2017–18 Bristol City F.C. season


The 2017–18 season was Bristol City's 120th season as a professional football club and their third consecutive season back in the Championship. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the latter competition. The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Month by month review

June

On 27 June, Bristol City agreed to sign right-back Eros Pisano on a two-year deal, with it being officially confirmed on 1 July when his contract with Hellas Verona expired. On 28 June, City broke their transfer record to sign striker Famara Diédhiou from Angers for a £5.3 million transfer fee.

July

On 7 July, Aaron Wilbraham signed a one-year contract with the club. On 13 July, attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin transferred to Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee. On 28 July, defender Nathan Baker, having previously spent the 2015–16 season on loan from Aston Villa, signed for City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

December

After beating three other Premier League sides, Bristol City were drawn against holders Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. The game was played at Ashton Gate on 20 December and marked the first time City and United had met competitively since 1980, when City were last in the top flight. City took the lead through a thunderous Joe Bryan strike just after the second half began. Zlatan Ibrahimović equalised only seven minutes later. City sealed a dramatic and famous win as Korey Smith beat goalkeeper Sergio Romero with a 93rd-minute strike to make it 2–1 to the Robins. At the final whistle, fans invaded the pitch and lifted City players onto their shoulders.
After the match, City manager Lee Johnson said the result was "a historic occasion" and Smith's winner would "live in the memory for many generations". In defeating United, Bristol City became only the second side from a lower division to eliminate four top-flight teams in one League Cup campaign, after Sheffield Wednesday in 1990-91. City were drawn against United's city rivals Manchester City in the semi-finals of the competition, with the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.
On 26 December, Bristol City finished the day second in the Championship table as they defeated Reading 2–0 at home. Jamie Patterson scored the first, before Lloyd Kelly's first goal for City in stoppage time sealed the win.

January

On 9 January, Bristol City travelled to the Premier League leaders to take on Manchester City in the semi-final first leg of the EFL Cup. The 7,680 Bristol City fans who arrived set a record for the most away fans in the Etihad Stadium's history. Manchester City were overwhelming favourites, unbeaten in the Premier League and having won 20 of their 22 matches so far. Bristol City played well and took a shock lead after Bobby Reid won and scored a penalty just before half-time. Kevin De Bruyne scored ten minutes into the second half and Bristol City looked to have secured a memorable draw before substitute Sergio Agüero scored with a 92nd-minute header to seal a 2–1 win.
The return leg was another entertaining affair at a sold out and noisy Ashton Gate, although Manchester City were comfortable for the most part. Leroy Sané scored just before half-time and Agüero scored just after to give Manchester City a 4-1 aggregate lead. Marlon Pack reduced the deficit before Aden Flint scored in injury time to give Bristol City hope. De Bruyne scored shortly after to kill the game, make it 3-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.
After the game, Lee Johnson said Bristol City were a "Premier League club in training." Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised Bristol City and Lee Johnson after the two-legged affair: "It was a nice game, beautiful game, and all my credit to Bristol City. Big congratulations. He came here to try to play. They arrived, they created chances".

April

After a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, Bristol City could no longer mathematically reach the playoffs, ending their chances of promotion.
A 3-2 home loss to fellow mid-table side Sheffield United on the last day of the season saw City eventually finish 11th. While this was disappointing after being 2nd on Boxing Day, this was the club's highest finish for eight years since 2009-10, when Lee Johnson was playing for the club and his father, Gary Johnson, was manager.

Transfers

In

Out

Loan in

Loan out

Pre-season

Friendlies

DateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
8 7 2017GuernseyAW1–0Reid933
9 7 2017Bristol Manor FarmAW11–0Hinds, Pisano, Reid, Brownhill, Morrell,
O'Dowda, De Girolamo, McCoulsky 		1,400
11 7 2017Bath CityAW3–0Paterson, Reid, Bryan963
12 7 2017Torquay UnitedAL0–21,258
15 7 2017Yeovil TownAW3–1Reid, Magnússon2,636
22 7 2017Atlético Unión de GüímarAW6–0Pisano, Diédhiou, Reid, Wright, Hinds—
25 7 2017Cheltenham TownAW3–0Engvall, Reid1,883
28 7 2017FC TwenteHW2–0Pack, Bryan5,330

Competitions

Championship

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
5 8 2017BarnsleyHW3–1Reid, Diédhiou18,742
12 8 2017Birmingham CityAL1–2Reid21,269
15 8 2017BrentfordAD2–2Brownhill, Reid9,811
19 8 2017MillwallHD0–018,230
25 8 2017Aston VillaHD1–1Paterson21,542
9 9 2017ReadingAW1–0Flint18,650
12 9 2017Wolverhampton WanderersAD3–3Flint, Diédhiou, Reid23,045
16 9 2017Derby CountyHW4–1Woodrow, Reid, Paterson, Diédhiou19,473
23 9 2017Norwich CityAD0–025,715
26 9 2017Bolton WanderersHW2–0Diédhiou, Flint17,203
30 9 2017Ipswich TownAW3–1Brownhill, Diédhiou, Reid15,256
13 10 2017Burton AlbionHD0–018,212
21 10 2017Leeds UnitedHL0–324,435
28 10 2017SunderlandAW2–1Reid, Đurić27,317
31 10 2017FulhamAW2–0Reid, Smith17,634
4 11 2017Cardiff CityHW2–1O'Dowda, Flint21,692
18 11 2017Sheffield WednesdayAD0–025,916
22 11 2017Preston North EndHL1–2Woodrow17,355
25 11 2017Hull CityAW3–2Flint, Reid, Brownhill14,762
3 12 2017MiddlesbroughHW2–1Bryan, Paterson18,752
8 12 2017Sheffield UnitedAW2–1Paterson, Flint24,409
16 12 2017Nottingham ForestHW2–1Pack, Bryan20,128
23 12 2017Queens Park RangersAD1–1Reid 13,683
26 12 2017ReadingHW2–0Paterson, Kelly23,116
30 12 2017Wolverhampton WanderersHL1–2Reid25,540
01 01 2018Aston VillaAL0–532,604
13 01 2018Norwich CityHL0–121,282
19 1 2018Derby CountyAD0–026,525
27 01 2018Queens Park RangersHW2–0Diédhiou, Bryan21,492
02 02 2018Bolton WanderersAL0–114,172
10 02 2018SunderlandHD3–3Flint, Diédhiou 22,580
18 02 2018Leeds UnitedAD2-2Diédhiou, Reid28,004
21 02 2018FulhamHD1–1Reid21,236
25 2 2018Cardiff CityAL0–121,018
3 3 2018Sheffield WednesdayHW4–0Reid, Brownhill22,022
6 3 2018Preston North EndAL1–2Diédhiou11,264
10 3 2018Burton AlbionAD0–04,575
17 3 2018Ipswich TownHW1–0Đurić21,509
30 3 2018BarnsleyAD2–2Diédhiou, Brownhill12,236
2 4 2018BrentfordHL0–122,049
7 4 2018MillwallAL0–216,081
10 4 2018Birmingham CityHW3–1Pack, Reid, Taylor20,288
14 4 2018MiddlesbroughAL1–2Đurić24,812
21 4 2018Hull CityHD5–5Pack, Diédhiou, Reid, Bryan21,136
28 4 2018Nottingham ForestAD0–024,722
6 5 2018Sheffield UnitedHL2–3Flint, Bryan23,902

League table

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
Third round6 1 2018WatfordAL0–313,269

EFL Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendance
First round8 8 2017Plymouth ArgyleHW5–0Hegeler, Baker, Smith, Hinds, Paterson9,838
Second round22 8 2017WatfordAW3–2Hinds, Reid, Eliasson9,003
Third round19 9 2017Stoke CityHW2–0Diédhiou, Taylor13,826
Fourth round24 10 2017Crystal PalaceHW4–1Taylor, Đurić, Bryan, O'Dowda21,901
Quarter-finals20 12 2017Manchester UnitedHW2–1Bryan, Smith26,088
Semi-final first leg9 1 2018Manchester CityAL1–2Reid 43,426
Semi-final second leg23 1 2018Manchester CityHL2–3Pack, Flint26,003

Squad statistics

No.Pos.Nat.Name
17DF