Bristol City’s Under-21s continued their unbeaten start to the season as they secured a 4-1 victory over Hull City at Ashton Gate.

Billy O’Neill, Victor Akinbo, Jack Griffin-Pacheco and Ruebin Sheppard were all on the scoresheet for Louis Carey’s side, while Ramell Carter scored a 69th-minute penalty for the visitors.

The Young Robins were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute as Griffin-Pacheco received a second yellow card.

City Under-21s return to Ashton Gate on Tuesday, October 6th, as they host Charlton Athletic.

The Young Robins made a bright start to the game, with O’Neill seeing a shot blocked within six minutes, before forcing Hull goalkeeper Kerr Reynolds into action with an effort from distance two minutes later. 

Sheppard then tried a long range strike, which narrowly cleared the crossbar, while an effort from Seb Naylor was turned onto the post soon after.

City got their reward in the 20th minute, as O’Neill did well to beat three defenders before slotting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the back of the net.

Luke McNally came close to extending the lead before the break, as he rose highest to meet Naylor’s free kick, only for his header to be blocked by a Hull defender.

Carey’s side remained in control after the restart and doubled their lead four minutes into the half, as Akinbo found the top-right corner with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

The Young Robins added a third five minutes later, as Harry Hogg played a perfect pass through to Griffin-Pacheco, who fired home from close range.

The forward was shown his second yellow card soon after, following a foul on Damari Daley, leaving City to play out the final 25 minutes with 10 men.

The visitors then struck back from the penalty spot after Daley was fouled inside the area by Lewis Thomas, with Carter making no mistake from 12 yards out.

The Young Robins restored their three-goal advantage just four minutes later, as Sheppard’s free kick beat Reynolds and found the bottom-right corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Starting XI: Thomas, Anderson, Williams, Campbell-Slowey (Sainsbury, 67’), McNally (Gibbs, 67’), Naylor, Hogg (King-Phillips, 67’), Akinbo (Plummer, 67’), Sheppard, Griffin-Pacheco, O’Neill (Young, 45’)

Unused Substitutes: Kumih Barimah, Monks

Report by George Townsend