The 2017–18 season was Bristol City's 120th season as a professional football club and their third consecutive season back in the Championship. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the latter competition. The season covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Month by month review June On 27 June, Bristol City agreed to sign right-back Eros Pisano on a two-year deal, with it being officially confirmed on 1 July when his contract with Hellas Verona expired. On 28 June, City broke their transfer record to sign striker Famara Diédhiou from Angers for a £5.3 million transfer fee.

July On 7 July, Aaron Wilbraham signed a one-year contract with the club. On 13 July, attacking midfielder Lee Tomlin transferred to Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee. On 28 July, defender Nathan Baker, having previously spent the 2015–16 season on loan from Aston Villa, signed for City on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

December After beating three other Premier League sides, Bristol City were drawn against holders Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. The game was played at Ashton Gate on 20 December and marked the first time City and United had met competitively since 1980, when City were last in the top flight. City took the lead through a thunderous Joe Bryan strike just after the second half began. Zlatan Ibrahimović equalised only seven minutes later. City sealed a dramatic and famous win as Korey Smith beat goalkeeper Sergio Romero with a 93rd-minute strike to make it 2–1 to the Robins. At the final whistle, fans invaded the pitch and lifted City players onto their shoulders.

After the match, City manager Lee Johnson said the result was "a historic occasion" and Smith's winner would "live in the memory for many generations". In defeating United, Bristol City became only the second side from a lower division to eliminate four top-flight teams in one League Cup campaign, after Sheffield Wednesday in 1990-91. City were drawn against United's city rivals Manchester City in the semi-finals of the competition, with the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

On 26 December, Bristol City finished the day second in the Championship table as they defeated Reading 2–0 at home. Jamie Paterson scored the first, before Lloyd Kelly's first goal for City in stoppage time sealed the win. On 28 December, Bristol City lost at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

January On 9 January, Bristol City travelled to the Premier League leaders to take on Manchester City in the semi-final first leg of the EFL Cup. The 7,680 Bristol City fans who arrived set a record for the most away fans in the Etihad Stadium's history. Manchester City were overwhelming favourites, unbeaten in the Premier League and having won 20 of their 22 matches so far. Bristol City played well and took a shock lead after Bobby Reid won and scored a penalty just before half-time. Kevin De Bruyne scored ten minutes into the second half and Bristol City looked to have secured a memorable draw before substitute Sergio Agüero scored with a 92nd-minute header to seal a 2–1 win.

The return leg was another entertaining affair at a sold out and noisy Ashton Gate, although Manchester City were comfortable for the most part. Leroy Sané scored just before half-time and Agüero scored just after to give Manchester City a 4–1 aggregate lead. Marlon Pack reduced the deficit before Aden Flint scored in injury time to give Bristol City hope. De Bruyne scored shortly after to kill the game, make it 3–2 on the night and 5–3 on aggregate.

After the game, Lee Johnson said Bristol City were a "Premier League club in training." Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised Bristol City and Lee Johnson after the two-legged affair: "It was a nice game, beautiful game, and all my credit to Bristol City. Big congratulations. He [Johnson] came here to try to play. They arrived, they created chances".

April After a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest, Bristol City could no longer mathematically reach the playoffs, ending their chances of promotion.

A 3–2 home loss to fellow mid-table side Sheffield United on the last day of the season saw City eventually finish 11th. While this was disappointing after being 2nd on Boxing Day, this was the club's highest finish for eight years since 2009-10, when Lee Johnson was playing for the club and his father, Gary Johnson, was manager.

Transfers

In DateNameFromFeeAngers£5,300,000 Hellas VeronaFree Aston VillaUndisclosed IFK Norrköping£1,800,000 PanathinaikosFree Luton TownUndisclosed Derry CityUndisclosed SGSFree EvertonUndisclosed

Out DateNameToFeeRefBolton WanderersReleased Cardiff CityUndisclosed (~ £2,900,000) Bolton WanderersUndisclosed UnattachedContract terminated by mutual consent UnattachedContract terminated by mutual consent

Loan in DateNameFromEnd dateFulham West Bromwich Albion Liverpool Saint-Étienne

Loan out DateNameToEnd dateChippenham Town Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare Bath City Newport County Solihull Moors Djurgårdens IF Merthyr Town Bath City Chesterfield Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town Torquay United Milton Keynes Dons Weston-super-Mare Aldershot Town Mangotsfield United Bath City Chippenham Town Paulton Rovers Hereford Solihull Moors Bath City Cribbs Woking Solihull Moors Plymouth Argyle Solihull Moors Bath City Guernsey Cheltenham Town Milton Keynes Dons Torquay United Barnet

Pre-season Friendlies

+ Pre-season match detailsDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceGuernseyAW1–0Reid933Bristol Manor FarmAW11–0Hinds, Pisano, Reid, Brownhill, Morrell,O'Dowda (2), De Girolamo (2), McCoulsky (2)1,400Bath CityAW3–0Paterson (pen), Reid, Bryan963Torquay UnitedAL0–21,258Yeovil TownAW3–1Reid (2), Magnússon2,636Atlético Unión de GüímarAW6–0Pisano, Diédhiou, Reid (2), Wright, Hinds—Cheltenham TownAW3–0Engvall (2), Reid1,883FC TwenteHW2–0Pack, Bryan5,330

Competitions Championship

+ Championship match detailsDateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceBarnsleyHW3–1Reid (2), Diédhiou18,742Birmingham CityAL1–2Reid21,269BrentfordAD2–2Brownhill, Reid9,811MillwallHD0–018,230Aston VillaHD1–1Paterson21,542ReadingAW1–0Flint18,650Wolverhampton WanderersAD3–3Flint, Diédhiou (pen), Reid23,045Derby CountyHW4–1Woodrow, Reid (pen), Paterson, Diédhiou19,473Norwich CityAD0–025,715Bolton WanderersHW2–0Diédhiou, Flint17,203Ipswich TownAW3–1Brownhill, Diédhiou, Reid15,256Burton AlbionHD0–018,212Leeds UnitedHL0–324,435SunderlandAW2–1Reid, Đurić27,317FulhamAW2–0Reid, Smith17,634Cardiff CityHW2–1O'Dowda, Flint21,692Sheffield WednesdayAD0–025,916Preston North EndHL1–2Woodrow17,355Hull CityAW3–2Flint, Reid, Brownhill14,762MiddlesbroughHW2–1Bryan, Paterson18,752Sheffield UnitedAW2–1Paterson, Flint24,409Nottingham ForestHW2–1Pack, Bryan20,128Queens Park RangersAD1–1Reid (pen)13,683ReadingHW2–0Paterson, Kelly23,116Wolverhampton WanderersHL1–2Reid25,540Aston VillaAL0–532,604Norwich CityHL0–121,282Derby CountyAD0–026,525Queens Park RangersHW2–0Diédhiou, Bryan21,492Bolton WanderersAL0–114,172SunderlandHD3–3Flint, Diédhiou (2)22,580Leeds UnitedAD2-2Diédhiou, Reid28,004FulhamHD1–1Reid21,236Cardiff CityAL0–121,018Sheffield WednesdayHW4–0Reid (3), Brownhill22,022Preston North EndAL1–2Diédhiou11,264Burton AlbionAD0–04,575Ipswich TownHW1–0Đurić21,509BarnsleyAD2–2Diédhiou, Brownhill12,236BrentfordHL0–122,049MillwallAL0–216,081Birmingham CityHW3–1Pack, Reid, Taylor20,288MiddlesbroughAL1–2Đurić24,812Hull CityHD5–5Pack, Diédhiou (2), Reid, Bryan21,136Nottingham ForestAD0–024,722Sheffield UnitedHL2–3Flint, Bryan23,902

League table

FA Cup

+ FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceThird roundWatfordAL0–313,269

EFL Cup

+ EFL Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst roundPlymouth ArgyleHW5–0Hegeler, Baker, Smith, Hinds, Paterson9,838Second roundWatfordAW3–2Hinds, Reid, Eliasson9,003Third roundStoke CityHW2–0Diédhiou, Taylor13,826Fourth roundCrystal PalaceHW4–1Taylor, Đurić, Bryan, O'Dowda21,901Quarter-finalsManchester UnitedHW2–1Bryan, Smith26,088Semi-final first legManchester CityAL1–2Reid (pen)43,426Semi-final second legManchester CityHL2–3Pack, Flint26,003

Squad statistics Source:

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Bristol City. Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

+No.Pos.Nat.NameAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeagueFA CupEFL CupTotalDiscipline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

+ Players not included in matchday squadsNo.Pos.Nat.Name17DF

References