Nick Barmby hailed his side's display as Hull City climbed back into the top six, while Bristol City boss Derek McInnes pointed to the poor pitch.
Tigers boss pleased with defence; Robins unhappy with conditions
Nick Barmby hailed his side's display as his promotion-chasing Hull City side climbed back into the top six of the Championship with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Bristol City.
Jack Hobbs scored his first league goal in over three years, heading his side into a 13th-minute lead and Slovenia international Robert Koren quickly doubled the advantage two minutes later, before Matty Fryatt ended a 10-game goal drought in making sure of the points on the hour mark.
The Tigers dropped out of the play-off places after their scheduled game at Portsmouth last week was postponed, but a third win in their last four league matches keeps them in the chasing pack and Barmby was quick to praise the hard working Fryatt.
First-class
"Everyone at this football club believes in Matty Fryatt," said Barmby, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Saturday.
"He took his goal really well and his all-round game was first-class. He's played well for us all season.
"He's not the sort of player who has needed an arm round him at any time. He has good mental strength and he knows he is an integral part of our squad."
Barmby also praised his side's defence, which kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
"To get another clean sheet was pleasing, as was scoring three goals," he added.
"We played at about the same level against Doncaster (in a 0-0 draw) the other week and came in for a bit of stick. We created the same number of chances today, but today we took them.
"We have threatened to score a few goals on several occasions, and the early goals today were important."
Struggle
Bristol City suffered a third consecutive defeat and their fourth loss in their last five.
Manager Derek McInnes admitted that his side had struggled to get to grips with the conditions at the KC stadium.
"It is the worst pitch we have played on all season, but it was the same for both teams," he said.
"I feel for Hull playing on that pitch as they are a good footballing team and it doesn't do them any favours.
"The team that made the fewest mistakes was going to win the game and slack bits of play from us gave them two early goals.
"We wanted to impose ourselves, but everything we were trying to do went out of the window with those two goals - free headers in the box.
"There were chances at both ends and we showed plenty of effort in the second half, but it was too little too late as it was always going to be an uphill struggle."
