Bristol City beat promotion favourites Leicester City 1-0 at Ashton Gate to deliver some much-needed joy after a challenging month.
Anis Mehmeti struck home to give the Robins all three points, finding the top-left corner in emphatic fashion from the edge of the box.
Leicester had numerous chances to open the scoring prior to Mehmeti’s winner, with Jamie Vardy putting two opportunities wide and having one almost certain goal denied by Max O’Leary after Zak Vyner’s stray pass fell to the Foxes’ captain.
O’Leary kept out another from Vardy and a follow-up from Stephy Mavididi earlier on, as Liam Manning’s men also had opportunities through Tommy Conway and substitute Ross McCrorie, who hit the side-netting twice after replacing George Tanner in the second half.
They were also denied what appeared a clear penalty shout in the first half when Conway got the wrong side of Wout Faes and was brought down but referee Andrew Kitchen was unmoved.
Despite Enzo Maresca’s side’s search for an equaliser in the final 10 minutes, the Robins were resolute in BS3 and came away with all the points.
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Key Events
Liam Manning's reaction
The City head coach on the performance, Max O'Leary, the international break and what needs to happen next after securing a much-needed three points.
Player ratings
Max O'Leary was just about the standout City player but there were some big performances elsewhere on the pitch.
Full-time! Bristol City 1-0 Leicester
What a win! And an excellent performance exactly when they needed it.
Well played, Cam Pring
He chases Fatawu down and causes the winger to hook a crossfield pass out of play.
Mehmeti slips in Wells
He bursts into the box but is outmuscled just as he thinks about shooting with City wanting a penalty but it's not given.
Sykes now booked
City are committing a lot of little fouls inside their half which is giving Leicester good field position.
Mehmeti clips a cross to the far post
But there was too much juice on it and Wells watches it sail over his head.
It's all Leicester
City having to dig in and defend here as the rain comes down. Nothing is getting through at the moment.
Wells booked
The Bermudian commits a bit of cynical foul on Winks on halfway. Yellow card.
Iheanacho lobs O'Leary
The Nigerian has replaced Vardy and he gets around the back of the defence and lifts a lovely finish over O'Leary but the flag had been raised. No goal.
Sykes nearly steals in
It's a lovely touch inside a defender and he tries to beat Hermansen at his near post but the keeper gets a toe to the ball to deflect it away for a corner.
More on the goal
Hermansen fluffed a clearance which found Sykes and the crowd implored the Republic of Ireland international to shoot but his touch was heavy.
He gathered his thoughts and then drilled a pass across the 18-yard box into Mehmeti who took one touch to steady himself and then blasted it into the corner.
A fine goal.
Justin goes down
The Leicester full-back made his way into the box after a series of 1-2s and took a tumble. No penalty.
Leicester then recovered and the ball found Fatawu at the far post who tried to curl one into the opposite corner but bent his effort wide.
McCrorie finds the side netting
It's a brilliant run by the Scot who cuts inside two defenders and then drives a shot towards goal but it's just the wrong side of Hermansen's post. He maybe should have passed it.
City want a handball
James clips a cross into the area and it looked to have struck a hand but Andrew Kitchen is unmoved.
Vardy with a howler!
It's a brilliant save by O'Leary who bails City out with Vardy presented with the easiest of chances after an errant pass at the back.
City changes
Scott Twine's afternoon comes to a close with the playmaker replaced by Mark Sykes.
George Tanner also exits in place of Ross McCrorie.
Conway shoots wide
It was reminiscent of the West Ham goal as Pring got a touch on a backpass and it landed at the feet of Conway who only had Hermansen to beat and rolled a finish just wide, but he was offside anyway.
Leicester seeing more of the ball this half
City, as yet, haven't been able to get up the pitch and play the game in areas which can hurt the opposition. They're a little pinned back at the moment.
Fantastic double save by O'Leary
Leicester carved City open there as Vardy exchanged pass with Mavididi and had the whole goal to aim at but O'Leary saved with his feet.
From the rebound, Mavididi dribbled into the area and opened up the chance, firing low to O'Leary's right but the City keeper made another good stop.
Twine shot blocked
Roberts and Pring combined down the left for the former to then drive to the byline and send in a low cross which found Twine. The No7 had space but couldn't get the ball out from under his feet.
Knight nearly finds Conway
It was a great ball over the top by Vyner which had Knight scampering down the right.
He fired a cross into the six-yard box which Conway started to swing his leg to connect with but a defender just got there first.
Second-half kicks off!
Leicester get things moving again with City now attacking the Atyeo Stand.