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Live updates from St Mary’s Stadium as Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City face Southampton in the Championship (7:45pm kick-off)

Bristol City travel to St Mary’s Stadium where they will face Southampton(Image: Getty Images)

Hello and welcome to this evening’s live blog, where we will bring you updates from St Mary’s Stadium as Bristol City and Roy Hodgson look to get back to winning ways in the Championship against Southampton.

It has been just a couple of days since the Robins were last in action, with Saturday afternoon’s visit of Norwich City one to forget for the City faithful. Hodgson’s side’s slim play-off hopes were brought to a mathematical end as the Reds were beaten 4-2 by the Canaries at Ashton Gate.

For this afternoon’s opponents, however, the weekend was a bit more positive. Southampton remained within touching distance of the automatic promotion places – albeit having played a game less than Ipswich Town – as they ran out 2-1 winners over Swansea City in South Wales.

With a win over the Reds this evening, Tonda Eckert’s side could climb up to second in the table, depending on Millwall’s result away to Stoke City. For the Robins, three points tonight could be enough to move up to ninth place, if Norwich are beaten by Derby County at Carrow Road.

When these two sides met at Ashton Gate earlier this season, a Scott Twine brace and an Anis Mehmeti strike saw the Reds win 3-1. On City’s last visit to St Mary’s back in November 2023, a Kyle Walker-Peters goal was the difference as the Saints won 1-0.

Hodgson and his players will be keen to end Southampton’s remarkable recent unbeaten run to kick off the final three games of the season on a positive note.

You can follow all the action, as it happens, here…

21st Apr23:44 BST

Our video verdict

I’m on my way back to Bristol now but couldn’t resist the urge to talk about what was a positive night on the road for Roy Hodgson’s boys this evening.

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21st Apr23:13 BST

The interim head coach’s reaction

Well we said we’d heard from Roy Hodgson and the Bristol City boss was in good spirits this evening. Without prompt, he took it upon himself to shower Delano Burgzorg in praise, calling the Boro loanee “oustanding.”

He also claimed it was City’s best display of his tenure so far, as you can read HERE…

Bristol City forward Delano Burgzorg shoots in the Robins’ draw with Southampton(Image: Andy Fitzsimons)

21st Apr22:13 BST

Big news from the Championship

I can’t quite believe I’m writing this, but Leicester City have been relegated to League One this evening.

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21st Apr22:06 BST

The match report from St Mary’s

We’re just hearing from Roy Hodgson in the Southampton press conference room. The head coach has said plenty of interest already, and we will bring you that as soon as we can.

Until then, you can read our match report HERE…

Sam Bell celebrates after scoring for Bristol City at Southampton

21st Apr21:39 BST

Full-time: Southampton 2-2 Bristol City

The Robins survive the late pressure to come away with what is a much-deserved point on the south coast!

21st Apr21:38 BST

90+7Huge block from Knight

The skipper throws himself in front of a shot from the area to deny the home side. Moments later, they go close again from a Stewart overhead kick. Saints are knocking the door down.

21st Apr21:36 BST

90+5Flag frustrates Saints

The home fans sat around me here are furious as the flag goes up when Scienza is judged offside following a raking cross-field ball. On the replay, that one was tight.

21st Apr21:31 BST

90+1Seven minutes added

Plenty of time for a twist or turn more…. Knight has also just gone into the book for a foul on the halfway line to break up an attack.

21st Apr21:27 BST

87Another change for the Saints

Flynn Downes’ night is over as he is replaced by Cameron Bragg.

21st Apr21:27 BST

86What a save from Vitek!

That is a top stop from the City keeper as he gets down low to deny Charles from the closest of range. The home side do have a corner… which is cleared initially.

21st Apr21:26 BST

85Comes to nothing

Twine’s initial corner is cleared but only as far as Morsy on the edge of the area. He controls, before setting back to the attacking midfielder who looks to cross once more.

This one is too close to the keeper, who collects with ease.

21st Apr21:25 BST

84City corner

Mark Sykes’ cross from the right is turned behind for a corner before it can reach Burgzorg.

21st Apr21:22 BST

81Another change for Bristol City

Hodgson is suring things up here. Tomi Horvat’s evening is over as he makes way for Rob Dickie, who makes his first appearance since February.

21st Apr21:20 BST

79Twine forces a save

The attacking midfielder’s left-footed shot from the edge of the box is gathered well by Peretz in the Southampton net.

21st Apr21:17 BST

76Yellow card for Pring

The City defender goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Larin.

21st Apr21:15 BST

74Goal: Southampton 2-2 Bristol City [Stewart]

The Saints pull level again and it is another goal that looks a little too easy. Fellows fashions some space down the right side of the Robin’s penalty area and chips a cross towards the back post, where Stewart has drifted off the back of Eile.

The forward rises highest to head down and beyond Radek Vitek to kickstart the celebrations inside St Mary’s.

21st Apr21:13 BST

72Change for Bristol City

For the first time this evening, Roy Hodgson has turned to his bench. Sam Bell’s evening is over as he makes way for Mark Sykes, having been down with what looked like cramp moments ago.

21st Apr21:11 BST

70Another double change for the home side

The home side are switching things up again as Stewart and Jander replace Azaz and Bree.

21st Apr21:10 BST

69Horvat forces a save

After Bell’s header, the home side have enjoyed a good spell of possession, but City have asked a question or two on the break. Horvat is the latest to take aim as he curls towards goal from range with his left foot, but his shot is saved with ease.

21st Apr21:04 BST

63GOAL: Southampton 1-2 BRISTOL CITY [BELL]

The Robins are ahead again and while Sam Bell had his first goal taken off him, this one is his for sure! Horvat’s left-footed corner is curled towards the near post where Bell rises well to flick a header across goal and into the bottom corner.

The away fans are jubilent, as is the striker who has been bright this evening.

21st Apr21:03 BST

63City corner

Horvat’s pass is knocked behind for a corner which he will take…

21st Apr21:03 BST

62Knight is down here

The City skipper is fine to continue after a big coming together in the centre of the pitch. He caught the end of a nasty challenge, but has won his side a free-kick on the halfway line.

21st Apr21:01 BST

60Big tackle from Knight

After a City attack breaks down on the right flank, Knight does well to slide in and tackle Scienza who looks to break. This game has opened up a little in the second half.

21st Apr20:59 BST

58McCrorie clears danger

The Saints have turned the screw here as they fashion some space down the right wing before stinging a low cross into the penalty area. McCrorie reads it really well and hacks a high clearance high and out for a throw.

21st Apr20:58 BST

57Double change for the home side

Eckert has seen enough in this second half and is making a double change. Archer is replaced by Scienza and Matsuki makes way for Fellows.

21st Apr20:57 BST

56Well defended by Eile

Horvat’s corner is cleared by the home side and after a scrappy passage of play on the halfway line, Saints look to break with a through ball through the middle of the pitch in search of Archer.

Eile sets off well and beats the forward to the pass, snuffing out the danger by passing back to Vitek.

21st Apr20:55 BST

54City corner

A Horvat effort from range is blocked behind for a corner….

21st Apr20:54 BST

53Foul by Twine

The attacking midfielder is far from impressed by this call. A really good interchange between Horvat and McCrorie sees the latter played down the right wing and he crosses into the area in search of Twine.

Before the ball reaches him, he gives his marker a bit of a push, which the referee spots. The free-kick is given the way of the home side.

21st Apr20:51 BST

50Horvat should do better

The Robins have another early second-half chance here as a Ross McCrorie cross from the right is only headed clear as far as Horvat on the edge of the area.

He shoots, on the volley, with his right foot but doesn’t connect well with his shot whatsoever. It bobbles up and into the hands of the Saints keeper who gathers with ease.

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