Being a little controversial, I would argue that apart from the last couple of goals being “wonder” strikes, that the midfield did not close those players down. They were left in acres of space.
Being a little controversial, I would argue that apart from the last couple of goals being “wonder” strikes, that the midfield did not close those players down. They were left in acres of space.
I think that's a very fair and very true point. We sometimes struggle to defend the ball after a clearance and our defensive clearances can be pretty poor.
We do also struggle to play out from the back. Howson, Dijksteel and Lumley are the worst offenders when it comes to playing a team mate into trouble. McNair and Fry are more likely to lump it but that, of course, negates the whole point of playing from the back. Where we seem to fall down is not providing easy outs for the player with the ball. If you watch the teams that have had much more practice than us, there's always 2 players trying to provide an out and you can see that they're also drilled on where to move next. We're still learning this which is fair enough because most of them have been coached to do precisely the opposite for several seasons.
Pedro
You are right, but it's not easy to see what could have been done about the Bird volley. It came directly from a corner that was headed out to around 10 metres beyond the penalty area. Normally the defending team leaves just one man outside of the area, and the attacking team an extra additional man back to cover a quick counter-attack. This always leaves a free man from the attacking team loitering some way from goal.
On this occasion the ball was headed out 25-30 metres from the goal and immediately hammered back in before any midfielder could get out to close the spare man down.
I'd put that down as a great individual strike rather than a defensive mistake.
I agree that Chair might have been closed down quicker, particularly given his quality, but it was nevertheless an incredible strike, and had he not scored few would have wanted any kind of defensive inquest.
The goal in question was one seen many times in the Prem. But it is caused by the Keeper being careless. Our keeper was left stranded five metres off his line and slightly left of centre, and that was enough. Dead centre on his line he would have pushed it round the post. Nit picking I know, but a six foot four keeper on his line and central takes some beating
Interesting views on the final top 6 places, click on the “72” video half way down the article.
They then go on to predict the bottom 3.
Come on BORO.
Excellent analyses Len and Deleriad and supporting contributions from others.
I love that we all love what is happening at the Boro just now. Long may it continue and long may the Boro continue to progress under Wilder.
Bristol City’s most famous player was John Atyeo who scored 30 goals in the 1955/56 season. That was during their Second Division days when he also won 6 international caps for England and scored 5 goals as an inside then centre forward, rather remarkable for a playing outside the First Division as his international team mates included Tom Finney, Johnny Haynes, Nat Lofthouse, and Stanley Matthews. His international debut was in a 4-1 friendly match win against Spain, and he retained his place in a 4-2 friendly match win against Brazil, both at Wembley. The only match I can recall seeing him play was when Boro beat City 2-1 as I spent the next 18 months in Singapore, however he scored a couple of hat tricks that season for his club in a 7-4 win against Barnsley and a 4-0 win against Swansea.
Apart from playing a couple of matches for Portsmouth, he spent his entire career with the Robins despite offers from Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and AC Milan which would have broken the transfer record for an Englishman. However he stayed loyal to the Robins for 15 years and scored 351 goals in 645 matches. He died in 1993 aged only 61, and the following year City renamed one of their stands after him.
I see that the Robins have made a request to Boro supporters attending the match to support the club’s planned celebrations tomorrow.
This is a tribute to the Bristol City 8, 8 players who all tore up their contracts 40 years ago to save the club from going out of business.
The celebration will consist of a pre-match introduction and thank you to those ex-players still able to attend the match and a minutes applause on the eighth minute of the match.
I trust, and am sure, that those Boro supporters attending will join in with their full support given our history of similar circumstances. CoB 😎
@KP You are right. These ex-players are called Ashton 8. This all happened just four years before our similar broblems.
Up the Boro!
Only Fulham have scored more than the 18 goals that Bristol City have accumulated over the last 10 league matches. However during that period the Robins have conceded a massive total of 26 goals, the highest number in the Championship during the same period. That’s an average of 4.4 goals per match so perhaps we can expect a high scoring draw or away win this afternoon.
Stick or twist?
I think CW may well not change the starting line up. I think Balogun offers more chance of something unexpected and Connolly needs to have the confidence boost he has had reinforced.
Similarly who are you going to leave out to start McGree. So keep it the same and introduce Watmore, McGree and Sporar to mix it up a bit later in the game.
I think Boro's growing self belief and never give up attitude will be too much for the Gardener's Friends. Anticipating a hard but victorious afternoon to maintain the pressure on the teams around us in the mix.
2-1 to Boro. Connolly to net his second and Jones to get one for himself for a change.
Powmill-Naemore,
I'm with you on the win but 1-3 to Boro for me and no clangers dropped...
UTB,
John
@Ken-Smith
I was about to make the same observation about the number of goals in Bristol City games - with 26 conceded in their last ten then Boro should maintain that average of conceding 3 goals per game. Although the Robins are averaging nearly two goals per game themselves, I'd say Boro's defence is one of the meanest in conceding just 6 in their last ten, so perhaps a 3-1 win would be the statistical expectation. Incidentally, Boro are top of the ten-game form table with 23 points - which is two ahead of Fulham and Sheffield Utd.
btw I've been full on again with phase three of my project so thanks to OFB for his preview and I see he's also gone for the 3-1 prediction. I'll be working right up until kick-off so will be looking forward to a break to watch hopefully another entertaining game.
Werder
If you have time to pass on a useable stream I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one to be eternally grateful. Many thanks
Team News: So it's Balogun and Connolly starting up front again with Sporar missing from the squad...
I'll have a quick look before kick-off - fingers crossed!
Thanks Werder - my stream doesn't work as I am in UK this weekend also. VPN doesn't seem to help. So any help- would be gratefully received
Fulham 1-2 Huddersfield! Not the expected result or one I wanted. Highly dubious penalty in favour of Huddersfield.
I hope this is not an indication that things will not go Boro’s way this weekend! CoB 😎
Just watched Fulham v Huddersfield and whilst Fulham passed the ball particularly well in the first half , Huddersfield gave a masterful away from home performance .
That’s 13 league games unbeaten and they’ve real contenders for the top 6 position.
Interestingly, their recruitment has been first class with most of the team being free transfers. More remarkable because last season they had to battle against relegation.
Hope there’s another masterful performance at Bristol this afternoon.
Philip from Huddersfield
Poor start by Boro and up to now some more sloppy passing. Another unnecessary booking for Crooks and I believe a two match suspension.
A poor first half where we have been sloppy both in and out of possession.
Our build up play has been pedestrian and all too often players are receiving passes with their back to goal.
Despite being continually told how poor the Bristol defence is we are making hard work of it and have not really threatened the goal or worked the keeper.
A vast improvement needed if we are to prise a point from this game, which many thought would be a comfortable win. 😎
Boro lots of possession but too casual in the last third and City scored with probably their only chance - should have done better against what has looked a poor side defensively.
Tavernier and Lumley at fault for their Goal.
Am I the only one who thinks Connolly is poor?
OFB
OFB, not sure how you can blame Lumley, what were Howson and Dijksteel doing watching.
Poor service to the forward players with the midfield not getting into the game despite the possession as the match went on. Crooks has now become ineffective after his booking. Time for McGree at HT.
Boro getting in behind their defence but poor finishing from especially Balogun. Tav’s corners rubbish.
And just as I write this Semenyo shows Boro’s front two how to finish. Too late now for Watmore to do anything.
Difference was the performance of both keepers one good one poor
OFB
A dominant performance from Boro but not quite up to it at either end where it really matters.
Disappointing but not disastrous.