There was an absolute thrashing at Ashton Gate as Bristol City put FIVE past Portsmouth, a New Year’s Day to forget for the Blues.
The hosts went ahead on 11 minutes when a free-kick came in from the right and was headed clear but falls to the feel of Adam Randell who sent it with his right foot into the top right-hand corner from around 25 to 30 yards out.
Anis Mehmeti then doubled City’s lead on 23 minutes. Portsmouth losing the ball at the back and Jason Knight picked it up, passed to Mehmeti who struck low and into the net via a deflection.
Some fine goalkeeping by Nicolas Schmid in the first half and it could have been worse for John Mousinho’s Portsmouth.
Scott Twine added a third on 51 minutes, Neto Borges sent a cross into the box, found Scott Twine who was in plenty of space and had time to side-foot it into the net. Sinclair Armstrong then scored twice to wrap up the huge win.
UPDATE: #BristolCity 3-0 #Pompey
Chants of “We never win at Ashton Gate” ring out of the away end. Can only imagine the scenes if #Pompey score.
— Cathal Loughlin (@JournoCathal) January 1, 2026
CHANCE: #BristolCity 4-0 #Pompey
Adam Randell smashes the bar from just outside the box. But once again it is more abysmal defending by #Pompey. #BristolCity have been decent today, but my word #Pompey look like a mid-table league 1 side.
— Cathal Loughlin (@JournoCathal) January 1, 2026
90+2′ | Hayden Matthews can’t continue after a strong challenge and we’ll finish the game with 10 men.
⚪️ 4-0 🔵 // #Pompey
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) January 1, 2026
While Portsmouth team was an absolute disgrace.
You have to give it to their support.
87 mins and 0-4 down and still going…#BristolCity #pompey pic.twitter.com/Ah0hUjZc7W— Drew (@KaiserBCFC_) January 1, 2026
There is nothing more like #Pompey than collective euphoria of a 98th minute winner, followed less than 72 hours later by a comical embarrassment like that.
A team sheet and squad crying out for huge investment like you wouldn’t believe.
Unimaginably poor. pic.twitter.com/NmZLQ7J3RH
— Fournilwrittenalloverit (@officialfournil) January 1, 2026
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho speaking to BBC Radio Solent:
“Bristol City completely dominated us, we have to move on very quickly as we have some important games coming up.
“As a coaching staff we have to take responsibility for the team set up and tactics, the players have to take responsibility for their part too.
“There were a couple of goals we shot ourselves in the foot with giving them the ball.
“I said to the players we have to move on, show up on Sunday, run about and look like we can have a go, because we have no other choice.
“It’s tough for us out there at the moment with the injuries we’ve got, but hopefully the fans can stick with us as we have some big games coming up.”
Bristol City manager Gerhard Struber speaking to BBC Radio Bristol:
“This result could be nearly perfect. We executed the high press so well and this is what makes me really happy.
“We gifted Portsmouth nothing today. We got a clean sheet, we were stable and in control, and killed every hope they had.
“The whole atmosphere in the team is on a really good level right now. We had a plan and we executed it.”
On Adam Randell scoring for a second game running: “He is crazy right now; he is at an outstanding level and I am super happy with how he is growing and that he has had a really good development.
On whether Sinclair Armstrong has turned a corner this season: “There was no turning point for him this season, we are just at a point where he understands what I want, what he can be, and what his outstanding strengths are.”
Here’s how fans reacted after an absolute thrashing at Ashton Gate as Bristol City put FIVE past Portsmouth…
@fireupthearcade: This Jan window is huge. We look woeful, toothless and completely void of a game plan. Needs major surgery which unfortunately won’t be funded. At this moment in time there’s only one place we’re headed. #pompey
@crobbyg: nice little training excerise for our lads that, welcome back anytime
@pfc_sam: Tight one that lads another day and we lose that 4-0!
@wilko2012: Worst team I’ve ever seen here but the best fans! They deserved more! By the way, what are the Southampton socks all about?
@GibMonkeyPompey: My new year resolution is to try and accept the things I can’t change. A bit like how today’s players seemed to have accepted league one football next season. We were exceedingly poor today. If we are to go down can we at least do it with a bit more bite. #Pompey 💙🐵💙
@LWalterini1898: Im not even angry, just apathetic now, if the Eisners don’t realise now they need to massively invest in this transfer window then we are going back to League One and they need to leave ASAP
@foxy_pfc: Just hope we get some decent additions in before scum game! But our dealings likely be late end of Jan picking up the from the bottom of bargain bin nobody wants
@chriswisey: There’s a growing trend of away day ‘offerings’ from #Pompey that are all too similar to today. Last season, Stoke, Derby, Bristol City, West Brom. And now Birmingham and Bristol City (again) this season. It’s worrying that they can be so soft.
@Hurstisaballer: You know what I’ll put my hands up, this one was my fault. If I had refunded the £7.50 we could’ve signed a player by now, I’ll try and do better next time #Pompey
@JackPUP_: Constantly backed the Eisners but this January transfer window is make or break for them, that squad is no where near good enough for this league serious money needs to be spent. #Pompey #PUP #Portsmouthfc
@lawrent75: Today’s result a clear indication that we need to spend some serious money to recruit championship experience during the window. Sickening for those fans that travelled and didn’t even see a contest #pompey
@LukeEllisPUP: 2 from 5 go down with Sheff Wed this season, it’s as simple as that, and we are one of those 5 sides. It’s basically a mini league now #pompey
@Iain_Macdonald7: The only way we get change now is for fans to start making it hostile for the owners, management and the players. They have got off Scott free for too long now. If we want change we have to start making it happen or this club is destined for failure.
@JackDavis10: That was grim but not at all surprising comparing the lineups, simply Bristol City have a better player in every position and we were like for like. Didn’t help with an extremely rare Schmid horror show. Season is not defined by today, this transfer window however… #Pompey
@Howland_03: Felt for your fans today to be honest. Your players didn’t look interested at all which really surprised me. Good luck for the rest of the season hope for your guys sake they at least put some effort in for you
It should have been about 8, most embarrasing performance this season. We didn’t come close to scoring, we offered nothing in attack. I don’t think we even got close to their box. This isn’t prime Barcelona we’re playing too, this is Bristol City. 50% of the squad is not good… pic.twitter.com/GMgPGBm00L
— PompeyTdog (@PompeyTdog) January 1, 2026
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