Living De Vita Loca: Swindon Knock Bristol City Out Of The Carling Cup

Swindon produced an upset to progress to the second round of the Carling Cup for only the second time in the last fourteen years after an impressive 1-0 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The decisive goal arrived deep into the second half with substitute Raffale De Vita's powerful header sealing a deserved victory for the visitors, who had dominated the match for large periods of play against their mediocre hosts.

Paolo Di Canio's quest to find a winning formula looks to finally be over as he changed his starting line-up for the fifth match in succession. Etienne Esajas and De Vita lost their places within the side that narrowly lost out to Oxford at the weekend, with Lander Gabilondo and Alan Connell the lucky benefactors this time from Di Canio's willingness to chop and change.

It was the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks, visibly eager to benefit from City's slow start to the season and they almost enjoyed the dream start when Jonathan Smith found Matt Ritchie unmarked with a left wing cross. Despite beating the offside trap and looking odds-on to score, Ritchie completely fluffed his lines and saw his scuffed effort drift wide of the post.

Just minutes later, Leon Clarke - so impressive on his debut at the weekend - was next to squander a good opportunity, after seeing his first time effort from Callum Kennedy's cross well blocked by City defender Lewin Nyatanga.

Despite a dominant opening twenty minutes, Town nearly found themselves behind as the hosts registered their first shot of the game. City's on-loan West Ham defender Jordan Spence made space for himself before floating his striker over Phil Smith's cross bar.

Ritchie looked back his best at the weekend and was seemingly carrying that form through to the cup game, proving to be a menace on the right for the visitors. The impressive winger was allowed time and space on two occasions before half time, shooting from distance both times but saw City 'keeper Dean Gerken - starting ahead of England international David James - equal to his efforts.

Bristol City manager Keith Millen was clearly disappointed with his sides' first half performance and produced two substitutions upon the beginning of the second 45 minute period, bringing James on for a bemused Gerken and replacing Jamal Campbell-Ryce with Albert Adomah. Swindon boss Di Canio, meanwhile, addressed an apparent Connell injury by bringing De Vita on in place of the striker.

As expected, the hosts started the half the brighter side with Adomah almost making an immediate impact, playing in Neil Kilkenny, who was unlucky to see his low drive grasped by the hands of Swindon custodian Smith.

After that, the visitors found their feet again and began to enjoy the better of the game. It took, however, 20 second half minutes for League Two Town to test substitute 'keeper James; A dangerous Kennedy free kick into the area bounced fortuitously into the path of De Vita, but the Italian's striker was gathered up by James at the second attempt.

De Vita soon made amends for his earlier miss by heading Town into what was a deserved lead after seventy minutes of action. Simon Ferry - clearly rejuvinated upon his return to the starting line-up in the last two games - found Gabilondo with an excellent pass and although the Spaniard's initial cross was blocked, he drove the rebound into the box where De Vita was able to guide a powerful header past an ailing James.

After finally taking the lead though, Swindon almost saw their advantage wiped out on two seperate occasions as first Adomah forced Smith into a diving save before Bret Pitman's deflected effort drifted dangerously over the bar. That, however, proved to be the last sight of goal the hosts would have and, with the sounding of the final whistle being greeted by the cheers of 1,400 jubilant away fans, who will now have their eyes on a second round home tie against Championship leaders Southampton.