City hotshot rocks Latics
Latics' bright work in the opening half at Bristol City was undone by a super striker from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
The striker's 11th goal of the season, a spectacular overhead kick, was all that separated the two Sky Bet League 1 teams at the end of a lively opening period.
The striker's 11th goal of the season, a spectacular overhead kick, was all that separated the two Sky Bet League 1 teams at the end of a lively opening period.
Lee Johnson's return to Bristol City, where he played for six-and-a-half years, was the main reason why The Football League Show chose the game as their feature fixture and dispatched Mark Clemmit to Ashton Gate.
And Latics' manager received warm applause from home fans as he made his way to the visiting technical area.
Latics made an encouraging start and a lot of the play was in the City half.
The first clear-cut chance of the game came in the 13th minute when Danny Philliskirk's corner was cleared to James Dayton outside the box and his well-struck shot flew not far over.
Latics created another great opening when Jonson Clarke-Harris made a weaving run on the right and fired a ball low across the face of goal. Centre-back Aden Flint cleared from three yards put as Adam Rooney was lurking and ready to convert.
Rooney (pictured) then stretched keeper Elliot Parish with an overhead kick.
City immediately broke and Bobby Reid, spotting Mark Oxley off his line, chipped the keeper only for the ball to fly into the side netting. There were cheers as many of the home fans thought it was a goal.
Clarke-Harris again jinked his way clear on the right of the box and fired another dangerous ball across the face of goal. This time Derrick Williams hoofed the ball to safety.
Oxley had to be alert at his near post to keep out a deflected cross Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
And Latics' manager received warm applause from home fans as he made his way to the visiting technical area.
Latics made an encouraging start and a lot of the play was in the City half.
The first clear-cut chance of the game came in the 13th minute when Danny Philliskirk's corner was cleared to James Dayton outside the box and his well-struck shot flew not far over.
Latics created another great opening when Jonson Clarke-Harris made a weaving run on the right and fired a ball low across the face of goal. Centre-back Aden Flint cleared from three yards put as Adam Rooney was lurking and ready to convert.
Rooney (pictured) then stretched keeper Elliot Parish with an overhead kick.
City immediately broke and Bobby Reid, spotting Mark Oxley off his line, chipped the keeper only for the ball to fly into the side netting. There were cheers as many of the home fans thought it was a goal.
Clarke-Harris again jinked his way clear on the right of the box and fired another dangerous ball across the face of goal. This time Derrick Williams hoofed the ball to safety.
Oxley had to be alert at his near post to keep out a deflected cross Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
Latics fell behind in the 35th minute as Emmanuel-Thomas produced a piece of magic to break the deadlock.
Ryan Taylor crossed the ball from the left and Emmanuel-Thomas found the net with an overhead kick which flew low to the right of Oxley from eight yards.
Half-time: Bristol City 1, Latics 0.