Bianchi to the rescue on Sven's big night

The Italian's opportunism spared his side the potential embarrassment of dominating a match yet somehow missing out.

In truth, the victory was just reward for the visitors. The prosaic predictability of Eriksson's time in charge of England's best players has been replaced by a vigorous vibrancy throughout the new team he has created in the blue half of Manchester.

Yet by not adding to Emile Mpenza's 17th-minute goal, the Premiership team left themselves vulnerable to a second-half fightback from their Championship hosts which culminated in full back Bradley Orr turning on a loose ball following a 69th-minute corner to level the tie.

Had Bianchi not atoned for an awful miss earlier in the half, Eriksson might have had to brace himself for another of the penalty shoot-outs which so blighted his England career.

If Sven was missing his England days, he could have talked international management with his opposite number Gary Johnson, formerly coach of Latvia and a man who achieved God-like status in the Baltic state.

Eriksson fell considerably short of matching that accomplishment.

His return to this country is still viewed as a novelty at away grounds. But if his team continue to perform as exhilaratingly as they did last night, the attention will soon switch from manager to those on the field.

The first hint at the gulf between the sides came in the 14th minute when a one-two between Bianchi and Mpenza ended with the Belgian skewing his shot high over.

Three minutes later, they combined again, this time to give the Premiership side the lead, although Bristol keeper Chris Weale appeared to spread his body too early, allowing Mpenza's shot to fly into the centre of the goal.

The home side hinted at a riposte through their own bigmoney capture of the summer, Lee Trundle.

Twice in a minute he threatened to draw his team level.

Firstly, his laconic style fooled the Premier League defence into thinking he was dallying before his beautifully dipping left-foot shot was tipped over by the fingertips of Joe Hart. Then, from the corner, he worked space for himself once more, but dragged his shot inches wide.

The remainder of the first half amounted to a demonstration class from Eriksson's side.

Their movement was mesmerising, while the skills of local teenager Shalem Logan, another product of the City academy, were reminiscent of another attacking rightsided player to wear the light blue not so long ago — Shaun Wright-Phillips.

BRISTOL CITY (4-4-2): Weale; Orr (Jevons 86min), Carey, Fontaine, McAllister; Wilson (Sproule 52), Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe; Murray, Trundle.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Hart; Sun, Corluka, Onuoha, Ball; Logan, Fernandes, Ireland, Geovanni (Dabo 82); Bianchi (Dickov 90), Mpenza.

Man of the match: Rolando Bianchi.

Referee: Richard Beeby.