McAllister impresses as Bristol City see off rivals Rovers

Bristol Rovers Reserves 1 Bristol City Reserves 3: Jamie McAllister came through his midweek fitness test with flying colours as City out-gunned Rovers to cruise into the final of the Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup.

Injured during last month's 2-0 Championship defeat at Watford, the Scotland international left-back missed five games while recovering from a calf strain.

Having returned to action as a late substitute in Tuesday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, McAllister made his first start since February 9 on a cold night at the Memorial Stadium. Substituted at half-time, he came through a competitive 45 minutes unscathed and will now be available for Saturday's trip to Reading.

And City also welcomed Brian Wilson back into the fold, the Mancunian making his first appearance since suffering a fractured shin in a reserve team fixture at Bournemouth in October.

Now fully recovered from surgery, the former Cheltenham Town utility player replaced injured centre-back James Wilson and played for an hour.

McAllister's return to action will increase the options open to Robins manager Gary Johnson, who was at the Madejski Stadium with assistant Keith Millen to watch Reading take on Derby County.

The Scot was steady throughout and had a hand in City's second goal, his 31st-minute in-swinging corner presenting centre-back Danny Ball with an opportunity head past Rovers keeper Rhys Evans from 10 yards out.

City had taken the lead just 90 seconds earlier, right-back Joe Edwards cutting inside, beating two Rovers defenders and sliding the ball between Evans and the far post from a narrow angle.

Fielding a team made up almost entirely from youth team players, Rovers never stopped battling and came within a whisker of pulling a goal back on the stroke of half-time, Neikell Plummer beating Robins keeper Tom Bradley all ends up with a fierce drive from the edge of the 18-yard box which cannoned off the crossbar to safety.

Having survived that scare, City put the outcome beyond reasonable doubt four minutes into the second half. Edwards turned provider on this occasion, skinning his marker and delivering a cross from the right which rendered John Akinde's headed finish straightforward.

Rovers should have pulled a goal back on the hour, but Eliot Richards contrived to head wide of a gaping target from close range. But Joe White did rather better when reducing the arrears with a powerful shot from 10 yards two minutes from time.

City will meet either Gloucester or Mangotsfield United, who contest the other semi-final at Cirencester later this month.

Bristol Rovers: Evans, Tilson, Cooper, Clough, Tyrrell, Cayford, Reece, Clarke, Plummer (White 70), Richards, Swallow.

Bristol City: Bradley, Edwards, McAllister (Muggridge 46), J Wilson (B Wilson 30), Ball (Bruint 63), Artus, Lennox, Hennessy, Akinde, Kington, Livings.