Bristol City vs Manchester City as it happened – EFL Cup semi-final second leg

Match report: City survive late scare to reach EFL Cup final

Sergio Aguero gets into some rough and tumble (AFP/Getty Images)

The first leg of this EFL Cup semi-final saw Bristol City give Manchester City one of the biggest frights of their relatively serene season.

Lee Johnson's team still lost 2-1, we shouldn't forget, but they showed enough to suggest there will be no easy ride for Manchester City into the final of the competition.

Pep Guardiola will continue with a slightly rotated team while Johnson will not be holding anything back at Ashton Gate. If the home side can resist conceding an early goal, it could just develop into a memorable night.

Follow all the action in our live blog below

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[23 January 2018 18:39 · Vithushan Ehantharajah]

Good evening! The first leg of this EFL Cup semi-final saw Bristol City give Manchester City one of the biggest frights of their relatively serene season. They still lost 2-1, we shouldn't forget, but they showed enough to suggest there will be no easy ride for Manchester City into the final. Stick around for line-ups and teams news coming shortly.

Kick-off: 7.45pm

[23 January 2018 18:43 · Liam Corless]

The scene is set at Ashton Gate 

[23 January 2018 18:46 · Liam Corless]

Manchester City team news

Here's how the visitors line up for tonight's match:

Starting XI: Bravo; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, Silva, Bernardo; De Bruyne, Sane, Aguero

Subs: Ederson, Danilo, Kompany, Sterling, Gundogan, Mangala, Yaya Toure

[23 January 2018 18:56 · Liam Corless]

Bristol City team news

Aaaaaand here is the hosts' starting line-up:

Starting XI: Steele; Smith, Flint, Wright, Magnusson; Brownhill, Pack, Walsh, Bryan; Paterson; Reid

Subs: Wollocott, Baker, Diedhiou, Taylor, Engvall, Eliasson, Kent

[23 January 2018 18:57 · Liam Corless]

One step away: Tonight's match programme 

[23 January 2018 19:02 · Liam Corless]

Here's a reminder of what happened in the first leg of this semi-final tie:

Manchester City 2-1 Bristol City - match report

[23 January 2018 19:09 · Liam Corless]

What has Lee Johnson been saying this week?

“We don’t want to be brave losers, we want to compete to win,” the Bristol boss said. 

“It’s up to the players to be focused and tactically aware, and who knows what will happen if we can show the same quality as we have shown in the previous rounds?

“We have to make sure we’re really bold. If you’re going to deliver a corner, do it like you mean it. I’d rather fail bold than fail timid. We know we have to score. I hope Pep picks his absolute best team and we can give them a right go. I’m not sure you could go and play an under-23 side against us at the moment and I think he’ll know that.”

Quotes via The Guardian

[23 January 2018 19:16 · Liam Corless]

Bristol City vs Manchester City - last five meetings

• Manchester City 2-1 Bristol City, January 2018 (League Cup)
• Bristol City 1-2 Manchester City, August 2007 (League Cup)
• Manchester City 3-1 Bristol City, April 1980 (Old Division One)
• Bristol City 1-0 Manchester City, November 1979 (Old Division One)
• Manchester City 2-0 Bristol City, May 1979 (Old Division One)

[23 January 2018 19:18 · Liam Corless]

Fans arrive at Ashton Gate prior to kick-off 

[23 January 2018 19:22 · Liam Corless]