Bristol Boys ratings and reviews
City 1 v 1 Palace
By Bristol Boy
A game that we deserved to win, but didn't and when the euphoria of a 95th minute equaliser dies away, we'll look at this as two points lost and a missed opportunity to go top and heap pressure on our more fancied rivals.
Sensible price cuts coupled with late season promotion fever, increased the attendance sharply from our last televised game as the Bristol public warmed to City on a freezing Ashton Gate night.
With the KO delayed by power failure, City started both halves sluggishly and nearly paid the price as Palace showed a little more attacking intent in the second. Their 4-5-1 formation involved dropping the two strikers who troubled us most at Selhurst Park only a few weeks ago - Stall set out, and that's the way it proved as City had enough ball in the first half to win three games - No cutting edge meant that the impressive Sperroni was only mildly troubled by the disappointing Carle's toe poke and handling crosses from McAllister & McIndoe who combined well on the left.
The second half saw Palace almost snatch the lead when McAllister brilliantly headed clear, then Johnson's error and the referee's failure to spot a blatant handball silenced the 16,400 crowd as Hill smashed home a left foot volley.
With their manager doing his nut on the touchline and City struggling to mount concerted pressure, it was no surprise when Johnson introduced Trundle & Byfield for the ineffective Carle & Sproule. Both players are struggling to justify their fees in a team that embodies what is good about the British game. Bulldog spirit, never say die, all of that and it's important - however, that alone will never give you the edge. That takes quality & cleverness and we still lack that in the final third, particularly in and around the box.
As we reverted to 4-3-3 and Plan B - whoosh football. Vasko was also introduced, and I've no problem with that as a last resort. Orr's double miss from the spot was a disappointment and fine keeping from Sperroni threatened to frustrate the would-be table toppers and with three strikers on the pitch, perhaps the in-form Scouser should have deferred to Trundle?
That being said it was supersub Darren Byfield whose shirt was tugged for the penalty, well spotted by Referee Beeby who'd missed the earlier handball for Palace's goal - Didn't see that one, eh Neil??
Cometh the hour… or in our case an hour plus 35, cometh the man, another Lee Johnson corner arrowed into the box and McCombe thundered an unstoppable header into the net.
Colchester now becomes a game to win as opposed to draw and there's no reason why the right application might see us do just that… Mind you, a quality pacey striker on loan wouldn't hurt Gary!!!
City lined up 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McINDOE
CARLE
ADEBOLA
Subs (used)
Vasko
Trundle
Byfield
Not used:
Weale
Skuse
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 6/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 Didn't have a great deal to do, but a confident display.
ORR: 7/10 Gutsy display, but that penalty double miss marks him down from eight.
FONTAINE: 7/10 Confident display of defending.
MCCOMBE: 8/10 Probably his best game this season after a shaky start and the goal topped that off.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Drove forward in the first half and a great combined goal line clearance when we all thought that only Basso had saved.
SPROULE: 4/10 Hardly ever in the game and wasted our best chance when his shot lacked the power to beat the inspired Sperroni.
ELLIOTT: 5/10 Lacklustre display by his standard and he's obviously carrying an injury. Not the player he was at the start of the season and should be rested if the injury is affecting him.
JOHNSON: 6/10 My MOM for the last two games didn't do it tonight although he kept going and delivered some decent set piece balls.
MCINDOE: 7/10 Lively, hard working & involved, but yet again, little end product and he needs a goal.
CARLE: 5/10 Produced our best effort of the first half and that says much about our lack of punch and goal threat. Faded in the second period of a physical battle and that's ironic when his fitness was one of the reasons he replaced Noble who, for me, is more effective in that role.
ADEBOLA: 7/10 Hard working display on his own and suffered from a lack of support. Held the ball up well.
SUBS
VASKO: 6/10 Made a nuisance of himself as a late attacking sub. Could he be worth a start as Adebola's partner or am I clutching at the same old straws?
TRUNDLE: 5/10 Late introduction and no great impact.
BYFIELD: 6/10 Lively late introduction but couldn't get the golden goal this time although he did win the penalty.
Jamie's Magic Bicycle Shot Sends City Pedalling To Top
Bristol City 2 v 1 Hull City - Review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
I've seen games called off for snow & rain, but rarely high winds unless spectators are in danger in crumbling lower league grounds. The conditions yesterday, I'm sure, detracted from what was a game played between two footballing sides who try to play the game in the right spirit and with the ball on the floor. That being said, both teams and their managers deserve credit for putting on a game that was watchable in the main.
In front of a disappointing crowd of 15,800, including about 650 Tigers fans, at a guess, City could have been a goal down in the first few minutes when a Hull break saw them cross for £1m Caleb Folan to fluff his shot from six yards.
Minutes later, Fontaine's curling ball forward from the left-back spot caught in the gale and Adebola smashed home a superb left foot volley. City pressed after that, however, Basso was always the busier of the keepers and, although Fontaine's own goal was fortuitous, there was total justification in the 1-1 half-time scoreline with Hull marginally the stronger attacking side in the first period.
The crowd had barely taken their seats for the second half when McCombe's superb (and very deliberate) overhead kick when Hull failed to clear Johnson's free kick saw the ball fly into Myhill's top left hand corner for what proved to be the winner.
With two players looking well off their game in Carle & Sproule and with Bradley Orr suspended for the second time this season, City needed all of their spirit and mental toughness to see out the second period with Cambell & Folan looking dangerous. That being said, Basso didn't have to make any great stops and handled crosses well.
A mazy Sproule run created a chance that Myhill saved well from Adebola, but for most of the second period it was a case of McIndoe inspired break-outs from the back, as City provided the usual backs to the wall performance, which is caused by having at least eight players behind the ball at most times when we're in the lead.
Okocha's introduction gave Hull more forward momentum after he shook off some obvious ring rustiness and an error riddled goal mouth scramble convinced me that this was our day just before the referee put City fans out of their misery after four minutes added time.
Another three points and another ten years off the lives of the City faithful!!
City lined up unchanged 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McINDOE
CARLE
ADEBOLA
Subs (used)
Vasko
Noble
Not used:
Weale
Trundle
Byfield
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 6/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 Amazingly awarded MOM, but I can't remember an outstanding save in what was still a competent display.
WILSON: 6/10 Did well against a quality if slightly overweight Pedersen in his first start for ages.
FONTAINE: 7/10 The odd rick and had no chance with the own goal in an otherwise decent overall performance.
MCCOMBE: 8/10 The same player who cleared the ball into his own face, twisted brilliantly in mid-air to win three points and produce a candidate for the goal of the season, coupled with another improved defensive performance against dangerous opponents.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Confident defensive performance and some decent forward forays & distribution.
SPROULE: 5/10 One superb run and absolutely nothing else and that isn't good enough over ninety minutes. It also happens too often.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Not at his best, but an effective contribution.
JOHNSON: 6/10 The odd moment when he lost possession, but kept going for ninety minutes despite the passing radar being slightly off.
MCINDOE: 7/10 Lively, hard working display and, as usual, involved throughout.
CARLE: 5/10 Seems to have gone downhill since an impressive debut and his position must be under threat from Noble who, for me, is more effective in that role and ineffective from the bench.
ADEBOLA: 8/10 A massive overall contribution. Held the ball up and ran his socks off then topped off the display with a fine volleyed goal. City should have done far better from his flick ons and players like Sproule & Carle need to get off their heels and past the ball in anticipation of the big man's efforts.
SUBS
VASKO: 6/10 All action cameo.
NOBLE: 5/10 Late introduction, fluffed a great change and a largely ineffective player when coming from the bench
Leicester 0 vs 0 City - Review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Leicester Goal Drought Sees City Hold Out
Right, let's deal with the positives first. A clean sheet, another unbeaten game and a point. Ivan Sproule showed some fire and form at long last and we could, not should, have won it.
Leicester out-muscled City pretty much over the piece & there was a huge sense of relief as I left the Walkers Stadium after a nil-nil draw that must rank as one of the most entertaining I've seen… that's if you were a neutral. If, like me and the majority who'll read this, you're a Ciderhead, then it was heart-stopping stuff as Leicester belied their lowly status and became the closest club to doing what no other club has done this season: the double over BCFC.
There's no point in being biased and, whilst City could have snatched it with a long range Wilson effort rattling the underside of the bar and Elliott's left foot angled drive on the slide, hitting the inside of the post after a neat build up, Leicester could point to four clear-cut first-half chances that somehow went begging and another virtuoso performance from Basso that included some terrific second-half stops in claiming a compelling & totally justified case for all three points.
We could well have been out of this one at half-time and despite the odd bright moment the casual observer would have thought Leicester, not Bristol City, lead the division.
"Good sides are those that can get something when they don't play well," is the cliché or is it just a platitude trotted out by lucky managers? I don't know, but it's another point on the road to what could be dreamland and whilst I wouldn't have taken two points before we played the games, two is a more than fair return over 180 minutes of pulsating Championship football.
GJ regretfully did as I thought he might and tried the "antic" of playing Carle wide right which is right up there with Skuse wide left as a tactical ploy. It doesn't work and he can't play there from the start. The fact that it worked in the second half at Charlton was as much to do with it being a surprise, a pitch on which the ball could be passed with ease and far better performances all around him.
In a 4-4-2, we don't retain possession and the right wing slot is a curious problem for a club that started the season with so many of them! With McIndoe roaming the pitch to become involved having another left-footer on the right narrows the play and takes other players space in central midfield.
That much-maligned pitch didn't prevent Leicester from playing some very decent stuff and they are no whoosh team. Quality players like Hendrie & Hulme compliment the power of Howard and the strength of the beast McCauley, who had Adebola in his pocket for much of the ninety minutes.
The road that City have travelled under Gary Johnson is probably best summed up when you look at the players who didn't start and those not even in the squad: Orr, Carey, Murray, Brooker, Skuse, Trundle, Noble, Russell, Betsy, Keogh… the list goes on, and who would have predicted we'd pick up points at Leicester & Charlton without those players at the start of the season.
That being said, we'll need the players to take their weary bodies up a gear, if not two, before we take on promotion rivals Watford on Tuesday.
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
WILSON McCOMBE FONTAINE McCALLISTER
CARLE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McINDOE
ADEBOLA BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Vasko
Trundle
Sproule
Not used:
Weale
Noble
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set pieces: 5/10
Commitment: 6/10
Entertainment Value: 8/10
Defending: 6/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 9/10 Exceptional display and once he'd mastered the wind, even the kicking improved!
WILSON: 7/10 Battled hard and almost won it with a screamer against the bar after a strong & purposeful surge forward.
FONTAINE: 7/10 Worked hard, but never in command
MCCOMBE: 6/10 Not the commanding performance of late but played his part in keeping a clean sheet
MCALLISTER: 6/10 The distribution was way off beam, but the work ethic was good. Defended well, but that odd tendency to let balls run out of play, that don't, will drop us in it again.
CARLE: 4/10 Anonymous and no right winger. Withdrawn shortly after half time.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Worked hard, but out-muscled in midfield by stronger opponents. One surge forward in a superb move, could have won it as he hit the inside of the post.
JOHNSON: 5/10 Never in the game and with Adebola & Elliott being out-muscled it was no surprise when he was subbed for Vasko - it was that kind of game.
MCINDOE: 6/10 The usual all-action performance, but couldn't generate any great attacking threat apart from one decent first half effort after linking with Elliott.
BYFIELD: 6/10 The better of our strikers until withdrawn to make way for Trundle. Worked hard but not the same player from the start as from the bench.
ADEBOLA: 5/10 Tried his best with scant service but was well dominated by Leicester's giant centre backs.
SUBS
VASKO: 6/10 Replaced Johnson and added some strength in central midfield as we held out.
TRUNDLE: 6/10 Tried to get the ball down and unlucky with an overhead kick.
SPROULE: 7/10 Looked fired up and a threat, shame about the dive though, Ivan.
CITY 0 - 0 Watford - Review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
I'll start by talking about the weather, which did it's best to ruin a game that, in truth, was always likely to need all the help it could get to be decent, never mind a classic.
On a cold, windswept night that must have made many of the part timers in the crowd of 19,000+ wonder why they'd bothered the teams faced swirling, driving rain that soaked the Dolman faithful. Add a whoosh team and you have a recipe for a game of high passion and poor quality… and that's exactly what we got!!
I was disappointed to see both managers settle for a draw and midfield inertia with thirty minutes left, but as soon as Carle & Noble combined to pass the ball the dull & unexciting Adie Boothroyd decided to replace a striker with a midfielder and that was that. If that young man is one of our "bright young things" in English Management then I truly hope he joins Neil Warnock in the basement divisions for ever, because football of that quality will see me stay at home by the fire!
With a draw a better result for City than Watford, Basso saved City's blushes and those of the inept Andre Mariner after McIndoe had been cruelly punished for a push. The Brazilian leapt to his left to get a strong hand to Henderson's penalty and followed that up with a scrambling save to his left as the half ended in a fiery finale that should have seen Henderson sent off, although, in truth, Johnson's late challenge on Shittu wasn't great and smacked of revenge against the wrong guy!
After a typically sluggish start, City started to raid and cross into Watford's box with Wilson, Elliott & Orr all prominent. City's problems in the final third continue and will, unless we see more commitment to getting into the penalty area and behind the defence in open play. We're effective, hard to beat, but far from pretty to watch and an injury to Adebola, who's not prolific, yet key to our game plan, would see a recall for Brooker or Showunmi surely??
City made numerous changes and I'll guess that McCombe was injured, Liam Fontaine unlucky as GJ went for Carey's leadership & Noble was reinstated as Carle struggles for goals or assists??
On a night when quality needed to come to the fore too many of our players were too happy to hoof the ball and the moment or spark that was needed was never likely to happen and the game developed into one dominated by defences and a crowded midfield.
McIndoe & Wilson were far too narrow in the second half, our midfield took each other's space and we didn't get to the byeline or threaten to cross with space at a premium in that congested area.
It's not too late to get some reinforcements and any long term injury to Lee Johnson could see a recall for Alex Russell and the return of Cole Skuse.
Tonight was our last midweek game and the players will need a rest after another six-pointer on Saturday against our not so local rivals, Argyle.
I'd like to see a real performance and a good win by at least two clear goals. Am I asking too much? And before somebody asks, yes, I'll take a scruffy one nil - question is will my ticker, not to mention another few thousand Ciderheads!!
City lined up unchanged 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR CAREY VASKO McCALLISTER
WILSON ELLIOTT JOHNSON McINDOE
NOBLE
ADEBOLA
Subs (used)
Trundle
Sproule
Carle
Not used:
Weale
Fontaine
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 5/10
Commitment: 7/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Yet another clean sheet and a top drawer penalty save robbed Watford of an underserved win - Just remember whose shank led to the penalty though!
ORR: 7/10 Good energetic & solid return. Tried to launch attacks on a difficult night.
CAREY: 7/10 Not at his outstanding best in only his second game since Xmas but still did enough
VASKO: 8/10 Strong display against a bully who he overcame.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Average display of defending and poor distribution.
WILSON: 6/10 Faded in the second period after a decent first half.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 City's best, probably only, two shots worth merit and a hard working display.
JOHNSON (Inj): 6/10 Booked whilst trying to get his own back after being assaulted by the beast Henderson and unlikely to make Saturday with a swollen ankle that, hopefully won't keep him out for too long.
MCINDOE: 6/10 Lots of running but went walk-around too much and couldn't deliver any end product. His overall distribution was poor.
NOBLE: 6/10 Some neat touches but crowded out in the second half.
ADEBOLA: 6/10 Worked hard to feed on scraps but in Shittu's pocket for much of the game.
SUBS
SPROULE: 5/10 Fairly pointless late introduction.
CARLE: 6/10 Bright start but faded after Watford swamped midfield.
TRUNDLE: 5/10 Couldn't get in the game or on the ball.
Argyle 2 No Guile 1!!
Bristol City 1 v 2 Plymouth Argyle - Review & ratings
By Bristol Boy
It's a cliché when people say it's been coming for weeks… but it'll do nicely because it sums up our last few games.
With Fallon dominating our defence, City looked under pressure every time the New Zealander won the ball and that was on about 95% of occasions as he dropped deep to win headers and draw Carey & Fontaine out of position. A masterclass display of being a target man and despite some neat build up play and tons of possession in the first half we rarely threatened in the final third and lacked width.
With Vasko surprisingly dropped after a strong performance, Basso was the busier of the two keepers and our defence looked badly organised, especially from set pieces.
Wilson's replacement with Sproule was a given and City stormed forward, forcing corners, only for an error from Elliott to open up City's defence for Argyle's second goal after Basso had bravely saved at the feet of Halmosi.
The corner was a replica of a first half header that was amazingly headed wide when it looked easier for Fallon to score and, after it was easily won, Fallon turned home.
The blow of this result was softened by WBA's freaky defeat at the hands of our old friend 'Olly & Watford's draw with Stoke, however, it's us I'm concerned about and the dribble of goals has dried up completely.
In our last four games we've picked up three points from twelve and failed to score in open play - we don't create enough chances and we still need a striker. Our attacking midfielders rarely, if ever, get past the ball and our meaningful shot count is sadly lacking.
Is Brooker (5 goals in six games) the answer?
Who knows, but are Byfield, Trundle & Vasko?
I think not, however effective over twenty minutes as an impact player they are.
Will hoofball see us home?.
With Lee Johnson missing, our set pieces lacked zip and perhaps Russell also merits a recall with Cole Skuse apparently injured and Elliott definitely carrying one. Either that or the loan market must surely beckon if we are to take advantage of the best position our club has been in for thirty five years.
Cardiff becomes a must win and four wins may be enough to see us home. Without a significant signing, I don't see us getting the automatic spots and wouldn't fancy us in the play-offs (which should be nailed on) with our lack of goals.
Staying as we are is a high-risk option, but I'm sure GJ will point to Charlton's loan signings not paying off. That's true, but if we don't make it with "this group of players" we'll always wonder what might have been, and next season in the CCC will be far more difficult than this one.
City lined up 4-4-2:
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 5/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 5/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 Knocked senseless clearing up behind a defensive error from Elliott initially and was probably still groggy when the winner flew past him after more indifferent defending from the resulting corner. Busy, but couldn't save us this time.
ORR: 6/10:Worked hard but the crossing and distribution let him down.
CAREY: 7/10 Hard working but never quite in command and part of a poor defensive unit overall.
FONTAINE: 6/10 Not at his best and the partnership with Carey was lacking.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Average display of defending. Joined in with attacks & lots of the ball. However, in truth, didn't do much with it.
WILSON: 4/10 Too narrow and if that was under instruction, I'd say the instruction was wrong.
ELLIOTT: 5/10 At fault in the build up to the corner from which Argyle's second goal came and about 70% of the player he was at the start of the season. Tried hard, but that injury is beginning to tell.
CARLE: 6/10 Hard working performance but the goals and assists are still to come.
MCINDOE: 6/10 Bags of endeavour and hard work but everything "nearly" happens and their needs to be more end product. The crosses aren't from the byeline and the shots aren't on target. The narrowing of the pitch should be used sparingly but with Wilson doing the same we play in about 75% of the pitch.
BYFIELD: 6/10 Worked hard. Brought the only decent save of the first half out of Rab Douglas. Still prefer him as a sub.
ADEBOLA: 6/10 Didn't win enough in the air and we didn't get on to his flicks when he did. His best game of the last three, but never looked a goal threat.
SUBS
SPROULE: 7/10 Lively introduction and looked a threat but the crossing needs to improve by about 40%.
TRUNDLE: 7/10 Cool penalty after the ball had been wrested from Orr and brought a quality save from Douglas.
VASKO: 6/10 Hard working display but the fact that we sent a centre half ON to add goal threat probably says it all!
Blue Birds Soar As City Are Gone In Sixty Seconds
Cardiff City 2 v 1 Bristol City - Report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Our second defeat on the spin looked unlikely as City played some neat attractive football in the first half and I looked forward to ratings of sevens & eights that should result from a victory.
Then we got to the final third had two shot on target in ninety minutes and whilst we looked more threatening than of late, it was all about "nearly" and only an attempted cross from Orr, a la Scunthorpe, that struck the post, looked like breaking the duck until City gave Roger Johnson acres of space on the back stick to open the scoring and give Cardiff a 1-0 HT lead that they didn't deserve as they struggled against the high winds that have ruined most games I've watched recently.
With City again playing the unsuccessful 4-4-2 formation, Trundle, recalled because he used to play for Cardiff's rivals, partnered Adebola with Ivan Sproule, who's been out of form and contributed very little for months, coming in on the right flank for reasons that escape me and must surely puzzle Scott Murray?
Steve Brooker, recalled from Cheltenham and in rich scoring form was left on the bench, probably because we lack goals and introduced when we decided to whoosh the ball into a gale force second half wind instead of continuing with the neat passing game that saw us dominate the first half, albeit with little end product.
After spending hours sat on a coach that allowed almost four hours for a trip of around forty miles and arriving at Ninian Park an hour and a half early, then freezing whilst being stared at for some reason apparent only to those staring one considered the wisdom of bubble matches or at least, travelling to them!
Being delayed in Cardiff while the police cleared our "Burberry Clad friends" from the streets surrounding Cardiff's dilapidated stadium, I had time to muse on being a football fan, a City fan, and time to consider the next six games that will determine our short, if not medium term, future and finances.
Whilst waiting, I marveled at tales on mobile phones that Cardiff had "300 up the road and three hundred down the road" which the caller could obviously "see clearly" from his position near me in the ground…Not!
For those that didn't go, I'll tell you that if I was taking my kids to one City away game a year, leaving the facilities aside, this is the one I'd attend because Cardiff & City weren't within fighting distance all day and the number of police in attendance must have cost the good burghers of Cardiff plenty on their council tax bill as they lined the streets before and after like a Royal Procession.
Back to the football if I must, and should we have gambled in the transfer window or on a top quality loan or two? Charlton have and it's not worked out - Hull have and are on a roll-we haven't and we're still second, albeit in a weaker position, performing indifferently and falling.
The clean sheets have dried up, the defence can't hold out all the time and we continually lack ideas in the final third - the expensive signings aren't performing in terms of end product, goals and assists, and they need to, soon… if they can?
Trundle, Carle & Sproule cost the thick end of £2m+Wages, are they value for money? You decide.
Add injuries to key players into the mix and we need a spark to revive us - a performance next week against Norwich would be a great place to start - also returning to what we do best and playing those in form, irrespective of their fee, would be another.
I've no doubt there will be cries of negativity and lack of belief in some quarters, however, I couldn't care less - we're in a great position and we stand a great chance of blowing it after two defeats that encapsulated our problems.
In my opinion, it's time to act.
City lined up 4-4-2:
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 6/10
Set Pieces: 5/10
Commitment: 7/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 5/10
Attacking: 5/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Almost saved us with another penalty save but who was following in? Two more outstanding saves in each half must have increased his already growing reputation. The wayward kicking was annoying because the wind was as bad all afternoon & after the last few weeks he should be used to it.
ORR: 6/10 Worked hard, but the crossing and distribution let him down again.
CAREY: 7/10 Hard working performance, but couldn't hold the back four together in the second half.
VASKO: 7/10 (inj) Composed first half display that was ruined by the head injury that saw Cardiff score against the run of play in the first half and Fontaine introduced for the second.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 One of the few players who tried to get the ball down and pass and play throughout.
SPROULE: (Withdrawn) 4/10 Another hapless display even conceding the free kick that lead to Cardiff's opener.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Looked stronger in the first half and dominated midfield. Practically disappeared in the second as we whooshed it, then conceded the match winning penalty.
CARLE: 6/10 Worked hard and helped dominate the midfield in a good first half display. Has the annoying habit of dribbling around our own penalty area and it's twelve games now without an assist or goal for our expensive transfer window signing.
MCINDOE: 6/10 No end product in another hard working display.
TRUNDLE: 5/10 Worked hard in the first half where his every touch was berated by our "Welsh cousins." Disappeared in the second and I wonder what the next excuse for playing him will be? I suppose we haven't had, "Well, he used to live around the corner from the opposition's manager," yet!!
ADEBOLA: 6/10 Hard working first half display and got us back in the game, albeit briefly. Suffered from abysmal service in the second half.
Brook's Back, Mountain Climbed But We "Roeder" Luck
Bristol City 2 v 1 Norwich City - Review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
If I had a wish, it would be for Steve Brooker to win us The Championship with more goals… and for the gale force winds that have blighted us for what seems like forever to drop!!
Rain I'll live with, but I can't remember playing in a hurricane for a month before and perhaps after shooting each other at "Laser World" last week, the lads could spend some time up at BAE in the wind tunnel to prepare for our game on the South Coast next week.
Weather aside, we started indifferently but just edged the first half, looking a far more effective outfit in a 4-4-1-1 formation with the increasingly mercurial David Noble restored to the position just off Adebola, the loan striker. That said, Nobes was poor yesterday
Scott Murray restored to the right wing in place of the out of form Ivan Sproule, was another who had a poor game and surely only impact appearances now for the popular Scot.
I was surprised to see Lee Johnson start the game, but he made an effective contribution to an even half, well supported by the energetic Cole Skuse in central midfield, as Marvin Elliott was rested after being hampered by an injury for months.
With that many changes, perhaps it was inevitable that City would look disjointed, however, the way we conceded possession in the second period was worrying and we passed like a parks team at times.
In terms of formation, those who prefer 4-4-2 should look at our efforts on target yesterday, ten compared to last week's two at Cardiff. We're a footballing team, when we're good and the longer our game gets, the worse we are. Sign Eto & Henry next season and we can go 4-4-2 all day and night, but until then, 4-4-1-1 might be the way to get enough points over the next five games to enter the promised land.
That being said, we haven't tried Brooks & Adebola yet and that could be the partnership we've lacked?
McCombe's, graceful shimmy (I never thought I'd write that) saw him crash a delicious twenty yard curler against the post as City pressed the Atyeo goal in an even first half with both sides going for it.
Then Orr crossed for McIndoe to test Marshall low to his right with a glancing header and Adebola slotted home his fifth goal in twelve games to give City a deserved half time lead.
Norwich, with the flying Croft causing numerous problems on the right flank, were good value for a deserved equaliser, Orr's error gifting the ball to the experienced front man Huckerby who did what he's done for years, curling a superb right foot strike beyond Basso's desperate dive.
At that point, a point looked the best we could do and with Brooker replacing the injured Adebola, it looked like the last chance saloon all over again, up went the blood pressure of the AG faithful and the stress & anxiety that IS supporting Bristol City in 2008 with heightened expectations, continued unabated until McAllister lifted a last second free kick forward, McCombe challenged, McIndoe hooked on, Ashton Gate held it's breath and Brooker headed home - Ashton Gate erupted with utter relief and Johnson bounced across the pitch as Glen Roeder bounced towards Referee Andy D'urso accompanied by two or three of his "not best pleased" players.
This was a performance that was all about the grit & determination that has personified BCFC under Gary Johnson. It wasn't pretty, we fell away badly in the second half, players were off their game and there was panic at times.
Our first touch and passing was absent on many occasions, moreover as the game got stretched, which suited our UNLUCKY opponents more than us in what is becoming a division only predictable in the sense that it's unpredictable!
Much more fun than the Premiership though, isn't it???
City lined up 4-4-1-1
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 5/10
Commitment: 7/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Another performance right out of the top drawer from our player of the season & if the gale force winds ever drop, he'll get 9's & 10's as the kicking was a bit of a let down.
ORR: 6/10:Worked hard in defence, but gifted Huckerby another goal a la Carrow Rd. Luckily for us, neither rick has cost us any points. The crossing and distribution let him down again, but he wasn't alone in that.
CAREY: 8/10 Real leader's performance and never put a foot wrong. That was needed.
MCCOMBE: 8/10 Another contender for man of the match and getting better by the week.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 At full stretch defensively against the pacey Cooke and lucky to escape a yellow for a poor first half tackle. That didn't stop him launching attacks in a committed display.
SKUSE: 8/10 Typical lung bursting performance and I wouldn't be too disappointed to see him partner Elliott if we go 4-4-1-1 again. Covered every inch of the pitch.
JOHNSON: 7/10 (inj) Brave performance but he was clearly about 75/80% fit and needed to be withdrawn at half time. Still added control to our midfield that disappeared in the second half. I hope that it wasn't a game too soon and that Lee is OK for the run in.
MURRAY: 4/10 It was probably far too much to expect Scott to produce. He looked out of touch and was anonymous particularly in the second period. Should be used as an impact player only from here on in and, at 34, that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
MCINDOE: 7/10 I've moaned about the lack of end product, so I'm pleased to say that he was instrumental in both goals with a header & an assist. However, is it churlish to point out that his best contribution came when he was in the centre of the opposition penalty area? Would his best position be in the hole without the defensive responsibilities?
NOBLE: 5/10 (Withdrawn) Got involved in the first half, but looked off the pace, lacking strength and out of touch. I don't mind when the through balls don't always come off, because they're the difficult things, but back heeling the ball when he could have slid it across the six yard box frustrated the hell out of me.
ADEBOLA: 6/10 (inj) Isolated on occasions as the loan striker but still worked hard and notched the opener.
SUBS:
BROOKER: 7/10 It counted this week and let's hope that our burly frontman's problems are over. Does he partner Adebola next week or do we stick to 4-4-1-1?
SPROULE: 6/10 Lively introduction, but not in terms of end product.
CARLE: 6/10 With the amount of changes he found it hard to settle, but worked hard, covering lots of ground. Shots, assists & end product still lacking.
Championship, We're Having A Laugh ...
... City Don't Have A Prayer As The Saints Go Marching In
There have been very few occasions on which I've criticised GJ this season however, that stops here because having won with a huge slice of luck last week he gambled with the odds heavily stacked against him and it backfired as City's faltering promotion challenge slipped into reverse and the car ran out of fuel on a trip to the South Coast.
This was an unmitigated disaster against a team that notched only their second win in fifteen games, scored more goals yesterday than they have in their last five games - against a team that was as tactically inept as it was woefully inadequate in every department.
With the exception of Adriano Basso, every player should donate his wages for this shambles to charity if they have an ounce of pride in our shirt or indeed themselves.
3,200 fans should receive personal apologies, apart from the numpty that started that row and a club refund, funded by our outfield ten who looked scared to death and lost out collectively and indivividually to their opposite numbers from start to finish.
The only positive I can find was the performance of Basso, kicking apart and the return of a fit and highly angry Marvin Elliott.
This was Leicester without the luck although, we could and should have lost by a far larger margin although, in fairness it looks like we have a happy dressing room… happy to stay in the CCC or play at an even lower level. Has GJ's tactic of not strengthening blown up in his face and ours?
Murray & Noble who were dreadful last week, kept their place and were both so poor that they were replaced at half time. That was a surprise… a surprise that it didn't happen sooner, like about 2.50pm!!
We should have been 3-0 down at half time and only a combination of the linesman flag and some awful finishing by the basement boys at St Mary's kept the margin to one goal as Johnson introduced Brooker & Sproule for the second period.
After one decent run on the right that saw his full back booked and GJ berate him, he was then switched to the left... WHY? That was the last we saw of him and McIndoe's usual wandering act saw a number of ineffective crosses and on no occasion did either player hit the byeline or provide threat.
Wright in Southampton's goal didn't have a shot to save in ninety minutes.
Cue Southampton's clever & pacey strikers making monkeys out of our defence at every opportunity, dominating midfield throughout and City went for Plan B in the absence of any plan A.
We started whooshing it at strikers and wide players that were in the pocket of their defenders throughout and those wide players narrowed the pitch on almost every occasion.
We neither created as much as a half chance nor had a shot to trouble Wright in the entire game.
That our fans were relatively quiet was no surprise and anyone wildly cheering this apology for a performance would need their head examining.
Orr's attempt to cross for the diminutive Sproule on the far post summed up our attacking ideas. So does the word bereft.
To say a radical improvement is required is an understatement of almost comical proportions and no one's laughing, certainly not City's massive away following who deserve better, not to mention an apology after this abject display without pride, passion or desire.
I'd change formation & personnel next week and we need to organise our defence & midfield into solid combative units that deny opportunity to the opposition at the same time as they offer support & creativity to our strikers.
Above all, compete and show some pride in our club.
Our wingers who are either out of form or contribute nothing should be sacrificed. We're stuck with the players we have, although, as I said, Elliott's reappearance is a boost.
With four games left and sides below us looking sure to overhaul City, every game's a cup final and, on this form we'll be knocked out before the play offs!!
City lined up 4-4-1-1
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 3/10
Set pieces: 3/10
Commitment: 4/10
Entertainment value: 2/10
Defending: 3/10
Attacking: 2/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Couldn't save us despite some heroics and the only player to leave the field with any right to his weekly wage and his head held high.
ORR: 4/10 Poor defending, attacking & distribution.
CAREY: 5/10 Stared poorly and got worse. Effort was OK but lost his head, displayed no leadership or quality in his defending.
MCCOMBE: 5/10 Worked hard, but no match for pacey & clever attackers.
MCALLISTER: 4/10 Didn't defend well and his distribution was wayward throughout.
SKUSE: 5/10 Busy in midfield, but didn't dominate or show any quality.
JOHNSON: 5/10 Rarely in the game and bypassed by a team that looks more desperate and whoosh ridden by the week.
MURRAY: 3/10 (Withdrawn) Second abysmal game and what a disappointing end to his City career.
MCINDOE: 4/10 Delivered nothing, roamed around & swapped wings to no effect.
NOBLE: 3/10 (Withdrawn) Lacklustre, lightweight and with no chance of a new contract.
ADEBOLA: 5/10 Isolated in the first half and won some flicks that led to nothing due to that isolation. Caught offside on numerous first half occasions and didn't improve in the second.
SUBS:
BROOKER: 5/10 Didn't affect the game and proved once again that the service from the flanks & midfield would make any striker look poor.
SPROULE: 4/10 Lively introduction, won a free kick, got the full back booked and then shifted to the left flank for reasons I fail to comprehend. He then disappeared, as did the service into his feet.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Looked fit and fired up. It's a great shame he didn't start and one wonders why that was.
Robins Don't Soar, Wolves Don't Roar & It's A Bore!
Auto Promotion Hopes Diminish As City Lack A Killer Finish
Bristol City 0 v 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
By Bristol Boy
In a game that probably told us more about our team & manager than anything else, there were some pluses. A clean sheet, a point and a better performance than last week although, in all honesty, had we played three of the youth team, it wouldn't have been worse.
The table also tells us that two of our rivals needed last minute goals to salvage points, but we can hardly complain about that & could the binary boy still have the laugh last?
In terms of effort, we were OK, but in terms of quality, guile & creativity we were, once again, severely lacking as we have been for the last three months. Sorry to write the same thing again, but GJ must get tired of saying it!!
It riles me when I hear City fans, who are steeped, moreover, content in mediocrity saying how happy we would have been to be in this position in August 2007 - so what, look where we were before we played Southampton and now two games and one point from six later, we look like everyone's settled for that! We've had a jolly nice season that isn't really for the likes of us and we should be grateful!!
Both teams especially City, could have done a great deal more than they did to win the game and City settled for a draw at 3pm when they selected two midfielders to stop Olifinjana & Henry as opposed to two that could hurt Wolves in the final third.
Our set pieces looked poorly thought out and Wolves nullified the famous City "dink" into the box by running out and catching us offside -didn't the taker think of dummying or playing the ball to a runner who wouldn't have been active in that phase? The rest were poorly delivered and City's defenders must have wished that Wolves were as badly delivered as they bravely headed away some pacey efforts.
Lee Johnson's absence was felt as the diminutive midfielder was rested on specialist's advice and one could ask if his return when clearly not 100% has robbed us of his services for this season?
I can only remember one shot from the lacklustre Sproule that cause any concern for Hennessey in the Wolves goal, who had denied a rare forward run by Skuse, then tackled Brooker in the only memorable moment from a dull, yet nervous first half.
Basso made two good saves, one in each half as City were second to the ball in the first half on the majority of occasions and the referee came to City's rescue when he waved away what looked a clear penalty as the tricky and pacey Jarvis was bundled over by the retreating Carle after he beat Orr for the umpteenth time after his introduction along with Adebola with a paltry eight minutes to go.
Watford's draw with WBA softened the blow, but it's our form (7 points from 24) that's the concern and our lack of a goal difference could yet be the deciding factor come May.
I'll settle for the same result next week and at Sheff Utd and against PNE, but it'll take a win at Stoke and a performance to make me start believing we can take an opportunity that may not come around for another thirty years. It's a question of bottle and I'm not convinced that we've got enough to take us over the line.
City lined up 4-4-2:
Subs (used)
Carle
Adebola
Fontaine
Not used:
Weale
Trundle
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 2/10
Creativity: 2/10
Commitment: 7/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 7/10
Attacking: 4/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Two good saves and a confident display.
ORR: 5/10:Another poor display of both defending & passing. Taken to the cleaners by Jarvis. The odd surge forward with zero quality in delivery, but at least he tried
CAREY: 6/10 Lost form over the last two games, but still tried to lift the others.
MCCOMBE: 6/10 Seemed to want to gift the game to Wolves in the first fifteen minutes as he bumbled & stumbled along, but recovered to play a part in keeping another clean sheet.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Poor distribution but defended well enough until his injury, which looks like ending his season.
SKUSE: 5/10 Worked hard but lacked quality throughout. Improved in the second half, but the game pretty much passed him by apart from one key challenge.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Looked stronger & fitter and more on his game than of late, but created nothing.
SPROULE: 4/10 One tackle and a shot on target mark him up from a three. Won't endear himself to Ashton Gate fans by backing out of challenges either. Had plenty of opportunities to run at the defender and even with his marker on his backside, he couldn't hit the byeline and deliver any quality
MCINDOE: 5/10 Never in the game and probably his worst game for City. Talks cheap without the performance to back it up and I don't want to see any more "All the lads are up for it" proclamation from MM or anyone else.
BYFIELD: 5/10 Another ineffective start and it must be difficult for any striker with the shocking service and lack of creativity on offer. Never looked like scoring and shouldn't be more than a sub at Stoke.
BROOKER: 6/10 MOM according to some. Well, if you're a striker without an assist or a goal or a shot on target, sorry mate I can't mark you higher than six. Worked hard, made some willing runs and it's great to see him back and lasting ninety minutes.
SUBS:
CARLE: 5/10 Ten-minute cameo and should have started if we were really trying to win it. Almost blew it when he fouled Jarvis.
ADEBOLA: 5/10 Ineffective cameo.
FONTAINE: 6/10 Did what was needed as a late replacement for McAllister.
Too Little, Too Late, Leaves City Pondering A Play-Off Fate
Stoke 2 v 1 Bristol City - Review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
So, Hull had lost, all the chasing pack had either lost or drawn and the scene was set for a City win that would have taken us into the automatic places, two games away from the promised land.
The fans were bellowing their support & belief… bouncing too, and a full part of the atmosphere amongst a 24,000 crowd at The Britannia.
Sky were there and the British public were ready to witness Bristol City, masters of the passing game, the Arsenal of The Championship, some would have us believe, destroy the binary boy and his team of loan mercenaries without the ethic & belief of "our group of players"… Didn't work out that way though, did it??
As much as it hurts me to say it, we didn't turn up until the 65th minute and our first half performance would be a great video to demonstrate ineffective passing & lack of passing, penetration & guile. The players didn't seem to believe they could do it and McAllister's clumsy & needless foul on Lawrence gifted Stoke a set piece that they profited from as Siddibe, who terrorised our defence all night, rose to head powerfully past Basso from eight yards from Lawrence's well delivered, flat, pacey cross.
A defence without an ounce of pace couldn't afford to be caught high up the pitch, so that's where we defended and Siddibe ran through unchallenged to slot past Basso to win the game. It must be the winner against a team that can't score goals, especially from open play and whose confidence is now in tatters.
I can sum up the first half in a sentence: "Every time they attacked they looked like scoring, every time we attacked, we didn't!"
Without the injured Brooker (where have I heard that before?) we have successfully climbed the table and been in the top six since September so it can't all be down to that, although his absence, and the comparison drawn by many fans I spoke to with Lee Matthews, is a worry: Good player, never fit.
Lee Johnson's absence robbed City of any quality from set pieces, and we had plenty of them as Stoke gave a master class on workrate & closing down against a team without the necessary quality to give service to their strikers and wide players, who spent much of the first half standing alongside their central midfield partners as Stoke were given the freedom of the flanks to launch crosses & attacks.
Big money signings Ivan Sproule & Nicky Carle were also absent with £1m man Lee Trundle only rated worthy of a place on the bench. City's starting line up added up to about £500k.
Stoke's defence didn't know they were in a game until Johnson's frustration at this dire and uncompetitive first half performance, saw the introduction of Trundle & Noble for the ineffective Wilson & Byfield. Entirely predictable, but in truth, Noble's introduction on the right wing did nothing for delivery, pace & quality from that area and, apart from the goal, which may have even been a OG, Nash didn't have a real save to make all night.
Whilst passing football was the norm early doors, with our home game on SKY against Sheff Utd being exemplary, we are now a whoosh team on most occasions and we're not good at it. It's not down to the signing of Adebola, because we played our best football of late in the second half at Charlton and the big man was a part of that. He's also got his goals.
It's not down to the absence of Lee Johnson either, because we were rank & whooshed it at Southampton & Leicester when the little man played in both. That absence of flair, belief & real passion, is the central conundrum for GJ to resolve and until that returns neither will the belief that we can win through the play-offs amongst many of our supporters.
As injuries & mental fatigue bite, his strategy of not reinforcing the squad with experience, pace & quality looks more high risk than ever.
After our goal, probably just before it to be fair, McIndoe had decided to play on the left wing and was causing problems - Stoke are no super team, it's just that we didn't try to find out until the last twenty minutes. As City started to retain possession and pass the ball, we looked more of a threat.
All of a sudden, their goal was under pressure and defenders, previously confident & cool, started to panic although, Pulis's team were still the better side and should have had more goals. The fact that they didn't, tells you what an opportunity we had at 5.20pm yesterday and, once again, it saddens me to say the most prevalent comment I heard, not for the first time in recent weeks was "typical City: big following, big let down"
You could rate City up to the 65th minute and after and the marks would be different, however, that wouldn't be fair and the game over ninety minutes didn't make me feel that my journey had been worthwhile.
The vast disappointment amongst City fans leaving the game was loud, freely given & evident.
City lined up 4-4-2:
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 3/10
Commitment: 6/10
Entertainment Value: 5/10
Defending: 5/10
Attacking: 4/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 One world-class save in the second half and generally competent handling & kicking.
ORR:5/10: Looked stretched but kept the effort up.
CAREY: 5/10 Lost form since his latest injury and another game when he came out second best to the strikers.
MCCOMBE: 5/10 Worked hard but struggled against the quality of Siddibe & Fuller.
MCALLISTER: 5/10 Struggled against the cleverness & quality of Liam Lawrence and needlessly conceded the free kick that lead to the goal that set the tone for the first half. Unforced error in the second could have finished us off.
SKUSE: 5/10 Came into the game late on, just like his teamates, however, lacks the ability to play in a two man central midfield at this level.
ELLIOTT: 5/10 Whilst looking stronger & fitter, not the player he was in the first thirty or so games of the season and gave the ball away far too much.
WILSON: 4/10 (Withdrawn) After doing well as stand in right back for Orr, his efforts on the right wing still leave City with a vacancy in that position and his fluffed free kick before half time summed up his game.
MCINDOE: 7/10 The last twenty five minutes saw him revert to the left wing and it made a great difference as he actually played in some telling crosses. Now Michael, STAY THERE!!!
BYFIELD: 4/10 (Withdrawn) Ineffective, and should only appear as a sub.
ADEBOLA: 6/10 Forlorn first half as what is becoming our usual lack of creativity saw him isolated. Came into the game in the second half and helped/scored the goal from a rare good set piece delivery.
SUBS:
NOBLE: 6/10 At least tried to support Orr, but would have been far more effective in his more central, withdrawn role.
VASKO: 4/10 Desperation cameo summed up our lack of ideas & guile.
TRUNDLE: 6/10 Produced some moments of quality that were an oasis in a desert of style.
City Dominate But Lack Blades' Speedy Cutting Edge
Speed Kills, But City Find Their Rhythm
Sheffield Utd 2 - 1 City
By Bristol Boy
There have been plenty of occasions when we've snatched a game that we could have lost or drawn this season, so perhaps the game that saw City confirm a play-off place on the basis of others' failure as opposed to our success was rather profound and summed up our season to date.
Be in no doubt that this was our best performance over ninety minutes for months and, although we lost, at least we passed the ball like Bristol City, and anyone who thinks that a team with Dele Adebola up front is consigned to playing whoosh football should get a video of this game and the second half at Charlton, because the big man was pivotal in both.
The only disappointment for me yesterday, apart from the obvious one, was when Enoch Showunmi was introduced for Marvin Elliott & City reverted to the whoosh football that doesn't suit us and almost always fails.
With the excellent Nick Carle marauding in midfield, ably supported by a reinvigorated Marvin Elliott, Lee Trundle looking strong as well as technically gifted and David Noble maintaining a right wing berth, City were always going to retain possession and pass the ball and that… as I get fed up with writing (and you probably get fed up with reading!) is when City look and play like City and not Watford!
It's not coincidence that a footballing team looks like winning the CCC while Boothroyd's robotic and grinding Watford's hopes diminish.
City took the lead when the ball was played into Adebola's feet and his smart turn and run was halted by a cynical tackle from behind that may have brought a red card on another day. I'm glad it didn't, and McIndoe stepped up to take the penalty to the obvious frustration of Trundle, who I'd still pick to take the next one!
It was a lead City deserved, their football merited and only poor defending, that saw the out-of-form Louis Carey get caught under the ball and lose his attacker in Gary Speed, meant Utd were level at half time, albeit our cause was helped by seeing James Beattie depart after about thirty seconds, and if Utd make the play-offs, let's hope that injury lasts about a month!
Cotterill's return to Wigan would be a plus and then he can come back to AG, because he looked the biggest threat in the Sheff Utd ranks with the odd mazy run & dribble. He also won the corner from which they scored the first goal and brought a fine save out of Basso on the break as City flooded forward for an equaliser, which would have been so deserved.
City at last looked fluid although still not threatening on all occasions and to dominate a game at Bramall Lane against an in-form team and still lose must frustrate and worry GJ as much as the City faithful who noisily packed the lower tier in The Halliwells Stand, playing a full part in a cracking atmosphere in a proper football ground holding almost 30,000 fans.
Once again the game proved an advert for all away seating being unallocated & for safe standing which, for reasons that remain a mystery to me, the authorities still don't recognise, also insisting on reducing capacity by 5% when a club does so.
We must have crossed more balls and got into more promising attacking areas in this game than we have in the last two months, but for all that I can only remember Kenny making one good save from Nick Carle's thumping low drive as City went from the sublime to the ridiculous… or perhaps the other way around, by wanting one to many passes thus losing shooting opportunities.
McIndoe's needless handball, that was spotted by the crowd and the linesman but not Mark Halsey, gifted the Blades a penalty which stand in penalty taker Speed put away with aplomb.
Then it was like Rourke's Drift… and this time we were the Zulu's!!... Trouble is, they lost that one as well!
The game plan needed is clear. Play football, pass the thing, but somehow… and this is the difficult bit, add what's been lacking all season… CUTTING EDGE.
Brooker's return would help, but when was the last time he started & finished three games on the trot for City?
Lee Johnson's set-piece delivery would help, however he was clearly brought back too early and it's a big ask for him to return for the play-offs, fit lad that he is. The players attacking those set pieces also need to attack different areas and not all go for the same ball. There were a number of occasions, especially late on when they clearly impeded each other! I'm all for enthusiasm lads, but think about it and someone back away to pick up the second ball.
Width would help, and McIndoe's first-half performance when he at least based himself on the left wing showed promise, although David Noble's not going to hit the byeline and cut it back for you.
At least yesterday Bristol City turned up - not the bunch of imposters who somehow stole our shirts at Southampton and, win or lose, I'll settle for that and one too many passes is always my preference as compared with ten too few!
Hope springs eternal………….well, I hope so!
City lined up 4-4-2:
Subs (used)
Showunmi
Not used:
Weale
Sproule
Fontaine
Skuse
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 7/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 7/10
Defending: 6/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 A couple of decent saves and excellent general handling. Couldn't be faulted for either goal.
ORR: 6/10:Defended well enough but the distribution let him down on occassions. A better game than of late.
CAREY: 6/10 At fault when he lost Speed for the first goal but improved as the game wore on.
MCCOMBE: 7/10 Powerful defensive performance and tried to add presence in the box late on.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Had his hands full with the pacey & tricky Cotterill, but still tried to get the ball down and link up with midfield.
CARLE: 8/10 Excellent movement, balance, passing, retention & control and only needs a goal or a major assist to establish himself.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Looked like he was getting back to his best with some good breaking up of play and the odd surge into the box.
NOBLE: 7/10 Kept it, passed it, worked hard and combined well with Carle & Elliott to control midfield for long periods. Looked as fit as anyone else as the game drew to its conclusion.
MCINDOE: 7/10 All-action display, marred by the handball that gifted dangerous opponents the possibility of a play-off place. Still too much of the gypsy in his soul for me and retaining our shape with his efforts on the left is much more effective in terms of his overall contribution.
TRUNDLE: 7/10 Added strength and clear passion to the technical quality that's a given. I still can't remember a shot on target and that needs to come.
ADEBOLA: 7/10 Brought down for the pen and a menace in combination with Trundle. As with LT more efforts on target are needed and that, as with LT and all our other strikers, requires service especially from the flanks.
SUBS:
SHOWUNMI: 5/10 Galloped around to no avail as we whooshed it in search of an equaliser.
