Matchday Essentials 2002-2003 Click here for the latest match previews and reports |
An injury and suspension hit Wycombe side somehow held City until the 41st minute but after Scott Murray had chipped Taylor from 25 yards the writing was on the wall. Wanderers had a brief spell of pressure at the start of the second-half, Craig Faulconbridge seeing a scooped shot graze the outside of the post on 52 minutes. However, Lee Peacock slotted home on 65 minutes and added another seven minutes later with a diving header to make the scoreline more realistic. This tie was never going to be easy but another bizarre starting line-up always had Wycombe on the back foot. With Chris Vinnicombe injured and both Danny Senda and Roger Johnson suspended, Lawrie Sanchez went with a back five that included Youth Teamer Lewis Cook at left wing back and Keith Ryan on the opposite flank. Michael Simpson returned after a one match ban in a midfield trio alongside Steve Brown and Dannie Bulman. Up front it was left for Craig Faulconbridge and Richard Harris to try and pick up any chances that came their way. City ripped into Wycombe from the off. After six minutes Aaron Brown looked certain to score as he broke in from the left channel but Taylor saved brilliantly and was then grateful to see Andy Thomson clear Liam Rosenior's follow up off the line. On 12 minutes Rosenior played the ball through to Murray just right of centre but Taylor cut down the angle and tipped the effort wide of his left hand upright. Wanderers solitary effort at goal in the first half came on 14 minutes when Paul McCarthy headed over at the near post from a Simpson corner delivered from the left but there was very little to get excited about for the loyal Wycombe contingent who travelled to see this game. Taylor was in action again on 20 minutes when he got down to his right to from Peacock after Wycombe had been horribly exposed down the City right. Aaron Brown saw a weak header saved with ease by Taylor on 23 minutes while the same player wasted another good chance on the half hour mark after Peacock had layed the ball off. City finally took the lead four minutes before the break when the classy Scott Murray spotted Taylor off his line as he closed in from the right side of midfield. The chip was exquisite and Taylor could only turn and watch as the ball slid down the back of the net. Half-time Bristol City 1 Wycombe 0 Wycombe's brief attempt at making a game of this tie lasted for around eight second-half minutes. Aaron Brown had already missed another chance for City before a comical series of chances fell to Wycombe in the 52nd minute. Cook played the ball in from the left only for McCarthy and Harris fail to get a decent connection. The ball finally fell to Faulconbridge at the far edge of the six yard box but the striker scuffed his shot against the wrong side of the post. The ex-Wrexham man had another chance on 60 minutes when McCarthy headed through but the resulting shot on the turn was pulled wide of the right-hand post. City effectively sealed the tie on 65 minutes when a series of one-two's in midfield resulted in Peacock being sent clear and he was able to stroke the ball past Taylor from the edge of the 18 yard box. Five minutes later in could have been three but Rosenior's shot did not have the power to beat Taylor. However, the final nail in the coffin came on 72 minutes when Rosenior crossed from the left and Peacock's diving header flew past Taylor and into the far corner of the net. For Wycombe the only encouraging factor was the late introduction of Stuart Roberts following his lay-off through injury and another all too brief appearance of Youth Teamer Jonny Dixon. Robert's slotted in on the left side and look quite lively while Dixon's run with the ball from midfield in the final minute showed a glimpse of his potential. Final Score Bristol City 3 Wycombe 0
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