a century.
You have to go back 107 years to 1911 for their last away triumph in this fixture, drawing one and losing five of their visits since then - including four defeats in a row heading into tonight's game.
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to go here at the Etihad! A quick reminder of the team news before we do get started...
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Bravo; Danilo, Stones, Mangala, Zinchenko; Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Yaya Toure, Sterling; Sane
BRISTOL CITY STARTING XI: Fielding; Wright, Flint, Baker, Magnusson; Brownhill, Pack, Smith, Bryan; Paterson; Reid
KICKOFF: Here we go then! Bristol City get us underway at the Etihad!
No surprises that Man City are dominating the early possession, and they have broken into the opposition box already with Bernardo slipping a pass inside for De Bruyne, who saw his low cross blocked.
It is Raheem Sterling who is playing as Man City's main striker through the middle in these early stages, with Bernardo and Sane either side of him.
SAVE! Fielding is called into action for the first time as he swings a cross/shot from the left flank towards the top corner, with most expecting the cross. Fielding helps it on its way behind for a corner, though.
Bristol City come forward for the first time tonight and, while it comes to nothing, it is at least an encouraging moment in the opening exchanges for the visitors.
Fielding comes off his line to sweep up a through-ball, but it bounces out to Bernardo with the keeper in no-man's land. Bristol City get visitors back, though, and eventually crowd Man City out to clear the danger.
SHOT! Gundogan works himself some space to shoot from around 25 yards from goal, but he fluffs his lines and sends his effort comfortably wide.
Bristol City get the 'Ole!' treatment from their fans following a good spell of possession inside the Manchester City half. These visiting supporters are determined to make the most of anything their team do well tonight!
Almost a chance for Bristol City as a long throw is only cleared as far as Paterson, but his volley is quickly closed down by a defender.
I suspect Kevin De Bruyne will be dropping quite a few passes over the top of the Bristol City defence tonight. Raheem Sterling is up against the giant Aiden Flint, which is a huge mismatch for pace.
CLOSE! The hosts are beginning to knock on the door now! Sane and Sterling combine to find Bernardo on the right channel and he works space to shoot before letting fly from inside the box. The ball takes a deflection off a defender and loops towards goal, but it ripples the side-netting on its way just wide.
SAVE! Bristol City immediately break up the other end and force Bravo into the first serious save either keeper has had to make tonight. It is Bryan who goes from goal from outside the pitch, but Bravo dives across to his right to parry the ball away.
Bristol City have actually seen 45% of the ball in these opening 20 minutes or so, which is significantly higher than many would have been expecting. They have more than held their own against the Premier League leaders so far!
CHANCE! Half a chance for the hosts again here as Bristol City are caught in possession inside their own half. Man City are so quick to pounce, but Bernardo skews his eventual effort wide of the target when he should have done better.
We're a quarter of the way through this match and so far Bristol City will be very encouraged by what they have seen. We have seen how quickly Man City can turn a game on its head as recently as the weekend win over Burnley, though, so the visitors need to keep their concentration here.
Bristol City have had a few chances to get the ball in the box from throw-ins and corners so far, which may be their best bet tonight due to the height of Flint in the middle.
SAVE! Bristol City have almost shot themselves in the foot on a couple of occasions by trying to play out from the back, and they do so again here. Fielding cuts out a low Sane cross, but the visitors then gift possession straight back to De Bruyne, whose whipped effort from the left is again kept out by Fielding.
If Bristol City planned to separate this half into stages to reach, they are now nearing the half-hour mark. The hosts continue to see more of the ball, but it is by no means one-way traffic.
Zinchenko tries his luck from all of 35 yards out, but even from that range his shot is immediately blocked. Still no way through for the home side at the moment.
Manchester City's threat has steadily grown in the last 10 minutes or so, with Bristol City finding it more and more difficult to make something stick up front now. The visitors knew it would be like this, but that doesn't make it any easier.
De Bruyne whips another free kick into the box which Fielding comes to claim, but he spills the ball only to recover quickly before either Mangala or Sterling could pounce.
CHANCE! Chance for the visitors as a cross into the box is only cleared as far as the edge, where Marlon Pack is running on to it. He connects with his shot quite well too, but it is too close to Bravo, who makes the save.
I mentioned that it was not all one-way traffic a little earlier, but it is getting towards that stage now. Bristol City just cannot get out at the moment.
CHANCE! Almost a chance for Man City as they take a corner quickly and Gundogan cuts inside onto his right before letting fly. His effort takes a deflection, but that almost takes it into the path of Mangala, who just cannot steer it goalwards.
SHOTS! Man City break quickly again here, but they have been strangely lacking in quality in the final third. This time it is Bernardo who gets his finish all wrong with an effort dragged across the box, and Gundogan then blazes the final effort well over from the edge of the box.
Just six minutes lest for Bristol City to hold out until half time here! Indeed, they may do even better than that as they have just won a corner...
Flint naturally climbs highest from the resulting delivery, but he can't get any power behind his header and it is easy for Bravo to gather.
CHANCE! Chance for Bristol City again as they burst forward in numbers as soon as they get the ball back. Bryan is released down the left and looks to be going for goal, but his effort is dragged horribly. That actually takes it into the path of Paterson, but he can't get enough on it to beat Bravo.
PENALTY TO BRISTOL CITY!
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Bristol City (Bobby Reid)
Incredible scenes at the Etihad Stadium! Bristol City cap off a really encouraging first half by taking the lead right at the death!
Mangala is initially at fault for giving the ball away, which allows Brownhill to race down the right. He cuts inside before feeding the ball into Reid, who gets there before Stones's rash challenge and then goes tumbling to the ground. Anthony Taylor has no choice but to point to the spot, and Reid dusts himself off to tuck the penalty right into the bottom corner.
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The Bristol City fans are going wild as the fourth official indicates two minutes of added time.
OFF THE LINE! Incredible piece of defending from Flint! Man City almost respond immediately as Sterling is slipped in down the right channel, but Fielding is quickly off his line. That forces Sterling to lift the ball over the keeper, and Flint gets back on the line to use every inch of his 6 foot 5 frame to flick the ball over the crossbar. Brilliant defending.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 0-1 Bristol City
Aside from the stunning nature of that Bristol City goal, it also means that we are treated to their latest gif for a goalscorer...
Well, we're on course for an almighty upset at the halfway stage of this match as Bristol City take a 1-0 lead into the break against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City have seen the lion's share of possession as expected, but they haven't had things all their own way and are yet to really trouble Frank Fielding too much. The visitors will be delighted.
Bristol City's goal came just a couple of minutes before half time when Mangala lost possession and then John Stones put in a rash challenge on Reid inside the area to concede a quite clear penalty.
Referee Anthony Taylor had no doubt when pointing to the spot, and Reid stepped up to tuck it away himself despite Bravo guessing the right way.
Man City almost responded immediately when Sterling was sent through down the right channel and lifted his finish over Frank Fielding to seemingly restore parity just two minutes after falling behind.
However, Aden Flint used every inch of his giant frame to flick the ball over the crossbar and deny a certain goal on the line.
KICKOFF: Manchester City get us back underway for the start of the second half.
Bristol City fans are obviously enjoying this, but there is still such a long way to go both tonight and in this tie. Burnley were a goal to the good here at the weekend and still lost 4-1, while Bristol City still have another match to play even if they do manage to hold on to this.
CHANCE! The first opening of the second half falls to Man City as De Bruyne finds Sane, but the winger takes one touch too many before dragging a poor effort well wide of the target.
CHANCE! Flint is close to getting on the end of a corner, but within the blink of an eye Man City are tearing forward on the counter. Pack gives the ball away and Sterling is immediately released in a two-on-one situation. Brownhill works really hard to get back and prevent Sterling from cutting inside onto his right, though, and in the end he can only fire a left-footed strike straight at Fielding, who makes a good save.
Man City have had their chances today, but they haven't been as clinical as we are used to in the final third. Every member of the Bristol City team is working so hard to help defend too.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Bristol City (Kevin De Bruyne)
This is the Man City we are more used to seeing. Within seconds they get from Bravo to having the ball in the back of the net, and it is no surprise that De Bruyne is heavily involved.
Bravo beats the Bristol City press with a pass into midfield for De Bruyne, who carries it a long way forward. He then gives it out to Sterling before receiving the return ball back and sweeping a vicious finish past a helpless Fielding.
YELLOW CARD! A bizarre yellow card for Flint as he knocks the ball back to his keeper, but then clearly body-checks the chasing man to concede a free kick right on the edge of the box.
YELLOW CARD! Before the free kick can be taken, Smith also goes into the book.
After a lengthy discussion between four Man City players the ball is laid off to De Bruyne from the free kick, but his low drive doesn't make it further than the wall.
YELLOW CARD! Bryan is the latest to go in the book for a clumsy challenge on De Bruyne, who had just nipped in to steal the ball before the Bristol City man.
CLOSE! Sane whips the resulting free kick into the middle and Fielding spills it into a dangerous area, but Bristol City survive despite Mangala being in attendance.
Zinchenko plays the ball through for Sane down the left channel and he tries to stand a cross up into the middle, but it takes a deflection and lands on the roof of the net.
Bristol City have done a decent job of quelling the growing Man City momentum in the last few minutes, but I suspect it may only be a temporary reprieve. It just feels as though the hosts have a couple more goals in them tonight.
Bristol City are being pinned back into their own half right now. City are just patiently knocking the ball about, probing for a way through.
CHANCE! Just like that, the hosts do burst into action. A low ball arrives in the box from the right flank and Sterling does really well to get in front of his marker, but Fielding is in the right place to make a smart save. Big chance.
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Gundogan slips the ball to Sane, but he drags his low finish a yard or so past the far post when he should have done better.
MAN CITY SUB: Guardiola decides that it is time for Sergio Aguero now as he replaces Yaya Toure.
BRISTOL CITY SUB: The visitors respond with a change of their own, and it is a debut for Liam Walsh as he replaces Magnusson.
Just 15 minutes remaining in this match now, and Bristol City have so far avoided any further damage following that shaky start to the second half. A draw would be a very good result for them tonight.
The pressure is beginning to grow on Bristol City again now, and they will be fully aware of how many times Man City has rescued victory from the jaws of a draw late on this season. We're approaching Sterling time.
MAN CITY SUB: Another change for the hosts here as Kyle Walker replaces Zinchenko.
Decent spell from Bristol City as they keep the ball inside the Man City half for a moment. They never look like threatening Bravo's goal, but every second the ball is so far away from their own goal they will be happy enough.
It has been a brilliant performance from Bristol City tonight. Even if they do concede a late goal here, they can hold their heads up high and they certainly look like still being in the tie for the return at Ashton Gate in a fortnight's time.
Just five minutes remaining now! Can Bristol City hold out to become only the second visiting team to avoid defeat at the Etihad Stadium this season?
CLOSE! Brilliant from De Bruyne as he moves up a gear to dance past two or three defenders before poking his finish towards goal which takes a slight deflection on its way narrowly past the post.
CHANCE! What a way this would have been to mark a debut! The ball breaks to Walsh inside the box, but the new Bristol City man rushes his finish and skews it off target.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match!
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Bristol City (Sergio Aguero)
Heartbreak for Bristol City! Sergio Aguero wins it late on for the hosts to surely now give them the lead heading into the second leg!
Bernardo clips a cross into the box and Aguero darts in front of his man, beating the keeper to the ball as well to flick his header home.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 2-1 Bristol City
What a killer blow that is for Bristol City right at the death as their valiant efforts ultimately come to nothing on the night courtesy of Aguero's late winner.
In truth, many Bristol City fans may have taken a 2-1 defeat tonight before kickoff, but having taken the lead through Bobby Reid and then been level going into injury time, that defeat will feel like a hammer blow for the Championship outfit.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Man City leave it late to build a 2-1 first-leg lead in their EFL Cup semi-final with Bristol City. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from the Etihad too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
