Sam Bell (left) scored his fifth goal of the season but his first since September
Southampton lost for the first time since 23 September as Bristol City scored three second-half goals to end Saints’ club-record 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Sam Bell, Rob Dickie and Harry Cornick got the goals as Saints’ defeat, their first in 23 Championship matches, saw them slip to third in the table.
Saints had not lost since their four straight defeats in September – but their only consolation was a late Adam Armstrong penalty as they were overtaken by Leeds United, whose 4-0 win at Swansea lifted them to second.
Liam Manning’s City move into the top half, up to 11th, after ending a run of four home games without a win.
Tuesday’s Championship action – as it happenedChampionship table
The home side grabbed a 52nd-minute lead when, after a neat one-two with Jason Knight on the right of the box, Albanian midfielder Anis Mehmeti crossed low for Bell to score from close range.
It was his first goal since a run of three in five games in September.
Centre-back Dickie then rose above the Saints defence to head home a Joe Williams corner from the left after 72 minutes.
Former Luton Town stalwart Cornick got the third to cap a deserved victory when he lashed home a cross from fellow substitute Ross McCrorie on 82 minutes.
Russell Martin’s Saints had to wait until stoppage time to reply when Armstrong scored from the spot following a foul on Kyle Walker-Peters, who had earlier come close to scoring himself, forcing a good save at his near post from City goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
That at least kept Armstrong’s impressive away form going with the striker having now been involved in eight goals in his last nine league games on the road (four goals, four assists).
Who’s next?
Southampton are on their travels again on Friday night when they head to The Hawthorns to face fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Bristol City return to action on Saturday at home to struggling Queens Park Rangers.
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 4-2-3-1
1O’Leary
19Tanner26Vyner16Dickie24Roberts
6James8Williams
11Mehmeti12Knight20Bell
15Conway
1O’Leary19Tanner26VynerBooked at 65mins16Dickie24RobertsSubstituted forMcCrorieat 76’minutes6James8WilliamsBooked at 90mins11MehmetiSubstituted forMebudeat 86’minutes12KnightSubstituted forGardner-Hickmanat 64’minutes20BellSubstituted forCornickat 65’minutes15ConwaySubstituted forWellsat 76’minutesSubstitutes2McCrorie9Cornick10King17Sykes21Wells22Gardner-Hickman23Bajic27Knight-Lebel47Mebude
Southampton
Formation 4-3-3
31Bazunu
2Walker-Peters21Harwood-Bellis35Bednarek3Manning
16Smallbone24Charles19Rothwell
36Brooks9A Armstrong23Edozie
31Bazunu2Walker-Peters21Harwood-Bellis35Bednarek3Manning16Smallbone24CharlesSubstituted forS Armstrongat 45’minutes19RothwellSubstituted forSulemanaat 74’minutesBooked at 90mins36BrooksSubstituted forMaraat 64’minutes9A Armstrong23EdozieSubstituted forFraserat 64’minutesBooked at 90minsSubstitutes5Stephens13Lumley17S Armstrong18Mara20Sulemana26Fraser27Amo-Ameyaw29Meghoma33Dibling
Referee:Matt Donohue
Attendance:24,661
Live Text
Match ends, Bristol City 3, Southampton 1.
Second Half ends, Bristol City 3, Southampton 1.
Jan Bednarek (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nahki Wells (Bristol City).
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Sékou Mara (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Zak Vyner (Bristol City).
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton).
Rob Dickie (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Ross McCrorie (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal! Bristol City 3, Southampton 1. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Joe Williams (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.
Penalty Southampton. Kyle Walker-Peters draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Harry Cornick (Bristol City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Taylor Gardner-Hickman (Bristol City).
Ryan Fraser (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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