Bristol City vs Portsmouth; Sky Bet Championship
Bristol City vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet Championship.
Ashton Gate Stadium.
Bristol City 2
- L Tolaj (31st minute)
- J Knight (56th minute)
Portsmouth 1
- M Milovanovic (95th minute pen)
Bristol City 2-1 Portsmouth: Robins claim first win under Michael Skubala
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Portsmouth at Ashton Gate on Saturday; Lorent Tolaj and Jason Knight score as Bristol City claim first win under Michael Skubala.
Saturday 29 August 2026 17:19, UK
Lorent Tolaj netted a spectacular first goal for Bristol City to set them on course for a 2-1 Championship win over Portsmouth at Ashton Gate.
The hosts took a 31st-minute lead through a breathtaking move and finish. Yu Hirakawa and Jason Knight combined to free Jed Wallace on the left and his cross was brilliantly converted by former Plymouth striker Tolaj with a first-time, right-footed finish at the near post.
The advantage was doubled after 56 minutes when City skipper Knight met a Rio Cardines corner from the left with an unstoppable header into the roof of the net from a central position.
It wasn't until the fifth minute of stoppage time that Portsmouth substitute Marezi reduced the arrears, sending goalkeeper Sam Tickle the wrong way with a low penalty after he had been fouled in the box by Lisav Eissat.
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For City boss Michael Skubala, it was a welcome first home victory in charge following defeats by Walsall in the Carabao Cup and Millwall in the league. His side showed greater quality in the final third to merit their success.
Both teams were unchanged, City from a 2-2 draw at Birmingham and Pompey from a 3-1 away win over Lincoln.
The home side made a bright start and had the first goal attempt on three minutes when Scott Twine fired over from just outside the box.
A better opportunity for City came after 12 minutes when Rob Dickie latched on to a Cardines free-kick to the far post and saw his downward header well saved by Nicolas Schmid.
Tolaj's goal was the highlight of an evenly-contested first half that saw Portsmouth have plenty of possession without forcing a single save from Tickle.
Their only effort of note came on 33 minutes when Ryan Kavuma-McQueen sent a low shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.
Portsmouth made a change at the break, sending on Ebou Adams for Rocco Shein.
The start of the second half followed the same pattern as the first, Portsmouth unable to summon up a clinical final pass to create a clear opening.
They were punished when midfielder Knight showed greater determination than any defender to head City's second goal.
Both managers made changes, Pompey sending on Harvey Blair, Marezi and Madiodio Dia for Kavuma-McQueen, Colby Bishop and Ben Arthur, while City introduced Sam Greenwood and Tomi Horvat for Twine and Wallace.
Further substitutions followed, but nothing Portsmouth boss John Mousinho could do gave his side their missing cutting edge.
Adrian Segecic flashed a shot wide at the start of stoppage time before Marezi's penalty proved too little too late.
The managers
Bristol City's Michael Skubala:
To follow...
Portsmouth's John Mousinho:
To follow...
