Bristol City 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
- Published
Bobby Reid scored the first hat-trick of his career as Bristol City swept aside Sheffield Wednesday to move back into the Championship play-off places.
City, with just one win in 10 league games, scored three superb team goals to take control before half-time.
Reid twice produced fine low finishes, the first after a one-two with Josh Brownhill, who made it 3-0 himself following Jamie Paterson's backheel.
Reid netted his 19th of the season from the spot after Marlon Pack was fouled.
The 25-year-old, converted from a midfielder into a striker by head coach Lee Johnson in the summer, has scored more goals in 2017-18 than the rest of his professional career combined.
His clever movement and quick feet was integral to City's attacking display, setting the platform for the Robins to move above Sheffield United and Middlesbrough and back into sixth spot.
Wednesday, who have won only once since Boxing Day, did create a couple of good chances - with Atdhe Nuhiu blazing their best opportunity over the bar when the score was 1-0.
The Owls, who are 17th in the table, stay seven points clear of the bottom three.
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson:
"Some of our football today was very impressive and the game was everything I could have hoped for. A lot of work from a lot of people went into getting it on and I am delighted that that work was rewarded.
"The goals resulted from some great moves and I couldn't have asked for more. I told the players I was prepared to take the blame if errors resulted from the way we tried to play and I think that was important.
"Bobby Reid is having a fantastic season and is still relatively new to his position, so I think there is even more to come from him."
Sheffield Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay:
"They were too strong for us today and had too much quality. You have to give them a lot of credit for the way they played.
"Their two strikers caused us a lot of problems and we couldn't handle them in offensive situations. One of them is among the top scorers in our league.
"Sometimes you have to admit that an opponent is stronger than yourselves and that was the case. In the first half we didn't only struggle at the back. When we got possession of the ball we had no solution as to how to use it."
- Published28 February 2018