Bristol City picked up a well-deserved 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest to climb off the foot of the Championship table.
All the hard work was done early on for the Robins, as Aaron Wilbraham found the net twice inside the opening 11 minutes to put his side well on their way.
Forest produced a much improved performance following the restart, but they lacked the cutting edge required to break down their resilient opponents.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage from Ashton Gate below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Bristol City and Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate. Following a two-week international break, we are officially back underway in the top two tiers - starting with this intriguing-looking fixture in the West Country.
The hosts will be targeting just a second win of the season in order to climb out of the drop zone, as they come up against a side who themselves have slipped down the table in recent weeks and will be eager to arrest the slide here tonight.
Well there is plenty to get through between now and kickoff in a little under 30 minutes' time, so let's get straight into things by checking out some team news from Ashton Gate.
TEAM NEWS!
BRISTOL CITY XI: Fielding; Bennett, Ayling, Flint, Baker; Williams, Smith, Pack, Freeman; Wilbraham, Kodjia
NOTTINGHAM FOREST XI: De Vries; Pinillos, Wilson, Hobbs, Fox; Vaughan, Lansbury, Burke, Mendes; O'Grady, Oliveira
So three changes apiece for this one, then, as both managers make minor alterations to their side. For Forest, that is largely down to even more injury woes over the international break. They really have been unlucky in that department, with Michael Mancienne and Kyle Ebecilio the latest two to be ruled out of action.
The absence of Matt Mills in defence is down the suspension rather than injury related, though, while it is an identical story for Eric Lichaj. That provides Kelvin Wilson, Chris Burke and Danny Fox with a chance to shine, with Burke in particular no doubt keen to impress following the news that Liam Trotter cannot join due to the ongoing transfer embargo.
In terms of the home side, Korey Smith, Derrick Williams and loan signing Elliott Bennett are all elevated into the first team, while there is a starting spot in goals for a man who knows the opposition side well. Frank Fielding played three times against the Reds during his time at arch-rivals Derby County, winning all three of those matches.
BENCH WATCH!
BRISTOL CITY SUBS: Hamer, Little, Reid, Bryan, Cox, Burns, Agard
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: Evtimov, Iacovitti, Ward, Williams, Grant, Walker, Blackstock
Elliott Bennett is handed his first Bristol City start this evening, having joined from Norwich City on a three-month loan deal.
There is no denying that Bristol City, even at this early stage of the season, are desperate for a positive result this evening. It looked as though they would head into the international break off the foot of the table, at least, until Daniel Johnson rescued Preston North End a dramatic point last time out here at Ashton Gate.
The good news for City is that they have a striker who is very much in form. Jonathan Kodija was being tracked by a few Championship clubs in the summer, but it was the Robins who landed him and it has proved to be an inspired move so far with five goals in his last six outings; a run that he will be looking to extend against Forest this evening.
Forest, on the other hand, are crying out for someone who can score on a regular basis. The loss of Michael Antonio and Britt Assombalonga was always going to be difficult to overcome, and it is now down to Chris O'Grady and Nelson Oliveira to find the net. The pressure will be on Burke this evening, too, with the wideman likely to be the midfielder tasked with cutting into central positions to create openings.
DID YOU KNOW? City have collected just two home points so far this season - a league low. That does not bode all that well up against a Forest side boasting an unbeaten away run stretching to four games now, with two of those outings ending in victory.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! The Robins have won only one of their last 12 home league matches against Forest, although that solo triumph did come in the last meeting two years ago. In all, Forest have won five and drawn six of their recent visits here.
Well the two sets of players are now out of the dressing room, waiting to emerge to an Ashton Gate that is undergoing a real facelift at the moment. It is being developed into a 28,000-seater stadium in the hope that it will be ready to welcome Premier League football here one day in the near future.
Talk of Premier League can be pushed to one side for the time being, though, because right now it is simply about picking up the points to avoid the drop. City know that a point will lift them off the bottom of the table, but three points - and a big leap up to as high as 17th place - has to be the target this evening.
We are just moments away from kickoff at Ashton Gate
KICKOFF! Championship action is officially back underway! Forest have failed to score in three of their last four meetings with City, so they will really need to change that this evening.
A good start from the hosts, as the ball is played out wide to Bennett who in turn swings one in for Kodija to get onto. The in-form striker could not make the desired contact, though, and what was a decent half-chance goes begging.
GOAL! BRISTOL CITY 1-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (AARON WILBRAHAM)
What a frenetic opening to the game this has been, with Forest barely able to get the ball out of their own half so far. City came out of the traps flying, creating that half-chance through Bennett before Wilbraham got a weak attempt on goal. There was no denying the forward the second time around, however, as a deft flick-on by Kodija gave Wilbraham time to compose himself and tuck the ball under De Vries.
Freedman talked up the importance of the first goal in matches at this level, but his side now have their work cut out to get back into this contest. City really are up for it tonight, and at this rate they could help themselves to a few.
Forest have had their foot on the ball a little more over the past couple of minutes, with Burke in particular being given far too much space in a central position. I mentioned how he will look to cut inside tonight, which so far has been the case - albeit very rarely!
GOAL! BRISTOL CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (AARON WILBRAHAM)
Forest need to be very careful here, because they have now been exposed by City twice in the opening 12 minutes and things could get embarrassing. This all came about following Wilson's poor clearance, which ended with a cross coming in from the left into a central position. All the attention was on Kodija, but Wilbraham ghosted in to head home as simple as you like to double his personal tally for the night.
A cross deep into the box is waiting to be met by two red shirts, but Fox did well to get his head to the ball first and clear away. Forest's best hope at the moment is to just settle themselves down and patiently wait to find a route back into the game.
Freeman is being given so much space in the hole at the moment, which is largely down to Forest's holding players failing to hold their position. As it is, Oliveira wins his side a corner from a rare attacking move, which is poorly delivered in the end.
SAVE! Superb stop from ex-Derby stopper Fielding, who adjusts himself to push over a Hobbs header. The centre-back himself had to bend his body to get an attempt on goal, yet credit to Fielding for keeping it out from such close range.
We are actually level in terms of attempts (5-5) and shots on goal (3-3), but the difference is City were slightly more clinical when the chances came their way. The game is more balanced now compared to the opening 12 minutes or so, yet the damage may already have been done.
The pendulum has certainly swung in Forest's favour all of a sudden, as O'Grady gets a shot away inside the box which is well blocked away by Flint just a few yards from goal.
Aaron Wilbraham, formerly of Crystal Palace, has proved to be the difference between the sides in the opening quarter of the contest
Following an end-to-end spell, Forest are forced to ride out the storm as City throw bodies forward. Kodija's close-range shot is blocked by De Vries, with Freeman picking out Flint from the rebound to test the visiting keeper with a more simple catch.
SHOT! Freeman, who really is a free man in the hole this evening (sorry), finds space yet again to turn and get a shot away from 25 yards. The attempt failed to trouble De Vries, however, and fell just wide of the target.
Kodija has had to play second fiddle to Wilbraham so far, but he comes close to producing some magic when getting a half-volley in at goal which is deflected away.
Another period of both sides taking it in turns to mount attacks, without troubling up either end. City will be by far the happier of the two as we head into the final 12 minutes of the half, having scored twice so early on when on top.
Another decent opening for City, which comes about following a well-worked free kick. Flint found himself in acres of space on the right of the box, heading it back into a central position to be cleared away. Unlucky.
Smith comes close with a long-range drive, before Mendes gets his dragged effort horribly wrong. Pretty much sums up which direction this one is heading for both of these teams at the moment, as City continue to remain in control.
Kodjia goes on a storming run half the length of the pitch, but he probably just about overdone it as he is crowded out on the edge of the box. Great energy from the in-form forward, who has five in his last six.
Lansbury takes aim with another disappointing effort from range. Forest being restricted to shots like that at the moment, with a lack of attempts up either end really since Wilbraham's early double.
This one appears to be petering out to half time, with Forest desperate to get themselves back into it before the interval but lacking any real quality in front of goal.
The lack of goals, a worrying trait certainly not helped by injuries, is proving to be the Reds' downfall again in this first half. At 2-0 it is still far from over, but they will need to up things considerably following the restart.
HALF TIME: BRISTOL CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
So Bristol City hold a comfortable two-goal lead over Nottingham Forest at the break, then, thanks to Aaron Wilbraham's brace inside the opening 11 minutes at Ashton Gate.
Both of the Robins' goals came about following crosses into the box, one from the right and one from the left, with Wilbraham profiting on his side's fast start to the game. Forest struggled to contain their opponents, and Luke Freeman in particular has taken complete control of the contest in these opening 45 minutes.
Other than those two goals, we have not seen a great deal of chances created by either side. The standout moment came 18 minutes in, as Jack Hobbs met a cross into the box to force Frank Fielding into making a superb reaction stop. The onus is now certainly on the Reds to move up another gear in order to put some pressure on their bottom-place opponents.
BENCH WATCH!
BRISTOL CITY SUBS: Hamer, Little, Reid, Bryan, Cox, Burns, Agard
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: Evtimov, Iacovitti, Ward, Williams, Grant, Walker, Blackstock
Dougie Freedman may have been tempted to make a change in the opening quarter of the match, but he opted to stick with his original starting XI up until the break. I would not be at all surprised to see an alteration at half time, though, with more attacking urgency needed.
The players are now back out and we are just moments away from the second half getting underway
RESTART! No changes made by either manager at half time, as City get this contest back underway. Forest need to match the early intensity levels set by their opponents in the first half.
Forest not quite made the start to this half that they would have liked, with the flow remaining pretty much constant from the end of the opening 45 minutes. The next goal in this game, should there be one, really will be vital.
SAVE! Fielding forced into action for a second time this evening to push aside Pinillos's shot. The long-range drive was swerving in the air and dipped in an awkward position, so that was a decent stop from the ex-Derby man.
This has been better from the visitors over the past few minutes, as Lansbury volleys over on the back of that Pinillos attempt. They need to sustain some pressure in the knowledge that City often sit further and further back when they are under the cosh.
The Robins are trying their best to keep the ball on the ground and pass it around, with Forest not doing enough to prevent their opponents from doing so. Dougie Freedman really should be thinking about a couple of changes around about now.
A rarity as Mendes gets into the opposition's face in the hope of creating something. It leads to nothing more than a corner, but that is a positive sign nonetheless. Jonny Williams is being readied to make an appearance.
OFF THE BAR! Superb effort from Lansbury, which deserved so much better in the end. The midfielder chested the ball down and looked to dip it into the far corner, with his attempt coming back off the bar and to safety. A goal of the season contender denied by the frame.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUB! For the first time all evening really, the visitors are on top. A good time to make a change, perhaps, as Wales international Jonny Williams comes on for Burke.
Much better from Forest over the past 10 minutes or so, then, but they still have another gear or two to move into. A third goal for City will kill it off, meanwhile, yet they cannot find their rhythm at the moment.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUB! A second change for the visitors, as Jamie Ward replaces Nelson Oliveira. Twenty-five minutes left to rescue themselves a point at a ground they have done well at in the past.
An unmarked Wilbraham sends Freeman's free kick over the bar, as the momentum swings back in the home side's favour. You sense that there is at least one more goal in this one, but which way it goes is anyone's call right now.
Aaron Wilbraham celebrates scoring his second goal of the match to put Bristol City 2-0 up against Nottingham Forest
Williams certainly provides Forest with something a little different, using his low centre of gravity to get himself into dangerous positions. We saw Burke attempt to do exactly that to no avail, but the Welshman is already having slightly better success.
A cross into the back post is heading towards Hobbs, but the defender mistimed his jump and conceded a foul. Still no way through for the visitors, meaning that it remains all very simple for the Robins as they aim to see this one through.
SAVE! It really should be game over at Ashton Gate. Kodjia is picked out by Bennett 16 yards from goal and makes decent enough contact with the ball, but De Vries gets down to his left to push it aside for a corner.
SAVE! Forest really holding on now, as De Vries makes another important stop. This one was simpler, but just as vital at his near post to thwart Ayling. Joe Bryan has now come on for Derrick Williams in the home side's first change.
Well I've already mentioned how the Robins have struggled to keep hold of leads late on recently, but that will not be the case at this rate because Forest cannot find that opening goal to put the pressure on. City will climb to 19th as things stand.
SUBS! Jack Hobbs is replaced by Dexter Blackstock for the visitors, meaning Freedman may be going for a back three in these final 10 minutes. As far as the Robins are concerned, Freeman leaves the field to make way for Reid.
SAVE! This is superb from De Vries! It will likely count for nothing in terms of his side's hopes of rescuing a point, but he will take great confidence from it at least. Wilbraham saw his initial header kept out from five yards, before readjusting his body to push aside the rebound from even closer range.
The attendance has been confirmed as 15,285 this evening, including 991 visiting supporters. City, it appears, are on the way up. What a huge win this will be for them.
Following that exciting flurry of saves, things have quietened down once more and it looks likely that City will see things through now in an efficient manner - a far cry from two weeks ago!
City look ready to make one more change to run down the clock, as Forest continue to knock the ball around in the attacking third. Baker gets underneath a cross, but there is still no way through.
The hosts are forming a compact shape at the back to hold out their opponents, and win themselves a free kick to relieve some of the pressure that was perhaps beginning to build.
BRISTOL CITY SUB! A decent shift put in by Bennett on his City debut. The Norwich City loanee is replaced by Mark Little for the final 60 seconds.
FULL TIME: BRISTOL CITY 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
As easy as you like in the end for Bristol City, who see out the closing stages to pick up just a second league win of the season. Forest improved in the second half, yet it was nowhere near enough to trouble their opponents in the end.
The victory lifts the Robins off the bottom of the table ahead of a packed weekend of action in the second tier, while Forest remain in 14th but are likely to drop down a few places come 5pm tomorrow evening.
That brings to an end Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in the West Country for this evening, but be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you live coverage of the lunchtime kickoff between Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City. See you then!
