Classy Bristol City too strong for Cobblers in Carabao Cup

Cobblers were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening when heavily beaten 4-0 by Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Town matched their Championship hosts blow-for-blow for much of the first-half and were somewhat unfortunate to be behind at the break following Chris Martin's header late in the half.

From then on, however, City's superior class shone through as Kasey Palmer's silky footwork led to a second goal and Antoine Semenyo made it three with nine minutes to go.

Palmer, who was the game's best player, struck again in the final minute to complete a convincing victory, leaving the Cobblers to focus on their league campaign.

The headline team news saw 18-year-old striker Caleb Chukwuemeka make his first start for the Cobblers as he partnered fellow young gun Benny-Ashley Seal in attack.

Sam Hoskins and Joe Martin also returned to the team in midfield and at wing-back respectively, while Joseph Mills was back on the bench following injury.

Chukwuemeka made a promising start and spearheaded a couple of early attacks for the Cobblers, but City went closest to the first goal on 16 minutes as Niclas Eliasson's free-kick smacked the woodwork.

That moment aside, though, the Robins struggled to find their groove against the organised and disciplined visitors, forced to wait until late in the half before going through the gears.

The dangerous Semenyo was easily City's most threatening player and he forced Jonathan Mitchell into action for the first time when Town's goalkeeper blocked his shout from an acute angle.

The home side turned the screw in the closing stages of the first-half and their pressure told. Eliasson got to the byline on the left and stood up a cross, Semenyo headed the ball back across goal and Martin nodded into the net.

Mitchell tipped over Zak Vyner's shot to keep Cobblers in with a sniff at half-time, but City had one foot in the third round three minutes into the second-half when Semenyo broke the offside trap and teed up Palmer, who rounded Mitchell and rolled into the net.

Morgan Roberts had come on for the Cobblers at half-time and another academy player was introduced just past the hour with Ethan Johnston on for his professional debut, replacing Ashley-Seal.

Palmer had a goal disallowed as City pushed for a third before Semenyo headed over from point-blank range.

Town created very little in attack but Chris Lines teed up Chukwuemeka for a decent opportunity with 15 minutes to go, however the teenager put too much on his curling shot.

The home side then added some gloss to the scoreline in the final 10 minutes, Semenyo beating Mitchell at the second attempt to make it 3-0 before the outstanding Palmer scored a fourth.

Bristol City: O'Leary, Nagy, Mawson (Rowe 71), Martin, Semenyo, Eliasson, Kalas (c) (Moore 7), Bakinson (Brunt 60), Vyner, Sessegnon, Palmer

Subs not used: Bentley, Diedhiou, Weimann, Wells

Cobblers: Mitchell, Racic (Roberts 45), Bolger, Horsfall, Harriman, Martin, Missilou, Watson, Hoskins (Lines 53), Ashley-Seal (Johnston 57), Chukwuemeka

Subs not used: Arnold, Mills, Warburton, Marshall

Referee: Tom Nield