Albion v Bristol City - from The Amex (From The Argus)

10:00pm

Very comfortable, pretty routine and - being honest - not very memorable. But Albion needed those three points as we said at the very start. And it's a Championship win in front of 24,044 people. Good night.

9:40pm

Full-time

9:36pm

Dunk did well to divert Adomah's driven cross behind for a corner on 88 minutes.

9:33pm

As is now becoming customary, Calderon replaced Painter for the final stages.

9:30pm

Att: 24,044 (395 away)

9:24pm

That was Hoskins' final action before he made way for Crofts in the 77th minute.

9:24pm

Mackail-Smith brought the subdued crowd to life with brilliant control of a long kick by Kuszczak after the keeper had caught a City corner. Buckley kept the attack alive before Hoskins had a shot blocked.

9:21pm

Mackail-Smith then moved to the central striker's berth but neither side were creating much in an untidy second half.

9:16pm

Hoskins remained as the main striker with Mackail-Smith working the left touchline.

9:13pm

Albion got themselves into a bit of a mess and allowed Kilkenny the chance to fire in a low shot which was blocked. The ball fell to Adomah and he lofted his effort high and wide.

9:10pm

9:09pm

9:07pm

Adomah was looking dangerous at times but Albion remained in control. They made their first change on the hour as Mackail-Smith replaced Dobbie.

8:56pm

Albion could have killed off the contest in the opening three minutes of the second half. Orlandi volleyed over when well placed after Hoskins knocked down Buckley's hanging cross. Then Hoskins got through but saw his low shot blocked by Heaton. 

8:53pm

City sent on Taylor for striker Davies at half-time.

8:36pm

Albion were still giving the ball away cheaply at times but City lacked the precision to punish them.

8:35pm

Half-time

8:31pm

The visitors threatened again on 40 minutes when Danns' shot looked like finding its way between Kuszczak and his far post before Greer slid in to make a crucial block.

8:29pm

City served notice that they were not out of the reckoning in the 37th minute when Pearson's shot from just outside the box hit the top of the bar after a neat build-up.

8:27pm

There was a certain irony to the manner of Orlandi's first goal for the club after coming so close with several tremendous efforts in previous games. It was almost a case of business as usual as he then shot from 25 yards with a truly struck left-footer which curled just past the top corner.

8:24pm

City had every reason to feel hard done by to be 2-0 down but Albion were playing with more of a swagger now.

8:21pm

8:21pm

Dobbie fired over and Buckley saw his low cross go too far in front of Hoskins at the far post as Albion chased a third.

8:18pm

The second goal came in the 26th minute, though, again after Buckley was fouled.

8:17pm

Bruno produced a terrific through ball to get Buckley in on goal but Fontaine ended the danger with a fine covering tackle.

8:14pm

Albion threatened from another set-piece on 23 minutes after Bruno was tripped. But the full-back's dangerously whipped in cross was cleared.

8:09pm

Still, it was a rather disjointed home performance and the dangerous Adomah strode forward before seeing his 25-yard blast blocked almost at source by Painter.

8:08pm

Bryan got forward down the left and his dangerous cross deflected for a corner - but City made a real mess of their dellivery to the delight of the home crowd.

8:06pm

Hammond's goal had not turned out to be the spark for a period of Albion domination. Instead City were having most of the ball.

8:04pm

8:03pm

City responded with a spell of possession and Adomah had a long-range effort blocked before Bruno completed the clearance.

8:01pm

7:58pm

Buckley was bundled over by Bryan next time he got the ball - and it led to the opening goal on six minutes.

7:55pm

Albion attacked the South Stand in the first half and Bruno's clever chipped pass got Buckley racing away down the right - but his cross drifted harmlessly behind.

7:49pm

Albion go the usual North to South in the first half.

7:48pm

7:48pm

7:48pm

That appreciation took the form of applause, rather than silence.

7:46pm

Teams are out. There will be now be an appreciation of Dave Sexton.

7:41pm

Lots of spaces around the stands as we approach kick-off. I understand travel has been an issue this evening.

7:33pm

7:30pm

Bristol City are the only side in the Football League yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Albion have scored in their last six matches, which is their best such run of the season. Having said that, they have still drawn six blanks this term. Only Sheffield Wednesday (seven) have failed to net more often.

7:28pm

This is Will Hoskins' first start at The Amex.

7:26pm

7:26pm

7:25pm

The game will, it appears, be played under a clear sky but in conditions rendered bitterly cold by a biting wind whistling around the stadium.

7:24pm

Key team news here involves the strikers. Dobbie and Hoskins, the men who were in the thick of it for the winning goal in the Seagulls' last midweek game against Peterborough, start in place of Barnes and Mackail-Smith, both of whom are on the bench. City top scorer Steven Davies was only among the subs at Boro on Saturday but came on to hit the final goal in that impressive 3-1 success. He is recalled to the XI this evening.

7:20pm

Three – that’s the not so magic number for Albion at the moment. That meagre tally of home wins from nine outings is holding the Seagulls back at the moment. No other side in the top 13 of the Championship have been denied home points as often as the Seagulls. Cardiff, of course, lead the way with a maximum 27 points at home while Leicester have 22. Five or six home wins seems to be par for the leading sides so Albion could really do with maximum reward tonight against a Bristol City side who won 3-1 in the fog at Middlesbrough on Saturday.