It's raining goals in Bristol at the moment.
Five for the senior team on Saturday and a further four for the Under-23 side on Tuesday as they narrowly missed out on top spot despite a 4-2 victory over Coventry.
It was another strong starting XI for the young Robins that included a welcome return to action for Ryley Towler alongside Duncan Idehen on the back following his contract extension.
Josh Owers was dominant as usual in the middle alongside Dylan Kadji with Sam Bell, Tommy Conway, Ayman Benarous and the returning Saikou Janneh all providing ammunition in the forward line.
Despite Coventry's strong start it soon proved too much with Bell and Janneh putting City ahead before half-time. Conway then scored a second-half brace after the interval to ensure the points before the visitors mounted a late rally with two goals.
Unfortunately, Ipswich's win over Sheffield United means City have to settle for second spot and they'll now take on the Blades in a play-off, while the Tractor Boys will face Coventry before the winners of both matches face off in the final.
Here's a number of talking points following City's victory.
The Towler and Idehen partnership
It was the first real opportunity to see the pair in action together and they didn't disappoint. They did have a brief appearance together at Cardiff at the beginning of March before injury cut Towler's afternoon short.
Apart from another iconic video on social media, Towler hadn't been seen since following his recovery from a back issue but he looked as though he had never been away, slotting straight into the heart of the defence.
The first 10 minutes suggested the pair were in for a tough afternoon up against the lively and impressive Will Bapaga who was proving to be a real menace in the final third.
They soon settled and Towler quickly grew in confidence both in the tackle and with the ball at his feet. That was summed up by a sweeping 40-yard cross-field pass that landed at the feet of Zac Bell.
It set the tone for the rest of his afternoon, excellent in possession - playing the ball forward into the feet of Josh Owers and going long over the top to Sam Bell whose movement was causing problems.
Towler had an opportunity from a corner on 35 minutes but his header was straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. What was striking was how well the pair complemented each other.
Idehen was stronger in the tackle, summed up by a brilliant slide in the area during the second half, while Towler looks more adept at bringing the ball out of defence. Both can read the game really well summed up by the number of blocks they made when Coventry tried to pass it between the lines.
At one moment in the second half, Towler found himself advanced on the left touchline. Most other defenders would be hesitant to do something so adventurous when wildly out of position but not the defender who pulled off an audacious backheel to free Callum Wood into space.
He did get away with one at an important moment of the game, when he appeared to clip his opponent who had darted past him in the area. Towler's reaction spoke volumes but the referee decided he thought it was a dive and awarded City a free-kick.
Both players are likely to be on the periphery of the senior side next season and Nigel Pearson has already stated his intentions to bring Towler into first-team training by pre-season. The future is also bright for Idehen following his two-year contract extension and there is every chance the duo could make the step up together and build a solid partnership.
Ayman Benarous impresses
Following his recent stints at left wing-back for the senior side, it was good to see Benarous playing in his favoured attacking midfield position.
Benarous, obviously very highly rated by the club, was almost given a free role behind the forwards, first starting out on the left before drifting towards the middle and out on the right.
It made him very difficult to mark and his low centre of gravity and turn of pace certainly contributed to City's attacking threat despite failing to get himself on the scoresheet.
Most of the play going forward came through Benarous, helping pull the strings in the final third helped by the movement of Bell and Conway in attack.
He was wasteful in possession on certain occasions but only because he was positive with his play in attempting to make things happen and more often than not it came off.
The potential is plain to see and it's certainly no secret so it does pose a question... why does Benarous fit into the senior side? Surely the wing-back positing is a short-term solution to a longer-term problem and while he's been good enough, he certainly isn't a defensive-minded player.
Benarous is most suited to the No10 role, playing behind the strikers but that brings a hurdle in the form of Andi Weimann. The Austrian is and has been undroppable which is likely to remain the case next season while Bell and Conway are also likely to add to the competition.
He doesn't have the defensive side to his game considering Pearson prefers playing the midfield duo of Matty James and Joe Williams, meaning Benarous is likely to be the round peg in a square hole until his opportunity arises in a favoured position.
Benarous is arguably too good for the U23 side and as he approaches his 19th birthday before the start of next season, he could benefit from playing regular football to enhance his development in his favoured position.
Saikou Janneh
On the day it was announced that he has returned to Bristol City following his loan spell at Shrewsbury, the unpredictable forward was named in the starting XI.
The 22-year-old struggled for game time during his loan with the League One side, starting just one in the league and coming off the bench a further 11 times.
Whoscored suggest he has managed 51 minutes of action in just under three months so he could be excused for looking rusty in the opening stages. That was certainly the case, firstly struggling defensively with the likes of Bapaga and their trialist out on the left.
He was also wasteful in possession seemingly mis-hitting or over-hitting his passes to an increasingly irate Bell who was making those runs down the channel. On one occasion he played a simple pass straight out into touch before appearing to move into a more central position.
Despite his early struggles, Janneh did improve and the tactical switch paid off when he poked home Bell's cross from close range to double City's advantage before half-time.
He should have had two at least when he was played through on goal but his tame effort was denied by the keeper when racing through on goal.
He was substituted midway through the second half and despite an energetic performance, in which he had the potential to have those watching on the edge of their seats, it was clear both Bell, Conway and Benarous remain ahead of him in their developments.
With a contract until the end of May, it can only be assumed Janneh's future beyond the summer belongs away from Ashton Gate.
Will Buse's distribution
Will Buse returned to Bristol City in January following a loan spell at Taunton Town where he was said to have impressed in the Southern South division of the Isthmian League.
With Harvey Wiles-Richards on loan with Gloucester, Buse was named as No1 for the afternoon between the sticks. While he wasn't tested except a couple of half-hearted opportunities, what stood out the most was his distribution.
In particular, he assisted Bell as City scored the first of the afternoon. Route one at its best, Buse's pass found Bell who had made his way around the back of the Coventry defence.
Three touches later from the striker and the ball was in the back of the net but it was a terrific pass to pick out the young forward. He also played his part in the second, hitting a long ball to Wood whose flick-on found Bell before squaring into the path of Janneh.
Buse was alert to the danger in the second half when he was quick off his line to close the angle and make a smart save when his opponent had forced his way on goal.
He had little chance with both goals, with a near pin-point freekick bouncing off the underside of the crossbar before Jay McGrath's header ripped the net from a corner.
What the future holds for Buse remains unknown for now, but his range of passing certainly suggests he has the attributes of a modern-day goalkeeper.
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