It’s the old cliché, but a week is really a long time in football. Last week I wrote about how City’s chances of remaining in the top two looked under threat as we were without a win in five games and the teams around us were closing in, particularly Hull City, who have been in fantastic form in recent weeks. But seven days after our dismal performance and result against Cardiff, we now sit proudly again at the top of the league with just five games to go. But I suppose that’s what football is all about.
Going into the Norwich match on Saturday, we had only managed three goals from our last five games and I suspected if we were going to beat Glen Roeder’s team, we would have to keep a clean sheet. Unfortunately we couldn’t stop Darren Huckerby cancelling out Dele Adebola’s close range finish on 70 minutes and we looked almost certain to end the game having collected only one point. To be fair to Norwich, they had plenty of chances in the second half to win the game, and will count themselves unlucky not to score a second goal.
But what a finish we had. Steve Brooker, making his ‘home debut’ for a second time after a disastrous 14 months of persistent injuries, pops up in the box to head the ball into the net in the 93rd minute, and it could prove to be his most important goal in a City shirt.
After five games without a win Gary Johnson decided to reshuffle his starting eleven with regulars like Marvin Elliot and Ivan Sproule making way for Cole Skuse and Scott Murray, who have both waited patiently all season for their chance. Lee Trundle and Darren Byfield also found themselves out of the squad, having to watch the game from the stands. Gary, explaining his selection at the end of the game, said he felt after the Cardiff game that he had too many players in the squad who hadn’t been with him last season. If we had lost, his thinking would have come back to haunt him, but in the end it worked out well.
Elliot, although one of our players of the season, has looked tired in recent games and was in need of a rest. Similarly, Sproule hasn’t set us alight in recent matches and with Brian Wilson failing to fulfil the right wing role it was good to see Scott put on the shirt again. As Gary said, his starting eleven only contained two players who had not been part of the promotion season last year, with McIndoe and Adebola starting, although McIndoe has already played under Gary at Yeovil and knows what Johnson expects of him.
The inclusion of Skuse received a mixed reaction from myself – I was pleased Elliot was being rested, but am not the biggest fan of Skuse. But to be fair to him he played very well, getting better as the match wore on and made some important tackles. He also won the Man of the Match award, so I must be wrong about him!
Now things are looking very exciting with City at the top of the league with just five games to go, and we are on course to achieve something none of us dreamed of at the start of the season. Yet some people are never satisfied, as I found out on Saturday, with one so-called ‘supporter’ wishing we still had Danny Wilson as manager because we ‘played better football under him’. If that were the case, we would be still languishing in the third tier of English football. It’s funny how you only hear these ‘fans’ when they are moaning. Yet when a the team have a good shot or defend well, it likely to go unnoticed and when we score, they seem to act as if they have been encouraging the team all along. But I guess that’s football.
ANDY DAVIES
Showing posts with label top. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top. Show all posts
Monday, 31 March 2008
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Top of the table encounter ends in stalemate
It was billed as City’s biggest game of the season and it certainly was. The game against Watford on Tuesday night was perhaps one of the biggest games for City since they last won promotion to the top flight over 30 years ago. And for the first time this season, football fans in Bristol realised what was at stake as the game was a complete sell-out with 19,000 fans anticipating a titanic encounter. I have said in previous articles about the lack of full houses at Ashton Gate and after last night’s sell-out, it really does show what a difference a full stadium makes.
The atmosphere was electric and the players certainly responded to the occasion with tackles flying in and the two dugouts also seeing plenty of action involved in the fiery arguments. Although I may be biased, from my position just behind the away dug out, it seemed as Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd failed to control his players and staff as they became involved in arguments with Gary Johnson. But tempers reaching boiling point is hardly surprising, given the occasion and importance of the game.
The match itself was not the prettiest of encounters with the ball often in the air and with the windy conditions, both sides failed to make much of an impact. Marvin Elliot going close with two shots well saved by Watford goalkeeper Jordan Stewart was as close as City came to scoring but the Hornets had the best chance of the half to score when McIndoe was adjudged to have brought down Tommy Smith in the box. Darius Henderson stepped up to take the penalty, but Ashton Gate erupted when Adriano Basso’s right-hand palmed the ball to safety and he later thanked God for his help in making the save. Perhaps another ‘Hand of God’ scenario? That save could prove crucial as we struggled to break through the Watford defence and I doubt we would have equalised had Henderson found the net.
Lee Johnson was substituted at half time after suffering an injury from a challenge by striker Henderson and City missed their instrumental playmaker in the second half. Lee Johnson, has since he arrived at Ashton Gate last season, been subjected to unfair criticism from some sections of City fans who have failed to realise the importance of his job in midfield. As he is Gary’s son, he can be an easy target for many fans criticising his ability hold onto the ball and tackle an opponent. However, hopefully after his absence in the second-half, these fans will realise what an important player he is to the team. He may not make the most challenges, but this is not necessary when he has ‘marvellous’ Marvin Elliot alongside him, who has been a revelation since arriving from Millwall in the summer, to tackle the opposition. Johnson's role is to help keep the game moving with his quick passing and it was easy to see the ball becoming stuck in the midfield after his departure. But he may have won over some his critics as he was given a standing ovation by the Atyeo Stand as he headed for the dressing room. Hopefully, he will make a quick recovery and play some part in the Westcountry derby against Plymouth.
Tuesday’s draw with Watford is City’s third in a row so a win on Saturday is crucial if we want to remain at the top, but we are now eight games unbeaten so the players should be full of confidence. Saturday also sees Stoke host Watford, so City really do have a chance to move away from the chasing pack, so we have every chance of being top come 5pm on Saturday night.
ANDY DAVIES
The atmosphere was electric and the players certainly responded to the occasion with tackles flying in and the two dugouts also seeing plenty of action involved in the fiery arguments. Although I may be biased, from my position just behind the away dug out, it seemed as Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd failed to control his players and staff as they became involved in arguments with Gary Johnson. But tempers reaching boiling point is hardly surprising, given the occasion and importance of the game.
The match itself was not the prettiest of encounters with the ball often in the air and with the windy conditions, both sides failed to make much of an impact. Marvin Elliot going close with two shots well saved by Watford goalkeeper Jordan Stewart was as close as City came to scoring but the Hornets had the best chance of the half to score when McIndoe was adjudged to have brought down Tommy Smith in the box. Darius Henderson stepped up to take the penalty, but Ashton Gate erupted when Adriano Basso’s right-hand palmed the ball to safety and he later thanked God for his help in making the save. Perhaps another ‘Hand of God’ scenario? That save could prove crucial as we struggled to break through the Watford defence and I doubt we would have equalised had Henderson found the net.
Lee Johnson was substituted at half time after suffering an injury from a challenge by striker Henderson and City missed their instrumental playmaker in the second half. Lee Johnson, has since he arrived at Ashton Gate last season, been subjected to unfair criticism from some sections of City fans who have failed to realise the importance of his job in midfield. As he is Gary’s son, he can be an easy target for many fans criticising his ability hold onto the ball and tackle an opponent. However, hopefully after his absence in the second-half, these fans will realise what an important player he is to the team. He may not make the most challenges, but this is not necessary when he has ‘marvellous’ Marvin Elliot alongside him, who has been a revelation since arriving from Millwall in the summer, to tackle the opposition. Johnson's role is to help keep the game moving with his quick passing and it was easy to see the ball becoming stuck in the midfield after his departure. But he may have won over some his critics as he was given a standing ovation by the Atyeo Stand as he headed for the dressing room. Hopefully, he will make a quick recovery and play some part in the Westcountry derby against Plymouth.
Tuesday’s draw with Watford is City’s third in a row so a win on Saturday is crucial if we want to remain at the top, but we are now eight games unbeaten so the players should be full of confidence. Saturday also sees Stoke host Watford, so City really do have a chance to move away from the chasing pack, so we have every chance of being top come 5pm on Saturday night.
ANDY DAVIES
Monday, 14 January 2008
Robins squander chance
In my last blog entry I talked excitedly of where Bristol City might finish at the end of the season. I should, however, know better than to get ahead of myself as I have been supporting City long enough, 15 years in fact, to realise that things don’t always go as planned. Which was certainly the case on Saturday when we hosted Colchester United, a team second from bottom. And with the Robins flying at the top of the league, I could be forgiven for thinking this result was in the bag.
We started brightly and I was out of my seat prematurely on five minutes when I thought a looping header from Marvin Elliot was heading into the net. Unfortunately, his header was saved and within 60 seconds we found ourselves behind to a Kevin Lisbie goal. Our two centre backs, Liam Fontaine and Tamas Vasko looked all at sea when Lisbie was awarded too much space in the box, and sent a low curling effort past Adriano Basso and into the net.
The crowd responded in their usual fashion of urging the team on to bounce back, but I could sense we might be in trouble. Going forward we looked dangerous in the opening minutes, but at the back we were unsettled, our man marking not tight enough. Sure enough, Lisbie again found himself free in the box a few minutes later, but his effort was well saved by Basso. It was clear injured captain Louis Carey was being missed, but it was far too early for manager Gary Johnson to make a substitution.
From then on though, we improved. A tactical switch with wingers Michael McIndoe and Ivan Sproule swapping sides paid dividends on 32 minutes when Sproule ghosted past two defenders in the box and smash an equaliser into the net. Two minutes later we scored again when McIndoe’s free kick was well saved by Dean Gerken only to fall to Vasko, who bundled the ball over the line for City’s second. Celebrations were short lived as the referee’s assistant put his flag up for offside.
From where I was sitting it was hard to tell and I haven’t seen a TV replay yet so I can’t comment. But the players’ reaction clearly said it was a goal. Minutes later, McIndoe saw an effort hit the crossbar and the team headed to the dressing rooms at 1-1.
In the second half there were chances squandered at either end and penalty appeals turned down from both sides. I got the feeling this wasn’t going to be our day and that proved to be the case, with the game ending 1-1. Walking away from the game, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. This was a game that should have been won if we are seriously going to mount a challenge for promotion and instead we dropped two points. The funny thing though, was that the result sent us to the top of the Championship after Watford’s defeat to Preston, even if it was only for a few hours.
Reading the papers this morning I discovered that Gary Johnson locked his players in the dressing room for half an hour to tell them where they had gone wrong. It is clear we need to be more creative at times and certain players need to just take a chance if one comes along. With the January transfer window open I am hoping a striker might be on Gary’s shopping list.
Next up is Crystal Palace, who have gone 14 games unbeaten, so there is no chance the team will be complacent here. Neil Warnock has done a fantastic job but surely this unbeaten run has to come to end sometime. Looking on the bright side, after 27 games we have 48 points and sit proudly in one of the automatic promotion spots so things are not looking too bad!
ANDY DAVIES
We started brightly and I was out of my seat prematurely on five minutes when I thought a looping header from Marvin Elliot was heading into the net. Unfortunately, his header was saved and within 60 seconds we found ourselves behind to a Kevin Lisbie goal. Our two centre backs, Liam Fontaine and Tamas Vasko looked all at sea when Lisbie was awarded too much space in the box, and sent a low curling effort past Adriano Basso and into the net.
The crowd responded in their usual fashion of urging the team on to bounce back, but I could sense we might be in trouble. Going forward we looked dangerous in the opening minutes, but at the back we were unsettled, our man marking not tight enough. Sure enough, Lisbie again found himself free in the box a few minutes later, but his effort was well saved by Basso. It was clear injured captain Louis Carey was being missed, but it was far too early for manager Gary Johnson to make a substitution.
From then on though, we improved. A tactical switch with wingers Michael McIndoe and Ivan Sproule swapping sides paid dividends on 32 minutes when Sproule ghosted past two defenders in the box and smash an equaliser into the net. Two minutes later we scored again when McIndoe’s free kick was well saved by Dean Gerken only to fall to Vasko, who bundled the ball over the line for City’s second. Celebrations were short lived as the referee’s assistant put his flag up for offside.
From where I was sitting it was hard to tell and I haven’t seen a TV replay yet so I can’t comment. But the players’ reaction clearly said it was a goal. Minutes later, McIndoe saw an effort hit the crossbar and the team headed to the dressing rooms at 1-1.
In the second half there were chances squandered at either end and penalty appeals turned down from both sides. I got the feeling this wasn’t going to be our day and that proved to be the case, with the game ending 1-1. Walking away from the game, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. This was a game that should have been won if we are seriously going to mount a challenge for promotion and instead we dropped two points. The funny thing though, was that the result sent us to the top of the Championship after Watford’s defeat to Preston, even if it was only for a few hours.
Reading the papers this morning I discovered that Gary Johnson locked his players in the dressing room for half an hour to tell them where they had gone wrong. It is clear we need to be more creative at times and certain players need to just take a chance if one comes along. With the January transfer window open I am hoping a striker might be on Gary’s shopping list.
Next up is Crystal Palace, who have gone 14 games unbeaten, so there is no chance the team will be complacent here. Neil Warnock has done a fantastic job but surely this unbeaten run has to come to end sometime. Looking on the bright side, after 27 games we have 48 points and sit proudly in one of the automatic promotion spots so things are not looking too bad!
ANDY DAVIES
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Promised land on the horizon?
Well the busy Christmas period is over, and it is a time which can make or break a season for any club. Thankfully for Bristol City we have come through this intense time with only one defeat to our name, and that came away against West Brom, arguably the best team in the league. We find ourselves sitting in joint first place alongside West Brom and Watford, all on 47 points after 26 games.
The media have continually mentioned about when the ‘bubble’ will burst and in the beginning I thought this too, but something now tells me this won’t happen. We have shown already we can bounce back from severe defeats as we did at Barnsley (3-0), the 6-0 drubbing at Ipswich, and recently at West Brom when we were on the wrong end of a 4-1 score line.
The team spirit created by Gary Johnson means the players don’t dwell too long on a defeat and refocus their minds quickly on the next fixture. We are taking each game as it comes and as a result have not become unnerved by the new teams we are facing.
Although there are still 20 league games to play I am starting to believe we can sustain our current form and maybe make it to the promise land. Sceptics may say it is too soon for City to get promoted after only coming up from League One five months ago, but when a great opportunity comes along you have to grab it with both hands.
The money we would receive would be welcome even if we were to be relegated back to the Championship. Promotion is worth in the region of £60 million and with parachute payments of about £20 million it would do us no harm financially.
The club are already looking to the future with the capture of exciting attacking midfielder Nick Carle, an Australian International who we have paid £500,000 for from Turkish side Genclerbirligi. Having seen a video of him on the internet, he looks an exciting player with many fancy skills and he certainly knows where the goal is.
2007 has now come to an end and many football supporters in Bristol didn’t want it to end after such a successful year for both Bristol clubs in which both were promoted. Hopefully 2008 will be even more exciting and my next blog will be describing a City victory over Middlesbrough in the F.A Cup on Saturday.
ANDY DAVIES
The media have continually mentioned about when the ‘bubble’ will burst and in the beginning I thought this too, but something now tells me this won’t happen. We have shown already we can bounce back from severe defeats as we did at Barnsley (3-0), the 6-0 drubbing at Ipswich, and recently at West Brom when we were on the wrong end of a 4-1 score line.
The team spirit created by Gary Johnson means the players don’t dwell too long on a defeat and refocus their minds quickly on the next fixture. We are taking each game as it comes and as a result have not become unnerved by the new teams we are facing.
Although there are still 20 league games to play I am starting to believe we can sustain our current form and maybe make it to the promise land. Sceptics may say it is too soon for City to get promoted after only coming up from League One five months ago, but when a great opportunity comes along you have to grab it with both hands.
The money we would receive would be welcome even if we were to be relegated back to the Championship. Promotion is worth in the region of £60 million and with parachute payments of about £20 million it would do us no harm financially.
The club are already looking to the future with the capture of exciting attacking midfielder Nick Carle, an Australian International who we have paid £500,000 for from Turkish side Genclerbirligi. Having seen a video of him on the internet, he looks an exciting player with many fancy skills and he certainly knows where the goal is.
2007 has now come to an end and many football supporters in Bristol didn’t want it to end after such a successful year for both Bristol clubs in which both were promoted. Hopefully 2008 will be even more exciting and my next blog will be describing a City victory over Middlesbrough in the F.A Cup on Saturday.
ANDY DAVIES
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