Bristol City v Blackpool: Updates as Seasiders kick off their Championship campaign at Ashton Gate

The Seasiders want a red card for a nasty challenge from Nathan Baker on Tyreece John-Jules. It’s just a booking though.

The hosts now have their tails up again and Blackpool are having to do more defending.

Matty James whistles one just past the post with Chris Maxwell at full stretch.

The hosts respond to that chance with a good opportunity of their own as Matty, the sibling of Blackpool’s Reece, blazes over the bar from the edge of the box.

Luke Garbutt delivers a tantalising cross from the left flank which Jerry Yates comes within inches of reaching at the near post. It could still fall to CJ Hamilton at the back post...but it’s too far ahead of him.

Much, much better.

Grant Ward tries his luck with a curling effort from 30 yards but it’s two or three yards over the Bristol City goal. It’s a chance, at least.

Pool have started the second-half sloppily. They’re not passing the ball anymore and are just resorting to aimless long balls for CJ Hamilton to chase. Not the reaction we wanted.

Bristol City’s 17-year-old Alex Scott gets the game restarted.

Need to see a lot more from the Seasiders this half.

And that brings an end to the first 45 minutes of the new season.

Bristol City lead and it’s a deserved one. Chris Martin the man to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.

The Seasiders started well enough and had some bright moments, but the hosts soon took the ascendancy and produced two or three clear openings before eventually taking the lead.

Pool need to stop conceding needless free-kicks in and around their box and offer a bit more in attack, if possible.

Due to a couple of stoppages, there will be four minutes of time added on at the end of the first half.

Chris Martin is left completely unmarked to head home past Chris Maxwell. Can’t say it’s undeserved.