Bristol City 2-0 Stoke City: Roy Hodgson signs off Robins reign with win

Bristol City ended their Championship season and Roy Hodgson’s interim spell in charge on a positive note with a 2-0 win over Stoke City.

Delano Burgzorg capitalised on a first-minute error by Stoke keeper Viktor Johansson to give the hosts control, with Scott Twine and Tomi Horvat both going close to a second before the break.

Stoke did improve after half-time but struggled to find a cutting edge despite racking up a staggering 15 corners at Ashton Gate.

Sam Bell’s late tap-in secured victory for the Robins, ensuring they finished their campaign in 12th place on 62 points while the Potters, who were in the top six for much of the first half of the season, end up 17th after an injury-plagued slide.

Although it was the last game of the season with little riding on it for either side, Stoke boss Mark Robins was looking for a response to his side’s poor end-of-season form, with today’s result their fourth consecutive loss.

The 56-year-old said his team, after their 3-1 loss to Portsmouth, “lacked energy, lacked enthusiasm and know-how”.

The opener in this game fell into the latter category.

It came within the first 60 seconds when Ashley Phillips’ routine backpass was badly miscontrolled and miskicked by Johansson, allowing Burgzorg to pounce and slot in.

City, buoyed by the early lead, built on the gift with a confident first-half display, creating further chances as Horvat fired a low, bending left-footed shot narrowly wide in the 11th minute, and Twine blazed over from a fine counter-attacking opportunity just before half-time.

Stoke went closest in between those chances when Junior Tchamadeu’s fierce half-volley from the edge of the area, after a corner, crashed against the crossbar, but that was as near as they came, with Bell sealing the Robins’ victory late on.