Bristol City

Dom Ballard says he may never score a better goal than his back-heeled volley, which so nearly secured the Robins' first win of the season at Birmingham.

The 21-year-old summer signing from Leyton Orient came off the bench with 25 minutes to go and, with five minutes remaining and the scores level, produced an exquisite finish from Rio Cardines' inswinging cross from the left, flashing a finish with his back to goal past James Beadle's despairing dive and into the top corner.

The goal has gone viral on social media, with many suggesting it is the front-runner for the Puskas Award - FIFA's prize for the best goal of the year.

Ballard told BBC Radio Bristol it was the best of his young career and added: "I just read it, got the heel on it, and it's probably one of the best goals I'll ever score.

"I believe I am capable of scoring from anywhere. The keeper least expects you to score from there, so that always catches you off guard. The goal doesn't move.

"It's a lovely goal. To do it in front of the away fans, at St Andrew's, in a big game, it's definitely a moment I'll cherish. It was a really nice way to get off the mark."

Many have questioned whether Ballard can make the step up after scoring 23 goals in 40 League One appearances for the O's last season and the forward said: "Everyone talks about a big step into the Championship, and I agree with them. There's a vast step in terms of ability and tactics.

"Ultimately my job is to score goals. I did that a lot last year, so I got my move. Now I believe I can do it at this level as well."

Despite the late wonder goal, City were pegged back by a controversial penalty in added time to draw 2-2, and Ballard added: "We have frustration with the result, not so much with the performance. We should definitely have won that game.

"We don't want to make excuses, but [the penalty] was a big decision to make in that moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Richard Angell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Football has a habit of compressing an entire afternoon into a few seconds. At St Andrew's, Bristol City's performance will inevitably be remembered for two of them: one moment of extraordinary invention from Dom Ballard and one raised flag that left Michael Skubala describing the eventual penalty decision as "crazy".

Ballard's goal deserved to win any match. With his back to goal, the substitute met Rio Cardines' cross with an improvised flick that looped beyond James Beadle and into the Birmingham net.

It was audacious, instinctive and almost impossible to defend. The sort of finish that momentarily silences a large home crowd because everybody inside the ground needs a second to understand what they have just seen.

It put City 2–1 ahead with five minutes remaining and appeared to have completed an excellent away performance. Then came the fifth minute of stoppage time, a crowded penalty area and an assistant referee convinced that Jason Knight had handled the ball.

Skubala's account was emphatic. Having watched the incident again, he said it was Rob Atkinson who headed it. The officials saw it differently; Demarai Gray converted the penalty, and City were left with a point when they should probably have been travelling home with all three.

A draw at St Andrew's would ordinarily be a respectable result.

Birmingham remains one of the Championship's most ambitious clubs, backed by owners with plans stretching well beyond this division. They controlled 65 per cent of the possession, but City had six attempts on target to Birmingham's two and created the clearer opportunities.

That distinction matters: Birmingham had more of the ball, but Bristol City did considerably more with theirs. The match statistics⁠ support precisely what the eye suggested - this was not a team clinging on and hoping to escape. City repeatedly opened Birmingham up.

After the opening defeat against Millwall, the performance was arguably more important than the point.

The concern following that game was not simply the result but the disjointed nature of City's display. New players are settling, combinations are still developing and Skubala is attempting to give shape to a team that has undergone considerable change.

Patience is necessary, but patience is easier to offer when there are signs of progress. At Birmingham, those signs were everywhere.

There was a clarity to the attacking play that had been missing from the opening weekend. Twine looked more influential; Knight provided drive and leadership, while Wallace brought experience and attacking intent. Cardines also contributed at both ends before producing the cross for Ballard's remarkable finish.

For a young striker, a goal like that can be transformative. It does not guarantee he will immediately become a regular scorer, but it gives him belief and places him firmly in the manager's thoughts. City needs competition across the forward line, and Ballard could hardly have made a more compelling case.

Despite the single point, City must also recognise what they achieved. Birmingham had begun the season without conceding. City became the first team to breach their defence and did so twice. They produced the better chances, restricted an expensively assembled home side and responded emphatically to a disappointing first result.

One point from the opening two matches is not the start anybody wanted. The table will not record the difference between a poor draw and a performance worthy of victory. But after Millwall came questions; after Birmingham came some answers.

This team will take time. There are too many new players and too many developing partnerships to expect a finished product in August. After 10 games will be a far more sensible point at which to begin making firm judgements about Skubala and the direction of the side.

What supporters are entitled to expect immediately is commitment, organisation, and evidence of a plan.

City provided all three at St Andrew's. Ballard supplied the magic. The officials supplied the controversy. Somewhere between them, Bristol City may have produced the first genuine glimpse of what this new team can become.

You can hear more from Richard on the Forever Bristol City podcast., external

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Fleetwood Town have signed Bristol City midfielder Adam Murphy on a six-month loan deal.

Murphy, 21, made five appearances during a loan spell with Swindon Town last season.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international could make his Cod Army debut against Gillingham on Saturday.

"Once I spoke to the gaffer and he outlined what he wanted me to do and how he wants us to play, I felt it aligned with the strengths I can bring," he told the club website.

Birmingham open their home campaign having lost only three of their past 46 league games at St Andrew's with all those defeats coming on their return to the Championship last season.

Bristol City started life under Michael Skubala with a 2-0 home loss to Millwall and, coupled with their Carabao Cup exit to Walsall, are yet to score this season.

• Birmingham City have won three of their past four home league games against Bristol City (D1), keeping a clean sheet in three of those matches which is as many as they managed across their prior 14 attempts combined.

• Bristol City have lost eight of their past 13 away league games against Birmingham City (W3 D2), losing this exact fixture 2-1 last season at St Andrew's.

• Following a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United on the opening day, Birmingham will be hoping to avoid failing to score in each of their first two league matches of a campaign since 2002-03 – losing 2-0 to Arsenal and 1-0 to Blackburn in the Premier League that season.

• After defeat by Millwall, Bristol City will be hoping to avoid losing their opening two league games of a campaign for just the second time over the past 11 campaigns (lost both in 2022-23).

• Last season in the Championship, only title winners Coventry recorded more shots (397) and more shots on target (130) in their home matches than Birmingham.

David Pottier
Forever Bristol City Podcast

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2026 has certainly been an eventful year for Bristol City fans, perhaps more for what has been happening off the pitch than on it.

Wind the clock back to January, City's chances of getting into the play-offs were still alive but the transfer window saw them sell key players Zak Vyner and Anis Mehmeti to rival clubs Wrexham and Ipswich respectively as well as loan Yu Hirakawa to eventual play-off winners Hull City.

Owner Steve Lansdown received some criticism and seemed to react to it as, within weeks, the club appointed CEO, Charlie Boss. His first task appeared to be sacking Austrian coach Gerhard Struber but what happened after that shocked the whole football world.

When Roy Hodgson was announced as interim coach until the end of the season, first reactions thought it was a hoax. The 78-year-old former England manager had left his last job at Crystal Palace on health grounds two years previously but he did a good job lifting the club from 16th to an end of season placing of 12th.

CEO Boss had also announced the club was going to hire its first sporting director and that came when James Ellis joined the club. Very shortly after that they were able to tempt Michael Skubala to become manager after he had guided Lincoln to be runaway League One title winners.

If you include offering a new contract to Sam Bell, City are now into double figures when it comes to fresh faces in the dressing room. Disturbingly for some fans only Jed Wallace has Championship experience.

The signing of strikers Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard is a bold move. The pair amassed over 50 goals and assists in League One last season but, for an estimated cost of £8m it is a risk on whether they can repeat this at a higher level.

Apart from the new arrivals the club also approached the new season knowing star players Max Bird and Jason Knight only had one year remaining on their contracts. They would not want a repeat of what happened in January. As of today, Bird this week joined Birmingham City while Knight seems no closer to putting pen to paper.

There is also what to do about Scott Twine - 10 goals and almost as many assists last season, he has hardly featured in Skubala's team selections to date. He has two years left on his contract and right now his transfer value is at its likely maximum.

When Skubala's team beat Newcastle 4-1 in a pre-season friendly it was the worst result possible as it raised fans' hopes that the start of a much heralded 'three-year project' was getting off to a fine start. Since then things have rather sadly gone downhill.

After two competitive games, City found themselves dumped out of Carabao Cup by League Two Walsall and then lost their opening Championship game against Millwall.

The hierarchy at the club will say for the investment they have made in the playing squad eighth place is the goal. That may be a big ask.

Only this week there was media talk of the club being in 'advanced talks' with an unnamed businessman about possible investment. One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment if you are a Bristol City fan!

The latest episode of BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City podcast is out.

Ed Hadwin reflects on Bristol City's 2-0 loss to Millwall in the first game of the Championship season at Ashton Gate, chats with supporters and discusses potential investment at the club.

New Robins sporting director also chats about his first few months in the job and owner Steve Lansdown makes an appearance.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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Bristol City manager Michael Skubala says having a player sent off in the first half ended his side's chances of winning their Championship opener.

The Robins went down 2-0 at home to Millwall and did not have a shot in target.

They were reduced to 10 men when Adam Randell was sent off for a second booking after 36 minutes.

It was Skubala's first league game since leaving League One champions Lincoln City over the summer to take charge at Ashton Gate.

"It was a really tough one to take," told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We started the game a little bit edgy, and then I thought Dom (Ballard) and Tolly (Lorent Tolaj) looked quite good linking up and we started to get moments in the game where we could transition really well, and it felt like the game was tipping into our favour.

"Then the second yellow sending off for me changes the game and it becomes a very difficult afternoon, especially when you concede within a few minutes of the red card.

"It's not about effort, the lads were cramping up, working hard, doing everything they can, but in the end the red card's the thing that's just killed the game."

Bristol City are continuing talks with captain Jason Knight to keep him at the club, but sporting director James Ellis says he cannot guarantee that the midfielder will remain at Ashton Gate when the transfer window closes.

Knight is out of contract next summer and has played more than 140 games since signing for the team in 2023.

Fellow midfielder Max Bird, who also had a year remaining on his contract, was sold to rival Championship club Birmingham City earlier this week.

"We're still all in conversations about the future, we would like Jason to be part of what we're doing here, but the situation is where he is with his contract where by the time the window closes we'll all understand where we're at," Ellis told BBC Radio Bristol before the Robins' game against Millwall on Saturday.

"Make no bones about it, Jason Knight is important to me, he's important to Michael [Skubala], he's important to this football club, and we'll all together - because Jason's been really, really good - make the right decision that suits everyone."

Carlisle United have signed Bristol City attacker Luke Skinner on a one-month loan.

The 18-year-old has been part of the Championship side's academy since he was six years old and had loans at National League side Eastleigh and National League South clubs Bath City and Weston-super-Mare last season.

He has yet to make a first team appearance for his parent club.

"With Luke Armstrong currently unavailable, it's important that we have good cover in the attacking areas, and Luke gives us another option and adds competition for places," Carlisle boss Rob Elliot told the club website.

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Bristol City manager Michael Skubala has "no doubts" new strikers Lorent Tolaj and Dom Ballard can form a strong partnership.

The pair have arrived this summer from Plymouth and Leyton Orient respectively.

Despite often playing as lone strikers, Skubala hopes they will have an impact together.

"Lorent played in a front two at times at Plymouth," Skubala told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Dom Ballard led the line by himself but caused aggro for centre-halves and scored some good goals.

"It is part of his journey to learn how to play in a front two if we do that. They can both do it.

"I have no doubt Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj can be a great partnership for this football club."

Goalkeeper Sam Tickle has also arrived from Wigan and Skubala is urging fans to be patient.

"Dom, Tolaj, Sam Tickle, they've all got to step up to another level. They are going to take time, we need to be patient. We haven't brought them here just for Saturday."

Skubala's first match in charge will be on Saturday at home to Millwall.

Image source, Opta

Bristol City and Millwall begin their Championship campaign with a meeting at Ashton Gate on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Michael Skubala era at the Robins began with an ignominious home defeat to Walsall in the EFL Cup first round last weekend while the Lions edged QPR on penalties to reach round two.

City's 4-1 win over Sheffield United last season was their first on opening day since 2020 while Millwall's 2-1 success at Norwich was their third victory in the first league game in four years.

• Bristol City have lost five of their past seven home league games against Millwall (W2), as many as in their previous 39 matches (W17 D17).

• Millwall did the league double over Bristol City last season; only twice before have they won three successive meetings with the Robins in the Football League (4 in January 1932, 3 in September 2021).

• Under Roy Hodgson, Bristol City finished last season losing two of their final seven games (W3 D2), winning as many games as in their previous 14 (D3 L8).

• Millwall earned more points away from home than any other side in the EFL Championship last season (41 – W11 D8 L4), with the Lions unbeaten in their past nine league trips since a 2-1 defeat at Coventry in January (W6 D3).

• Only Coventry City (29) and Southampton (28) scored more goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) than Millwall in the EFL Championship last season (26), with their eight from throw-ins more than anyone else.

Birmingham are keen on Bristol City midfielder Max Bird, 25, who has just a year left on his Ashton Gate contract. (Birmingham Live, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

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Former Bristol City and Fulham defender Joe Bryan has announced his retirement from football.

The 32-year-old left-back made 464 career appearances for six clubs, including 44 in the Premier League for Fulham, and scored two of his 32 goals in the 2020 Championship play-off final.

He was released by Millwall in the summer and has opted to hang up his boots.

"Whilst not the perfect ending everyone hopes for, I am at peace with the decision to retire and move into a new phase of my life," Bryan wrote on social media, external.

Bryan emerged from the academy at his hometown club Bristol City, spent loan spells at Bath City and Plymouth Argyle, and went on to play 230 times for the Robins in both the Championship and League One.

He helped City reach the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2017-18, scoring against Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

In August 2018, Bryan was close to joining fellow Championship side Aston Villa but instead chose to join Fulham in the Premier League.

He stayed with them for five years, through two relegations from the top flight, and played 119 times.

After a loan spell in France with Nice, Bryan joined Millwall in 2023 and played 81 times for them in the Championship.

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