Bristol City 2-1 AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon were knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after going down at Ashton Gate.
The Dons more than matched the League One leaders for an hour, but Aaron Wilbraham’s quick-fire brace earned Steve Cotterill’s side a place a side in the last eight as George Francomb’s late reply proved nothing more than a consolation.
Neal Ardley made four changes from the side that drew at York on Saturday, with star striker Bayo Akinfenwa rested.
The visitors almost took the lead when Ade Azeez tried his luck from long range, but Frank Fielding was relieved to see it fly wide of his left-hand post.
James Shea produced a super stop to keep out Aden Flint’s goalbound header on the stroke of half-time as the sides went in level at the break.
The Dons shot-stopper was called into action again at the beginning of the second period when he pounced to save at the feet of Joe Bryan.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas fired over the top for the Robins, while Wimbledon sub Francomb went close from long range.
However, the home side eventually broke the deadlock on 73 minutes when Bryan hooked the ball back for Wilbraham to slam into the net.
The former Crystal Palace frontman doubled their lead four minutes later, firing past Shea from the edge of the box.
Shea denied Wilbraham a hat-trick when he dived low to his right, then Francomb fired home from 25 yards to give the visitors hope.
And Fielding kept out Francomb's last-gasp free-kick as City held on to maintain their impressive start to the season.
Dons: Shea, Fuller, Bennett, Barrett, Smith, Moore, Bulman (Sutherland 59), Nicholson, Rigg (Francomb 53), Tubbs (Akinfenwa 69), Azeez.
Subs (not used): McDonnell, Kennedy.
