Wells Leads Bristol City to a Friendly Win over Cheltenham
IslandStats.com
Bristol City looked in good form with a Nahki Wells hat-trick setting the Robins on course to a 4-0 pre-season friendly win over Cheltenham Town at Ashton Gate.
His three goals came before Andreas Weimann smashed in the late fourth and round off a good showing from Dean Holden’s side, as they prepare for the 2020/21 season.
Wells opened the play inside the seventh minute when he combined passes with Weimann, before the ball was spread wide to Jay Dasilva. The England youth left-back produced a cross which was only deflected into the path of Wells, whose low effort picked out the bottom corner.
Holden’s men were in control as the game progressed though the Gloucestershire Robins carved out a handful of their own half chances.
But Wells struck a quick-fire double soon before half-time. Niclas Eliasson, who was operating more central then usual at times, spotted the run of Wells with an inside through pass. He found his target and the striker clipped the ball past Joshua Griffiths in the Cheltenham goal.
City then won the ball back shortly after kick-off with Tyreeq Bakinson, who made his first first-team appearance at Ashton Gate since the Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace three years earlier. But he fed Wells with a pass of his own and the Bermuda international rolled the ball into the bottom left corner.
They could therefore be forgiven for stepping off the gas as the second-half got underway though Weimann nearly got on the scoresheet when he rounded Griffiths. He took too long however, allowing Cheltenham defenders to get back and his effort was blocked as he shot off balance.
It was unfortunate for the Austrian, who would have impressed Holden with his support play in the final third but he finally grabbed a goal of his own just minutes from the end. Wells turned provider this time, sliding the ball to his unmarked teammate and Weimann smashed his shot with power beyond Griffiths.
Midfielder Bakinson was another player to catch the eye in this display, donning City’s new purple and lime strip, with a calm and measured performance in the middle of the park. No doubt he will have earned additional praise from his head coach.
