Bristol City 2-0 Cardiff City: Tommy Conway and Rob Atkinson seal Severnside derby win
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Bristol City goalkeeper Daniel Bentley bravely spreads himself to deny Cardiff City's Rubin Colwill
Bristol City made it back-to-back league wins as Tommy Conway and Rob Atkinson struck in the Severnside derby against Cardiff City.
The impressive Conway headed home late in the first half before another header from Atkinson sealed the points.
Victory meant a happy 59th birthday for Robins manager Nigel Pearson, whose side climb to seventh in the early-season table.
Cardiff's second league loss of the new campaign sees them drop to 12th.
The wait for a first away triumph of 2022-23 goes on for Steve Morison's team, who would have moved into the Championship's top two with a win.
The Bluebirds had their moments in an entertaining contest, but Pearson will feel his side were worthy winners.
Fresh from a first league success of the new season in midweek, Bristol City began in confident mood.
With Cardiff not helped by the early loss of Joel Bagan - who was only playing after fellow left-back Jamilu Collins was ruled out for the season - the home side seized the early initiative.
What they did not get was an early lead, as Conway raced in behind but saw his shot parried by Ryan Allsop before the stretching Andreas Weimann lifted the rebound over the top.
The ball did find the net when Han-Noah Massengo bundled in from Weimann's cross, but the goal was rightly chalked off for a foul on Allsop.
The hosts came again, Joe Williams fluffing a presentable chance, before Cardiff suddenly conjured some attacking threat, with Romaine Sawyers' cross-shot turned onto the post by Dan Bentley.
Next Cedric Kipre's ball over the top sent Max Watters through on goal, but the Cardiff striker's hunt for a first goal of the season continues after his shot ricocheted off Bentley's shoulder onto the bar.
Kipre then found the side-netting himself as the Bluebirds dominated for a spell - only for the hosts to burst forward and go in front.
Atkinson did well to pick out Nahki Wells, and his measured cross was expertly placed inside the far corner by Conway.
It was a classy finish from the 20-year-old, who celebrated only his second Ashton Gate goal having scored the first against Luton Town five days ago.
The woodwork was soon rattling again as Weimann's half-volley flashed past Allsop but crashed off the bar, before a breathless half ended with Sheyi Ojo tapping in what he thought was a Cardiff equaliser only for the offside flag to delight the home crowd.
Further opportunities came and went after the break, with Jay Dasilva firing wide and Sawyers following suit, before a set-piece goal gave the Robins breathing space.
Kal Naismith curled a free-kick in from the left and Atkinson was left with the fairly simple task of heading past Allsop from point-blank range.
A Cardiff comeback never looked probable, although the story might have been different had Bentley not denied substitutes Mark Harris and Rubin Colwill.
Weimann thought he had scored a third Bristol City goal late on, only for his far-post finish to be ruled out for offside.
That mattered little to Pearson, who already had plenty to celebrate.
Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson told Sky Sports:
"It was a good way to spend my 59th birthday, a really hard-fought game.
"We could have scored more - it was a really good performance and a positive day for us.
"It was a very honest performance. The team is developing an identity we can be proud of. In all the games we've played so far there have been some positive things.
"I am really pleased with how we played. It's great to have good young players as part of it. We have quite a nice blend."
Cardiff City manager Steve Morison:
"I understand and everyone else understands, everything else doesn't matter - we lost the game. That's all anyone cares about and that's all we care about.
"It was always going to be a tough start to the game. Everyone is fresh, energetic. We saw that period out. They had one chance where Rocky (Ryan Allsop) makes a save.
"Then we have the big moment in the game where we have to score and then they go down and score. They got most of their chances through us committing men forward and them hitting us on the counter.
"It's all pretty much irrelevant. Nothing you say is going to have an effect. It's another derby defeat."