'Boom boom' McCombe steals a point

For the first time this season Bristol City had the opportunity to go top of the Championship and stay there on Monday night. Although Gary Johnson’s team have reached the summit on a number of occasions this season, we always seem to be knocked off the top within hours due to a late kick off, usually involving Watford or West Brom. However, on a freezing cold Monday night against Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace side we had the chance to sit top of the pile. Sadly as most City fans and others fans will know, having watched it live on TV, we failed. Many Championship supporters will however look at our position and say ‘we should be happy where we are’, but are we really satisfied?

At the beginning of the season, all the talk and expectation on fans forums were of staying up or perhaps finishing in mid-table. Some cheeky supporters said we should even push for a play-off spot but many of us were quick to stress survival was the priority. If someone had told me at the start of the season that we would be third in the league, only one point behind the leaders and with a real chance at promotion, I would have called for the men in the big white coats to take them away. Since I have been supporting City, which is for over 15 years now, there has always been an expectation, certainly when were in League One, that we were a big club and deserved better. Which is why for many years, under the likes of Danny Wilson and Brian Tinnion, that we failed in numerous promotion attempts – because of the attitude of some of our players.

Under the guidance of manager Gary Johnson, who has built a fantastic team spirit at the club, we are finally achieving what most fans expect. Now we are in the Championship that expectation, I think, has disappeared. The fans are just happy to be playing bigger teams again and travelling to brand new stadiums like the Ricoh Arena. There is a buzz around the club and this has rubbed off on the players. They are able to play with a freedom, even more so now given that we have virtually retained our status as a Championship club for next season. But we now found ourselves in a position of being in touching distance of the promise land and the question is: Do we go for it?

We have seen many clubs go up to the Premiership, spend a fortune and come down a broken club. Under the guidance of Johnson and wise chairman Steve Lansdown I doubt this would happen and I hope many other City fans would agree. For instance, if we were relegated after only one season we would bank at least £50 million and a further £30 million from parachute payments. Who wouldn’t want to go up? Take Watford for example, they managed two years ago to gain promotion and although they failed in their quest to stay up, they have returned to the Championship a much richer and bigger club.

Anyway, back to Monday’s game. After two straight wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Scunthorpe, confidence was high. I expected three points as our home form has been fantastic this season and Crystal Palace had not won a game since they had beaten us 2-0 in January. Revenge must have been on the minds of the players and I hoped for a good game of football. Unfortunately, Palace seemed intent on hitting the ball long and direct at every opportunity, and we were unable to get our passing game going.

It was a poor first half with the best chance for City going to Nick Carle who shot just wide. Palace improved in the second half and scored with a fine half volley from Lee Hills after 60 minutes. City were awarded a penalty with just five minutes to go after a foul on Darren Byfield. Bradley Orr stepped up to take the penalty, confident after scoring two previous penalties, unfortunately his effort and rebound were saved but in the last minute of injury time Jamie McCombe rescued a point with a bullet header from a corner.

On many occasions this season we have scored late goals to either rescue a point or win the game. With just 13 games left the league is very tight and with Stoke City now leading the way it looks to be a four-horse race for who will gain the two automatic spots. I’m sure City can achieve the play-offs and maybe automatic promotion. As Adriano Basso says, "Always believe."

ANDY DAVIES

City come out on top in grudge match

This game was billed as a ‘grudge match’ since Scunthorpe beat us to the League One title last season and we were looking for revenge. Although, Scunthorpe finished higher than City, it is the Robins who have settled in the Championship. Prior to the match, we were third in the Championship and only one point off leaders Watford.

Nigel Adkins’ team, on the other hand, are struggling near the foot of the table, facing the threat of relegation. Despite our high position, this was billed as a ‘must win game’, as Gary Johnson’s team looked to win away for the first time in 2008.

This match was always going to be difficult as the pitch at Glanford Park is not exactly perfect for playing good football. It is much shorter and narrower than our surface at Ashton Gate so the players would have to adapt. The solution to this problem was to resize our training pitch in preparation for the game. We were also without our captain Louis Carey, who had suffered a foot injury at the weekend, so a win would take some hard work. Judging by the radio commentary in the first 20 minutes Scunthorpe had most of the possession and created the most chances. We did however force our way into the game and Jamie McCombe came close with a header which went just wide of the post.

In the second half our play sounded a lot brighter, with chances being created but still no goals. With time running out Johnson introduced defender Tamas Vasko to play up front in place of Dele Adebola. The substitution paid off when Vasko’s presence in the box distracted goalkeeper Joe Murphy, and Bradley Orr’s left-footed, curling effort ended up in the far corner of the net.

For the next ten minutes I was sitting on the edge of my seat while the final minutes were played out. The win was crucial, with Stoke and Watford both winning it was important to claim all three points. And with West Brom only managing a draw at home to stuttering Sheffield United, the win was even more welcome.

Last season, we travelled to Glanford Park and lost 1-0 to a Billy Sharp goal. After the game, the Scunny players celebrated by unsportingly banging on the away dressing room door. All I can say is; I hope we gave them the same treatment. Let me say to Scunthorpe, League One here you come and to City, Premiership here we come!

ANDY DAVIES

City back on form

After last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to big spending QPR it was important Bristol City returned to winning ways yesterday against a struggling Sheffield Wednesday side. Before the game, manager Gary Johnson made a plea to supporters to do that ‘little bit extra’ to support the team, in a game which was a must-win if we were to stay amongst the leaders. After last week’s result, the national press were quick to say our ‘bubble had burst’ yet again, but we have proven this season we can bounce back from setbacks and this was the case on Saturday.

The game also saw the return of captain Louis Carey who has been sorely missed in recent weeks. Dele Adebola was making his home debut up front with Nick Carle playing just behind him in a 4-4-1-1 formation. We started brightly with Marvin Elliot seeing his header bounce off the crossbar and in the first five minutes it was clear City had sorely missed a strong target man like Dele. Since Steve Brooker’s persistent knee injuries of last season, we have lacked a player in this mould. Hopefully, with Brooker now playing at Cheltenham Town on loan in a bid to regain his fitness, we should soon have two target men at the club.

It seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken and the first goal arrived after eight minutes. Michael McIndoe threaded a through ball to Adebola who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Lee Grant and into the far corner of the net. From then on we could have added at least two more goals with Carle seeing one chance flash wide and another well saved by Grant after a promising run by McIndoe. Wednesday rarely threatened and the only person in danger of causing City problems was referee Richard Shoebridge, who failed to spot many poor challenges by Brian Law’s team.

At half-time the score was 1-0 and I was in two minds as to whether to be pleased that we were winning and creating chances or disappointed that we had wasted most of those chances. We started the second half as we had the first, pushing forward and creating chances. However, with Wednesday behind it was inevitable their forwards would put pressure on us. Marcus Tudgay sent a dipping effort wide of Adriano Basso’s post while Sean McAllister header was tipped over the crossbar with a fingertip save from Basso.

That save was crucial as moments later City scored a second. Carle’s pass to Adebola eventually found its way into Bradley Orr’s path, who lashed the ball into the far corner of the net from 15 yards. At last, the home side and the majority of the 15,600 could sit back and enjoy the rest of the game. Too often this season, City have failed to score the decisive second goal, leaving fans on the edge of our seats.

Gary Johnson then substituted Adebola and Carle soon after the second goal with Tuesday’s away game at Scunthorpe in mind. Lee Trundle and Darren Byfield came on in their places and both threatened to add a third. Trundle’s layoff to McIndoe should have made it 3-0 but the winger shot straight at the Goalkeeper.

Wednesday did eventually score with Lee Bullen firing past Basso with a fierce volley, but it was far too late in injury time for it to spoil the party. After the game, Johnson, in his post match interview told reporters, a supporter in Japan did his extra bit to support the team by lighting a candle and sending a picture to the team.

City now only trail leaders West Brom by one point, and with 15 games to go the dream of the Premiership is still on as our ‘bubble’ remains intact.

ANDY DAVIES