Bristol City 1-0 Luton Town: Scott Twine stunner seals Robins win

Scott Twine found the roof of the net from distance for the second successive home game as Bristol City heaped more away day misery on Luton with a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship win at Ashton Gate.

The midfielder followed up his first touch strike as a substitute against QPR with an equally sweet right-footed strike from 25 yards after 47 minutes to leave Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski grasping at thin air.

It meant a ninth defeat in 11 games on the road for Luton, who rarely tested City goalkeeper Max O'Leary in a game the hard-working home side deserved to win.

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Both teams showed two changes from their previous games, City bringing in Ross McCrorie and Yu Hirakawa, while Pelly Mpanzu and Joe Johnson featured in Luton's starting line-up.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in a poor first half that saw City edge possession without finding a decisive final pass and Luton look equally bereft of quality in the final third.

Fally Mayulu had an early shot saved for the Robins, but the tall striker generally struggled to get the ball under control when it was played up to him and City's passing also let them down when trying to play through midfield.

Luton found it hard to launch meaningful attacks, but might have taken a 38th minute lead when Tom Krauss screwed a low shot wide of the far post from Elijah Adebayo's run and cross.

Jordan Clark brought a comfortable 43rd minute save from O'Leary and Twine sent a 25-yard free-kick straight at Kaminski in first-half injury time.

The out-of-touch Mayulu was substituted at the break, with City head coach Liam Manning sending on Sam Bell as replacement. Within two minutes, Twine produced the first moment of attacking quality in the match from Max Bird's pass to put his side in front.

Luton had a 59th-minute penalty appeal rejected when Tahith Chong went down inside the box. At the other end Bell had the ball in the net from a Hirakawa cross only to be flagged offside.

It was the turn of City's players to rage at referee Peter Bankes when Twine appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area after 67 minutes.

Manning's men managed the closing stages of the game well, working tirelessly to ensure their opponents had few clear sights of goal.

But there was a big opportunity for Luton during six minutes of stoppage time when former City player Cauley Woodrow found himself unmarked on the edge of the box, but saw his shot saved by O'Leary, diving to his left.

The managers

Bristol City's Liam Manning:

"Scott's quality striking of the ball was one of the reasons we signed him and he displays it regularly.

"It was another great goal worthy of winning any game. But I felt the overall team performance made us worthy of the victory.

"We wanted a response after a disappointing night at West Bromwich Albion and today the players have managed the game really well after taking the lead.

"Max O'Leary has made one important save at the end and I am glad for him because he come in for some criticism recently. He was there when we needed him in stoppage time.

"All our substitutes made a positive impact and that is an indication of the strength of the squad, which is something we have been trying to build.

"Now we have to raise the bar even further over the second half of the season."

Luton's Rob Edwards:

"There was nothing in the game and we limited a good attacking side to very few chances, so that was a positive.

"I'm not saying we deserved to win, but we didn't deserve to lose either. The difference between the teams was one moment of great quality from Scott Twine.

"We could have done better in not allowing him time and space for the shot, but it was a great strike.

"I know how hard it is for our travelling supporters at the moment, but there are reasons for the poor away form. We lost key players after being relegated and have had more than our fair share of injuries.

"At Kenilworth Road, we are finding ways to get results, but it isn't happening on opposing grounds. Hopefully, one win on our travels will change things and help rebuild confidence.

"We also hope to strengthen things during the January transfer window, although it may mean departures as well as arrivals. It's not an easy window in which to make signings, but we will do our best.

"There are positives in the way some young players are taking their opportunities and we did have chances to equalise after Scott Twine's goal."

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