Roy Hodgson wrapped up his brief tenure as interim head coach of Bristol City with a 2-0 triumph over Stoke City at Ashton Gate, thanks to goals from Delano Burgzorg and substitute Sam Bell. The match, played in the final weeks of the Championship season, offered a fitting farewell for the veteran manager, who guided the Robins to three victories and two draws in his seven-game spell.
The opening goal arrived almost instantly. Within the first minute, Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson mishandled a routine ball inside his own penalty area, allowing the on-loan striker Delano Burgzorg to pounce. Burgzorg, making his first start at Ashton Gate, collected the loose ball and calmly slotted it home from twelve yards out, giving the home side an early lead.
The early mistake set the tone for a game in which Stoke would create chances but fail to find a way past a resilient City defence. City’s second goal came much later, in the 89th minute, when defender Rob Dickie flicked a corner delivered by Mark Sykes into the box.
Sam Bell, who had come on as a substitute, met the cross with a precise side-footed finish from eight yards, sealing the win and allowing Hodgson to relax as the final whistle approached. Stoke City, under manager Mark Robins, made several changes for the encounter. Robins reinstated Viktor Johansson after a long spell on the bench and handed a first start since mid‑March to youngster Junior Tchamadeu.
The fans in the Stoke section showed their support for Johansson after his early error, urging him to wave, which he did gratefully, before he quickly recovered to make a low save from Scott Twine and later watched a close‑range effort from Tomi Horvat glance inches wide of the far post. The match featured a number of notable moments beyond the goals.
In the 18th minute, Twine attempted a long pass across his own back line that sliced off a defender and drifted past the far post, leaving Stoke keeper Radek Vitek helpless. Later, Adam Randell, who had been introduced by Hodgson, saw his shot deflected wide, while Stoke’s Bae Jun‑Ho unleashed a powerful strike that was blocked by the City defence.
A corner later in the first half saw Tchamadeu unleash a 20‑yard drive that struck the crossbar. The assistant referee flagged the subsequent rebound for offside before any teammate could react, nullifying what could have been a dramatic equaliser.
Twine also had a penalty claim turned down after going down inside the box just after the half‑hour mark, and he missed a golden‑chance on the stroke of half‑time, shooting over the bar after creating space eight yards from goal. The second half began with Stoke making a tactical substitution, bringing on Tatsuki Seko for Ben Pearson.
The visitors pressed forward, but it was Bristol City that threatened again when Dickie headed over from a Tomi Horvat free‑kick. Stoke continued to apply pressure, with Horvat’s low shot rebounding off a post and a subsequent corner seeing Randell head narrowly wide. Despite the pressure, City’s defence held firm, forcing a series of corners and desperate defending from Stoke.
Several chances went unconverted on both sides, but Bell’s late strike ultimately secured the win, marking Hodgson’s final match in charge. After the final whistle, Hodgson addressed the media, reflecting on his unexpected appointment and the season’s challenges. He admitted he had not actively sought the interim role but enjoyed his time at the club.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I didn't actively seek this position," he said, adding that he would not be putting his name forward for another job at the moment, given the abundance of managers seeking roles. Hodgson praised the supporters, noting their positivity from the moment the team arrived off the bus. He highlighted the difficulty of the season, acknowledging that the club had failed to improve on a 14th‑place finish, one of the original targets.
Injuries had taken a toll, and he singled out Johansson’s mistake as a moment that could have cost the team points, though he expressed optimism about the goalkeeper’s new contract. Looking ahead, Hodgson mentioned upcoming meetings with the club’s chief executive and owner to discuss the next manager and recruitment for the following season.
He offered to provide his opinion if consulted, emphasizing his willingness to help the club transition smoothly. In his post‑match interview, Hodgson also commented on Stoke’s performance, stating, "I thought we played better than Bristol City.
It's never ideal to concede so early, but the reaction was good and we created so many good situations." He stressed the need for quicker ball progression and better movement in the box to capitalize on crosses. Both clubs will now turn their attention to the final fixtures of the campaign.
For Bristol City, the focus will shift to securing a stable managerial appointment and strengthening the squad to aim for a top‑eight finish next season, a goal that could generate increased interest and competition for places. Stoke City, meanwhile, will look to regroup after a mixed performance and address the defensive lapses that allowed early goals. The match also featured promotional content, reminding fans to download the Sky Sports app and watch the EFL on Sky with NOW.
Additionally, a £250,000 prize pool was highlighted for the Super 6 competition, with entries closing at 3 pm on Saturday. Overall, Hodgson’s final game delivered a positive result for Bristol City, providing a morale‑boosting win to close out his short stint and offering a platform for the club to build upon in the upcoming season.