Bristol City 1-0 Swansea City: Rob Dickie header sees Robins end losing streak

Bristol City ended a four-game losing streak as Rob Dickie's second-half header settled a forgettable game against Swansea City.

Bristol City look secure in mid-table having triumphed for just the third time in 13 Championship games to halt their worst run of the season.

Swansea, by contrast, remain in the relegation picture after seeing their three-match unbeaten run come to a disappointing end, with Przemyslaw Placheta wasting their best chance when the game was goalless.

Luke Williams' team could not claim to have deserved victory in a game of few opportunities, but the Swansea head coach will rue their failure to avoid defeat.

A sixth loss in Williams' 11 league games in charge leaves 15th-placed Swansea five points clear of the bottom three going into next weekend's south Wales derby against Cardiff City, while Bristol City are nine points above the drop zone in 13th.

The Robins have laboured at home in recent months, while Swansea have maintained a respectable away record despite their struggles throughout a traumatic season.

It was Swansea who carried a marginally greater threat in a meandering first half, with Liam Cullen heading the one half-chance at either end wide of the target.

The desperate lack of quality on show was summed up by a Ronald set-piece.

The Brazilian winger has offered much-needed attacking menace since joining Swansea in January, but there was nothing menacing about the short corner which was meant as a 10-yard pass for Kyle Naughton but ended with the ball dribbling out of play near the flag.

There were jeers from some home supporters when Bristol City made nothing of a counter-attacking opportunity just after the half hour, and some boos at the half-time whistle.

The game's first genuine chance arrived just before the hour, when Ronald exchanged passes with Kyle Naughton before crossing for Placheta, only for the Pole to slice wastefully wide at the far post.

The hosts' maiden opportunity of note came in the 69th minute, when a ball over the top sent Ross McCrorie scampering into the box but he emulated Placheta by slashing off target.

With that Manning's men finally found some attacking momentum, with the breakthrough arriving - somewhat predictably - from a set-piece.

After Anis Mehmeti picked out Joe Williams just outside the area, he chipped into the box and Dickie got in front of Ben Cabango to claim his fifth goal of the season.

Jason Knight could have doubled the lead later but headed wide from Tommy Conway's cross, giving Swansea hope of a late leveller.

They created just one opportunity, when Jamal Lowe did well to pick out fellow substitute Ollie Cooper, but his effort on the stretch sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning:

"I am delighted for the lads. First half you can feel the atmosphere, the tension, the negativity around the place.

"To stay calm, stay focused on us and do what we needed to - the lads did an outstanding job.

"It was never going to be the case on the back of four losses that we were going to win the game with a beautiful, free-flowing 4-0 victory.

"Second half I thought we were a little bit more aggressive and it could have been more with the chances. Credit to the players, as you see they are all in on what we are trying to do."

Swansea head coach Luke Williams:

"We didn't do enough to win the game. We controlled the first half with the ball but we needed to use the ball to create more openings.

"In the second half, the game was more even, but we switched off at a set-piece and paid the price because we didn't create enough really good openings.

"That's mainly because the opposition did a brilliant job to keep us out. They worked extremely hard. We had an opportunity to win a game here and we didn't quite take it.

"We hope if we can't win it, we don't lose it, for sure."