Cotterill wants response

Steve Cotterill is backing Bristol City to shrug off the rare setback of defeat to Sheffield United when they face Peterborough.

City slipped to only their second home league defeat of the season after taking a 41st-minute lead through Matt Smith, but Cotterill was undeterred after a 3-1 defeat as other results at the top of the table went his side's way. Defeats for nearest pursuers Swindon and MK Dons took the sting out of United's second-half comeback, which saw two goals from Matt Done and one from Jamie Murphy clinch a hard-earned success. Cotterill said: "It's now all about bouncing back quickly and I know I have a group of players capable of doing just that. "We have another home game against Peterborough on Tuesday and the lads will be right up for that when it arrives. "It was Sheffield United's day and all the best to them. They have some very good players and were well organised with an effective game-plan. "We actually played better in the second half and have ended up getting done on two counter-attacks, which was disappointing. "I made a positive substitution at 1-1 to try and win the game and I have no regrets about that because that has been our attitude all season." Smith netted the 13th goal of his loan spell from Fulham to put the hosts in front after 41 minutes, losing his marker to volley Luke Freeman's cross from the left past goalkeeper Iain Turner from close range. United equalised after 54 minutes when Done forced the ball over the goalline after substitute Jason Holt's shot had been parried by City goalkeeper Frank Fielding. City appealed unsuccessfully for offside. It was Done again who was on target from barely a yard out as strike partner Murphy supplied a low ball in from the left in the 77th minute. Murphy completed United's win with a superbly-taken breakaway goal five minutes later, cutting in from the left to fire home after Luke Ayling had lost possession in midfield. United manager Nigel Clough sent Andy Garner to do the post match press conference and the coach said.: "We barely registered a shot at goal in the first half and there were a few words at half-time. "There were two many high balls into their box, which were easy for their defenders to deal with. When we started delivering the ball hard and low the chances started coming. "In the end it has to rank as one of our best displays of the season because Bristol City are a very good side, who will be up there going for promotion right to the end of the season. "To score three goals away from home against a team who don't concede many was very satisfying and it was a very happy dressing room at the end of the game." United lost Jose Baxter to injury after only 24 minutes and sent on Holt as a replacement. The second half was more entertaining than the first and Bob Harris had to block a 61st-minute shot from City's Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on the goalline.