Considering the way Manchester City have dismantled several Premier League sides this season, you couldn’t blame Championship side Bristol City for fearing the worst ahead of their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final with Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Robins travelled to the Etihad for the first-leg, a place where the Citizens have already beaten Liverpool 5-0, Crystal Palace 5-0, Stoke 7-2, Spurs 4-1 and Bournemouth 4-0 this season.

But Bristol City certainly weren’t added to the list of clubs that have been walloped at the Etihad.

Instead, they played with freedom and confidence and, rather incredibly, led at half-time thanks to Bobby Reid’s 44th-minute penalty.

Ok, Guardiola had made a few changes but his XI included the likes of John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling. It was still a very strong side.

And, in the second-half, Bristol City couldn't deny that quality any longer.

De Bruyne made it 1-1 10 minutes into the second-half and substitute Sergio Aguero broke their hearts with a 92nd-minute winner.

But Bristol City could hold their heads up high.

They had come to the Etihad and come within seconds of a draw - and created chances of their own in the meantime.

At full-time, the visitors looked gutted despite still being well and truly in the tie.

But Guardiola tried his best to cheer them up - or manager Lee Johnson at least.

At the final whistle, the Spaniard could be seen deep in conversation with the Bristol City boss.

WATCH: GUARDIOLA CHATS TO JOHNSON AT FULL-TIME

Now, we’ve seen Guardiola have animated conversations with people after the final-whistle - most recently with Nathan Redmond.

But instead of given him a lecture, it seems Guardiola was full of praise for his opposite number.

JOHNSON REVEALS WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

That’s according to Johnson himself, anyway.

“Pep Guardiola said to me we've played better than the majority of the Premier League teams that come to Manchester City,” Johnson revealed.

“We certainly didn't park the bus.”

And Guardiola continued to heap the praise on his opponents after the match during his press conference.

“All credit to Bristol. You can't knock out four teams from the Premier League without being well-organised and having nice players," he said.

“It will be tough in Bristol. We lived that against Huddersfield last season, against Wolves, and if we go to Cardiff [in the FA Cup] it will be so tough.

”The Championship is probably the hardest second division in the world because there are 46 matches and play-offs later, so I have a lot of respect. It's why there are a lot of shocks in the cups.”