The Severnside derby ended in an intriguing 1-1 stalemate, although Bristol City managed to salvage a point thanks to a stunning header from Luke McNally against Cardiff.
Anwar El Ghazi, a winger for Cardiff, missed a great opportunity to score from close range in a first half that the Robins otherwise dominated.
After Bristol City gave up the ball cheaply, Bluebirds winger Ollie Tanner stunned the opposition by beating two defenders and smashing the ball into the top corner to break the deadlock.
On 73 minutes, McNally headed home a header as Cardiff failed to fully clear after Fally Mayulu struck the post, leaving them to regret their wasted chances to score a second goal.
Though it was undoubtedly a fair result, neither club gains much of any much-needed impetus heading into the international break from a draw.
It is fair to say that this season has not yet panned out as either Bristol City or Cardiff City had hoped, with the two sides coming into the Severnside derby in 17th and 24th respectively in the Championship.
Liam Manning’s side had at least enjoyed two recent draws and a clean sheet last time out, with the Robins unchanged from their 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Cardiff interim boss Omer Riza also named an unchanged XI after Cardiff’s first win of the season against Millwall.
The Bluebirds have enjoyed recent supremacy in a fixture that is often feisty, winning the past three games against their rivals from over the bridge.
It was the hosts who produced the first opportunity of the match, but Sinclair Armstrong’s shot was saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Jac Alnwick, who tipped his powerful effort over the bar.
Alnwick also had to push an effort from Armstrong wide as the hosts cut through Cardiff with some precise passing.
However, the hosts were grateful to some wayward finishing from Cardiff who missed an excellent chance to go ahead, with El Ghazi scooping a shot wide off the outside of the post from close range after Callum Robinson’s mishit shot turned into a perfect cross.
Bristol City’s Cameron Pring was stretchered off to a standing ovation on 18 minutes as the problems for the home side mounted, but they were a threat with McNally heading wide and Anis Mehmeti firing over, while Armstrong also shot wide from a tight angle.
Cardiff had lost five of their last six away league matches but they produced the first chance of the second half as Tanner’s firmly struck drive hit a defender and bounced inches wide.
Torrential rain made for a slick and sodden surface and it was Cardiff who seized the momentum after the break as Bristol City’s slick passing from the first half deserted them.
Tanner was not to be denied, however, scoring a stunning goal moments later as Rubin Colwill found him in space – and he twisted and turned past two defenders and lashed the ball into the top corner with his right foot.
The hosts kept conceding possession playing out from the back and Tanner missed a golden chance after Colwill again cleverly found him in space, with the winger firing his shot wide of the target.
Cardiff were cutting through the Robins and Colwill missed a great chance on the hour mark as he stabbed wide from Tanner’s pinpoint cross.
The Bluebirds were made to rue their missed chances on 73 minutes when Joe Williams won back possession and produced a superb cross to the back post that McNally firmly headed back across goal into the corner of the net after Cardiff failed to clear from Mayulu hitting the post.
Midfielder Scott Twine had scored in each of his previous two appearances against Cardiff – for Burnley and Hull in 2023 – but his close-range effort was blocked on 79 minutes as the home side pushed for a winner that never arrived.
Bristol City boss Liam Manning told Sky Sports:
“I think when I look at the week, it’s probably a little bit of us this season. I’m frustrated, I think, that we haven’t got more points.
“I thought we had some good moments and good chances today, especially early on. Probably frustrated is how I am feeling right now.
“I felt like we gave up too many opportunities tonight, too many loose ends that allowed them to have good chances—something that probably didn’t happen in the first two games.
“I anticipate that this divide will be among the closest in a long time. The margins are really thin.
Omer Riza, the interim manager of Cardiff City, said on BBC Radio Wales Sport:
“The boys had a great performance; they had character and vigor.
“We wanted to control the ball, and I think we succeeded in doing so at some points during the game, putting ourselves ahead.
We are a little disappointed not to win the three points because the goal was achieved by something we have been practicing—clearing our lines when necessary and playing it safe.
“The boys demonstrated that they care about the team and the supporters with an all-around heartfelt performance.”
