Bristol City moved within three points of the Championship play-off positions with a 1-0 victory over Derby County at Ashton Gate.

The Robins’ only goal came through Luke McNally, who slid in to get on the end of a wide Scott Twine free-kick after 19 minutes.

City goalkeeper Max O’Leary was required to pull off two acrobatic saves in the first half to keep the visitors out, which meant that Liam Manning’s side went into the break with the lead.

As the sky darkened in a freezing BS3, the Reds put in a controlled second-half performance to secure the victory and move up to eighth in the Championship table.

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It was the visitors who started the best out of the blocks, with O’Leary diving high and to his right to deny a deflected effort from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing after five minutes.

Derby went close again 12 minutes later when Marcus Harness rose to meet a cross from former City wing-back Kane Wilson. The attacking midfielder struck his header powerfully and goalward, but it travelled just wide of O’Leary’s net.

Within two minutes, the Reds were ahead as McNally timed his run perfectly to connect with a wide Twine free-kick, converting a half-volley past Jacob Widell Zetterström in the Derby goal.

It was nearly a quickfire double for City, as after 23 minutes, Twine was found all alone in the box with only Widell Zetterstrom ahead of him. A great first touch made it look easier to score than miss, but a late rush from a Derby defender to join the keeper saw the pair get in front of the shot and force it over the bar.

O’Leary was asked to come to the rescue again after 32 minutes when he managed to get a finger to a Curtis Nelson header, which came from a wide Mendez-Laing free-kick.

But it was the Robins who finished the opening 45 minutes the better side, creating a dangerous chance on the 40-minute mark. Running into the box with plenty of time, instead of getting a shot away, Twine opted to go wide to Haydon Roberts. The fullback’s cross glided past a few bodies in the box and fell to Ross McCrorie at the back post, but his shot was blocked.

As the first half drew to a close, Twine turned defender, putting his body on the line to get in the way of a dangerous-looking cross, and distracting Marcus Harness, who volleyed over on the rebound.

Manning’s side had three chances to double their lead in the second half but were unable to find the net. The first came just seven minutes after the restart, when on the break Nahki Wells and McCrorie found themselves in a two-on-one situation. Wells found the defender on his right, in the penalty area, but McCrorie lost sight of the ball and could only shift it across the box to Mehmeti, whose shot was blocked.

Two substitutes made an instant impact for the second chance, as within three minutes of being introduced George Tanner and Fally Mayulu timed their runs perfectly to create a chance from a breakaway. In a tonne of space, Tanner was identified by Twine, allowing him to drive into the box and fire a low cross towards Mayulu. The summer signing got a foot on the end of a fizzing ball, but could only direct it wide.

Mayulu was involved in the final chance to put the game to bed as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, creating space to fire a curling shot at the Derby goal. But as he connected with the ball, he slipped, and it was directed towards an on-rushing Mehmeti. With the goal in front of him, Mehmeti believed that Mayulu had made the run behind him, but he was nowhere to be seen, meaning that the Albanian’s backheeled ball was cleared and City were forced to settle for a 1-0 win.

Next up for the Reds is the visit of Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup. Confidence will be high for Manning’s side, who head into the tie five games unbeaten at home, and four in total.

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