Anis Mehmeti and Ross McCrorie’s first-half goals helped Bristol City claim maximum points away from home against West Bromwich Albion.

City had the lead after four minutes as Mehmeti scored his seventh of the season before McCrorie’s powerful strike doubled the visitors’ lead in the 22nd minute.

The Baggies posed more of a threat in the second half, and Ousmane Diakité clawed a goal back in the 85th minute.

In added time, Karlan Grant’s effort struck the crossbar, leaving Gerhard Struber’s side able to secure the Boxing Day win.

The Robins now travel to Millwall on Monday, December 29th (7:45pm).

Mikey Johnston earned his side a corner two minutes into the contest as Cam Pring made a brave block to send his effort into the side netting.

Despite a positive start by the hosts, City were the ones to open the scoring, as Neto Borges’ pass found Mehmeti at the top of the box, who turned and fired into the bottom left-hand corner.

In the 11th minute, Max O’Leary made a crucial stop one-on-one to deny Isaac Price before then making a brilliant reaction save to keep out Ousmane Diakité’s header from close range.

The Robins would double their advantage on the 22-minute mark after a nicely worked move saw Borges’ cross find Scott Twine, who couldn’t shoot and opted to lay the ball to McCrorie, who rifled the ball home from inside the area.

Before the break, George Campbell tried his luck, volleying a loose ball, but his off-target effort posed no danger to City.

Four minutes after the restart, O’Leary made another important stop, this time denying Grant, who had a go from the edge of the box.

Borges came close to a third on the hour mark after a nicely worked corner routine saw Twine deliver a perfect cross for Borges, who failed to test the goalkeeper.

The Baggies halved the deficit in the 85th minute as Diakité headed home from a corner.

A nail-biting finish would see Grant hit the crossbar at the death, but City held on to claim victory at the Hawthorns.

Starting XI: O’Leary; Vyner, Dickie, Pring; McCrorie (Tanner 76’), Knight (captain), Randell, Borges (Atkinson 65’) ; Twine, Mehmeti (Armstrong 65’), Riis (Hirakawa 76’)

Substitutes: Lumley, Roberts, Stokes, Pecover, O.Thomas.

Yellow Cards: McCrorie, Mehmeti, Pring

UP NEXT AT ASHTON GATE

Bristol City host Portsmouth on New Year’s Day (3pm).