Entering the Dragon's Den

With West Bromwich Albion failing to capitalise on an opportunity to gain points on Championship leaders Stoke City and the following pack yesterday with a 1-1 draw at The Valley against Charlton Athletic, this weekend could, finally see the teams at the top breakaway and push for the promised land. In a season in which sides have failed to maintain their first placed spot, Stoke City, Watford and Bristol City can begin that final haul tomorrow with games against Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City respectively.

Bristol City need to get back to winning ways soon, having not won in four games. If the incentive of West Bromwich's draw isn't enough, then a hostile derby against their Welsh rivals will only add to the intensity of the game at Ninian Park today. For those who were unsure of the hostility involved between the two clubs only needed to see the Cardiff City fans behaviour at Ashton Gate n earlier this season. An added edge is the first appearance at Ninian Park for Lee Trundle, who infamously sported an anti-Cardiff T-shirt whilst parading a less than jovial banner aimed toward the Bluebirds whilst a Swansea player. This has not been forgotten and certainly not forgiven, as the abuse Trundle was singled out for at Ashton Gate proved. This is the first time the teams have played at Ninian Park since Cardiff won a playoff semi-final 1-0 in 2003, Bristol City have, however, not lost in the league against Cardiff for 37 years.

Cardiff City, who this week were relieved to find they do not need to repay their £24 million pound debt with immediate effect currently lie in 14th place, but with two games in hand and nine points behind Plymouth Argyle in sixth place. This means that Cardiff still have plenty to play for this season, despite the deceptive league position.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Cardiff boss Dave Jones likes to operate a 4-4-2 system and play through the midfield. In goal for The Bluebirds is Peter Enckleman, on loan from Blackburn Rovers since Kasper Schmeichel returned to Manchester City. Enckleman, who despite the error he is synomonous with, is a credible shotstopper whom City will do well to beat. In defence, young right back Darcy Blake will deputise for the injured Kevin McNaughton, with Northern Ireland international Tony Capaldi at left back. In centre defence will most likely be Roger Johnson, goalscoring conquerer of Middlesborough in the FA Cup and Dutchman Glenn Loovens, a player who almost joined City a few years back. Having only conceded 1 in 4, this backline is settled and organised.

A strong midfield consists of dangerous wingers Peter Whittingham, hot off the heels of a wonderstrike against Middlesborough, and Welsh international and posterboy Joe Ledley. In the centre of midfield is former Rangers enforcer Gavin Rae, who is not akin to hostile derbies and young Aaron Ramsey, who at just 17 offers youthful exhuberance to an experienced side. Also in content for a starting spot are the former England international Trevor Sinclair and former Baggie Ricardo Scimeca.

Following Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's red card against Colchester, he begins a three game ban and will be absent for today's game. In his place will be Stephen Thompson, the player red carded at Ashton Gate for his wreckless lunge at Bristol City keeper Adriano Basso. Alongside him will be Paul Parry, the Welsh international who scored his 9th of the season last week in the 1-1 draw with Colchester.

Enckleman

Blake Johnson Loovens Capaldi

Ledley Rae Ramsey Whittingham

Thompson Parry

CITY NEWS

The talking point all week following the 2-1 loss to Plymouth Argyle was the dilemma of whether to recall striker Steve Brooker from his loan spell at Cheltenham Town after his return of 5 goals in 6 games. The resounding response resulted in Gary Johnson activating the 24 hour release clause in the loan contract and Brooker will definitely be in the squad to face Cardiff. Jamie McCombe and Lee Johnson, who both missed the Argyle game last week through injury are struggling to make the squad of 16, but Cole Skuse could return to the fold following three weeks out with injury, as could David Noble. With Johnson admitting "We weren't clever enough in the final third" what will the response be to the disappointing loss against promotion rivals Plymouth Argyle? Having played with a 4-4-2 in that game, will we continue having the extra forward to help Dele Adebola up front, or could Skuse return meaning Noble or Carle taking up the position 'in the hole'? With Brooker back, will he start or be unleashed as an impact substitution? Will Wilson keep his place on the right wing following an impressive display in the reserves - albeit on the left? Will Johnson attempt to throw Trundle to the dragon's den in an attempt to take the emphasis for the hostile Cardiff City fans away from the game and onto his broad shoulders?

Basso

Orr Carey Fontaine McCallister

Sproule Carle Elliott McIndoe

Trundle Adebola

With tensions high because of West Bromwich's result, the opposition and the time of season, Ninian Park may resemble a pressure cooker for our players today, but it is at the business end of the season that winners stand up and are counted. This is a huge game, and one that will be a close scoring game with whomever takes the pressure better, coming out on top. C'mon you reds!!!

ROSS VERBALS

South West Showdown - Plymouth Preview

Having drawn the last 3 games, Bristol City have continued their impressive unbeaten run, and still sit atop of The Championship with a mere 8 games remaining. With Stoke, Watford and West Bromwich Albion all breathing down their necks however, City need to get wins under their belt before they plateau at the wrong end of the season. Ashton Gate believes that can happen tomorrow afternoon against a Plymouth Argyle side that is undergoing a transitional period after former boss Ian Holloway's departure and Paul Sturrock's return to Home Park. Even with the disruption of the change of manager, Plymouth lie in a respectable 7th place just one point behind sixth placed Hull City. With the playoffs within their grasp Plymouth will arrive at Ashton Gate looking to beat the league leaders despite losing their last two away matches.

How They Line Up

Following the mass exodus of key players David Norris (Ipswich), Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (Wolves), Akos Buszacky (QPR) and Barry Hayles (Leicester City) in January, Paul Sturrock has looked to his native Scotland to fill the void left by their former star players. Scots Steven McClean, Gary Teale, Chris Clark and James Paterson have arrived to offer experience and commitment into an organised and disciplined side.

Having seen the only fit professional goalkeeper Luke McCormick sent off on Tuesday night and Roman Larrieu injured, Plymouth have signed Scottish international Rab Douglas on loan from Leicester, and the man who played in the 2003 Uefa Cup Final will start in goal for The Pilgrims tomorrow. In defence, Paul Connolly and James Paterson are attacking full backs and the centre defence pairing of Russell Anderson and Marcel Seip are honest and dependable. They have not kept a clean sheet in 5 games mind, so after two blanks in a week, City could unlock the Plymouth defence and test loanee Douglas in the net.

The midfield contains two of the best wingers in the league, Gary Teale and Peter Halmosi, whom is said to be attracting the attention of several Premiership teams. It is Halmosi who leads the scoring charts with 8 goals so far from the left wing. If the City full backs defend the way they did against Smith and McAnuff in midweek (minus the penalty) then they can be tamed as they were. The centre midfield pairing is likely to be former Serie A man Lilian Nalis and Chris Clark, who will offer plenty of endeavour and in Nalis, good ball retention.

In the two forward positions, Sturrock has the choice of Rory Fallon, who City fans will recall scored a stupendous overhead kick against us whilst at Swindon, Jermain Easter, whom Gary Johnson decided not to sign having met the player, so he will be looking to prove Gary wrong, former Wednesday and Cardiff man Steven Mclean and Nick Chadwick, who scored at Ashton Gate playing for Everton in the Carling Cup a few years back.

Sturrock could change formation and play 4-5-1 bringing in club captain Paul Wotton in the holding role which Williamson utilised so well for Watford on Tuesday night.

Douglas

Connolly Seip Anderson Paterson

Teale Nalis Clark Halmosi

Fallon McClean

Latest News

Krisztian Timar who so gloriously sliced the ball into his own net for us in the reverse fixture earlier in the season is suspended, which is a shame with the way our forward line are finishing recently, and fellow centre half Mathias Doumbe is still out with injury. For Bristol City Lee Johnson is a doubt after the awful challenge on him by Darius Henderson on Tuesday, and Jamie McCombe is still struggling with the hip injury that saw him miss Tuesday's tie.

City News

After a tense and tiring match against promotion rivals Watford, Gary Johnson has some difficult managerial decisions ahead, with Liam Fontaine, Ivan Sproule and Darren Byfield all pushing for recalls into the starting XI. Having failed to score again, Johnson may opt for two up top tomorrow, but with the extra man in midfield City dominate the possession in midfield and control proceedings, like in the first half against Watford. Assuming Johnson is out it will be interesting to see if he plays the 3 of Noble, Elliott and Carle or brings in Skuse in a two man midfield. After another full 90 minutes will Adebola get the help of Trundle or Byfield alongside him?

Basso

Orr Fontaine Carey McCallister

Sproule Elliott Carle McIndoe

Noble

Adebola

Trivia

This fixture saw the introduction to the Ashton Gate crowd of another God loving City player Tony Rougier who tore the place down with a monumental home debut on the right wing and City came home with the points as Rougier helped us to the playoffs.

Ross Verbals

Will The Hornets Put a Sting In The Tale?

Have you ever felt the feeling that you have been here before? Another championship decider against Watford at Ashton Gate sees the first match with make or break pressure on our players, after the two away draws at Charlton and Leicester. Needing to get back to winning ways, Bristol City face a Watford side currently lying 3rd in the table, just four points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Watford, if you recall, came to Ashton Gate during our promotion season in 1997 in a crunch game that finished 1-1 but saw the end of captain and lynchpin Shaun Taylor's campaign through injury. This time however, it is us at the summit of The Championship with nine games between us and the impossible dream. Having already beaten Watford at Vicarage Road this season Bristol City will continue their philosophy of respecting teams but not fearing them, and are hoping for another unforgettable night under the floodlights at Ashton Gate.

How They Line Up

Having performed gallantly in The Premiership on modest financial grounds, the parachute payments and sales of star players Ashley Young and Marlon King has improved the infrastructure at Vicarage Road and several summer and January signings have improved their squad. Manager Aidy Boothroyd has named an unchanged team in the past three games in a 4-4-2 formation. Richard Lee has been captaining the side between the sticks, Aidy Mariappa plays at right back, January signing Matthew Sadler at left back and the centre half pairing of Danny Shittu and Leigh Bromby completes a solid back four. All five of these players have experience in getting promotion from The Championship, with Birmingham (Sadler), Sheffield United(Bromby) and Watford(Lee, Mariappa and Shittu). This could be crucial come the seasons end. The midfield four consists of intelligent wingers Tommy Smith on the right, and critically acclaimed Jobi McAnuff on the left. In centre midfield, former Stoke captain John Eustace is alongside young John Joe O'Toole who scored the equaliser against Bristol City earlier this season. The strikeforce of Nathan 'The Duke' Ellington and Darius Henderson offers plenty of physical strength and in Ellington, a forward desperate to repay his £3.5 million price tag by scoring against his former rivals.

Lee

Mariappa Bromby Shittu Sadler

Smith Eustace O'Toole McAnuff

Ellington Henderson

Leigh Bromby offers Watford a new attacking force since his January arrival from Sheffield United - a long throw in. The match last week against Norwich made Glenn Roeder remark "It's a unique brand of football here. We tried to play the ball on the floor but when you have long throw-ins coming in every time the ball crosses the halfway line it's difficult." With this direct play and the heading abilities of Henderson and the striking prowess of Ellington we can expect a stop-start game tomorrow night with plenty of attacking throw ins. Do not rule out Watford as one trick ponies however, with the pace of McAnuff and Smith out wide they will offer counter attacks at pace if City lose posession in Watford's half.

The last 6 away matches Watford have played has seen them come away with 9 points with two wins, three draws and a loss. Although The Hornets are unbeaten in eight games, they have drawn the last four, showing that they can fail to finish teams off. After the Norwich game manager Aidy Boothroyd said "I'll go home and shout into my pillow - I'm as cross as the fans.
We allowed Norwich to come back into it. We are not taking our chances and we didn't defend properly. We should be finishing those chances."

Top scorer is Darius Henderson with 12 goals, and behind him is Nigerian international centre back Danny Shittu with 9. This shows the importance of set pieces in tomorrow night's match as both sides are deadly from set pieces - including Leigh Bromby's long throw in.

City News

Following the unbelievable 0-0 draw at Leicester, Bristol City will be anxious to get playing at Ashton Gate again, where the wind and pitch will not affect the game, but Gary Johnson has some important managerial decisions to make. At Leicester we played a 4-4-2 which allowed us to play with two lines of four against the onslaught of Leicester, and with Watford similar to Leicester in direct play with pacy wingers will Johnson start with the same side? Or will Byfield be dropped to accomodate the improved performance of Sproule and Carle playing back in the hole utilising a 4-5-1? With no new injury worries or suspensions, changes made will be tactical, with a possible change being Bradley Orr returning from suspension at right back to deal with Jobi McAnuff. This however, would be harsh on Brian Wilson who has played well in the Liverpudlian's place.

I expect to see a tense game of football with both sides showing desire and endeavour. If Bristol City defend well, we can come away with the three points, if we defend poorly and offer Watford the opportunities Leicester had, we will be in for an uphill struggle. I will be delighted with a 2-1 win similar to the match at Vicarage Road, but we will need a partisan positive crowd and the players to play without the pressures of being at the summit of The Championship. C'mon you Reds!!!

Ross Verbals

Thanking Our Lucky Scarves

Leicester City 0 - 0 Bristol City
08/03/2008

I left my house in Birmingham, setting off for the bus stop that would get us to the train station when something inside me panicked and I bellowed to my friend Shafi, "My lucky scarf, I haven't got my lucky scarf!" "Did you wear it at QPR?"Shafi, reasonably asked after the 3-0 drubbing. "No" was the reasonable reply. "OK, go, go get the scarf!!!"A short sprint followed and I emerged in Shafi's eye view wielding the scarf like Morrissey would gladioli. If ever a match proved that the red and white Bristol City scarf holds some sway, this was it.
In a match that simply did not warrant a 0-0 draw, Bristol City escaped the East Midlands one point richer and still at the top of The Championship.Starting with a 4-4-2, Gary Johnson elected to start with:

Basso
Wilson McCombe Fontaine McCallister
Carle Johnson Elliott McIndoe
Byfield Adebola


It was clear from the very first minute that Ian Holloway's Leicester side were instructed to be "up and at them from the get go" with the wind with them and the direct straight balls for Howard, which were controlled and laid off by the big man for pacy wingers Hume and Etuhu. Diagonal direct balls were collected by Campbell, whose pace troubled our high defensive back line every time. To be fair to City's defence they dealt with the attacking prowess with tenacity, but at times they were cut open too easily. Basso was strugling to kick sufficently with the gusting wind against him, his kicks barely reached the half way line. With the midfield bypassed because of Leicester's direct play Johnson became a bystander because with the pitch in the state it was, City attempted to play the ball on the floor and were caught out, losing possession by hard working Leicester, sometimes in the most critical of areas.

With Leicester creating, but crucially missing a hatful of chances it was City who almost took the lead with both Carle and McIndoe coming close. The first half though, must be replaying in Iain Hume's head and wondering how he couldn't score one of his numerous chances. The Leicester top scorer was unusually wasteful, his final effort of the half was parried by Basso into the onrushing Kelvin Etuhu, who again missed the target. So scarf, so good.

Half-time o-o

The second half saw Sproule rapidly introduced on the right wing for the out of position Carle. City played the best football they had all game culminating in a one-two with strikers Byfield and Adebola, Byfield then flicked the ball through to Elliott, whose somewhat scuffed effort beat the keeper, but not the post, and ater an awkward moment where Kisnorbo almost chested the ball into his own net the Leicester goalie claimed the ball safely in his grasp. The improved second half performance was equal to Leicester's but not better, as they had chances aplenty in the second half aswell, but Basso was equal to awkward low grasscutters and top corner strikes alike.

Brian Wilson, who has filled in professionally for Bradley Orr at right back, went on a marauding run from his own half and hit a swirling shot from all of 35 yards which hit the underside of the bar and bounced out. With time running out, we could sense an undeserved victory, and the introduction of Trundle was met with cheers from the away following. A frenetic finish saw Sproule breakaway following good hold up play by Adebola and he outpaced Clapham, who I thought was going to bring him down for a penalty, but Sproule got away and hit a powerful shot which Henderson almost dropped into his own net and out for a corner. A wasteful corner saw Leicester attack and almost score as Howard hit a goalbound effort but the inspired Basso palmed the shot away and City came home with a point. I love my scarf.

Player Ratings

Basso - 10/10 Single-handedly ensured we came home with an undeserved point.

Wilson - 6/10 Battled against pacy wingers, great run and shot

McCombe - 6/10 Howard held him off with ease in the first half, improved second half

Fontaine 7/10 Played well, made some important blocks and swept up behind McCallister on countless occasions

McCallister - 5/10 Struggled with Etuhu's pace and the direct diagonal balls targeted at him.

Carle - 5/10 Worked hard defensively, but out of position and did not dictate the game like he can in behind the strikers

Elliott - 7/10 Battled all game typified by his 30 yard sprint to slide Hendrie and come away with the ball. Unlucky with his shot.

Johnson - 5/10 Not a game for Johnson this, was bypassed and could not gain possession of the ball which he needs.

McIndoe - 6/10 When going forward in the first half, he was key but not his best game.

Byfield - 6/10 Ran his socks off and was central to a lot of the good work by City.

Adebola - 5/10 Could not shake off the attentions of Bruno N'Gotty, seems to be more effective at home

Sproule - 6/10 Added a different threat and gave us impetus for brief periods. Much improved from recent weeks

Trundle - 6/10 Showed his quality on the ball out wide but not centrally, lack of pace showed because of this

Vasko - N/A Came on to add a ball winner in both areas

Somehow, we have rode our luck this season and this epitomised it. Do not rule out the importance of our hard work and determination however. Elliott is central to this and with Byfield in particular we defended with pressure from the front. A point gained, we need to come away with home wins now following good away results.

All aboard the Walkers Bowl

Leicester City vs Bristol City

Match Preview


After a credible 1-1 draw at The Valley on Tuesday, the Reds head to Leicester's Walkers Stadium for a crunch tie against long time nemesis Ian Holloway and his Leicester side. With Leicester City's inconsistent form still not pulling them out of a relegation dog fight, and Bristol City currently clinging onto 1st place, the 3 points are vital to both sides for different reasons. Leicester City's unexpected win at Ninian Park against Cardiff last week was followed by a disappointing stoppage time loss at home to fellow Championship strugglers Preston North End. This inconsistency is their downfall, and their supporters are demanding more from Holloway's men who could be the first team to do the double over Bristol City this season. The expectancy of the home crowd has overawed the players at times this season, although since Holloway has taken charge 4 out of 9 games have been won at home. Currently struggling in 19th place, just 4 points ahead of the relegation zone, The Foxes will need points on the board urgently. Bristol City go into the game in first place, knowing that the sides in and around them are all looking to knock them off top spot. A win at the Walkers Stadium will keep them at least 3 points clear with just nine games remaining.


How They Line Up

In goal is Paul Henderson, following the end of Martin Fulop's loan spell from Sunderland. A back four of Stearman, N'Gotty, Kisnorbo and Clapham offers experience and physicallity. The midfield will be missing influential captain Stephen Clemence through injury, so it will probably be the electric pace of new loan signing Etuhu and Iain Hume on the wings with former Premiership starlets Lee Hendrie and Matt Oakley in the middle of the park. Holloway has a choice of the targetman Steve Howard, ex GasHead Barry Hayles, or the youth of Matty Fryatt and DJ Campbell up front. Like Bristol City, Leicester struggle to score goals, and Iain Hume, who top scores with 8 so far, is widely used as a winger, and despite a wealth of options up front none have scored for fun.

City News

Bradley Orr, who was due to return to action following a two game suspension was surprisingly given an extra games ban because of foul and abusive language towards an official, meaning he misses the tie tomorrow with Brian Wilson keeping his slot at right back. Louis Carey finished a half in the reserves this week, giving Gary Johnson a potential selection headache. With Leicester City's pitch resembling that of a sandpit I can see Leicester playing direct football, using Howard as a target, so McCombe is likely to start. Jamie McCallister took a heavy tackle on Tuesday night, but is expected to be fit, but if he doesn't make it then makeshift full back Liam Fontaine will fill in with Vasko or Carey taking his place at centre half. Ivan Sproule looks in need of a rest, and all the whispers are of a return to the starting line up for Scotty Murray, or as in Tuesday Night, Carle playing right wing and playing 4-4-2 with Byfield or 4-5-1 with Noble.


Likely Line Up

Basso

Wilson McCombe Fontaine McCallister

Murray Johnson Elliott McIndoe

Carle

Adebola

Latest News

Holloway has predicted Leicester City's last 10 games of the season to be their most successful so far, beginning with the game against his old nemesis, Bristol City boss Gary Johnson on the other hand speaks of a cautionary tale saying, "We've got to be aware that they've got a lot of stars in their team that have played at the highest level for a long time. If they hit a bit of form then we won't know what's hit us." This match is hard to call, as Johnson has said Leicester possess quality in key areas, and in form teams like ourselves have come away with nothing but a hiding at the Walkers Stadium - see Norwich going down 4-0 a few weeks ago on the back of a 13 game unbeaten run. Both teams are solid at the back but struggle to score goals, so a low scoring game would be the smart bet. A performance that will earn all 3 points for the Reds will need to be high octane, organised and professional. I am predicting a reverse of the score at Ashton Gate this season and a 2-0 win to Gary Johnson's barmy army. C'mon the reds!!!

Trivia

In the last three games against Leicester, we have lost 3-0, 1-0 and 2-0. What do we have to do to score around these parts? In their last 6 home games The Foxes have only conceded 3 goals, meaning we need to break down one of the meanest defences in the league... here's to you Boom Boom McCombe!!!



Ross Verbals

Charlton at The Valley

Charlton Athletic vs Bristol City
Match Preview

Alan Pardew's Charlton Athletic host Bristol City this evening in what is a huge six pointer for both sides. With genuine hopes of an automatic promotion themselves, Charlton will seek to be the first team to do the double over Bristol City this season with a win at The Valley. Having been on the wrong end of a bizarre 5-3 hiding at Blackpool a fortnight ago, The Addicks responded by pulling out a great away perfomance in the 2-0 win against Sheffield United. Currently lying in fifth, Charlton are seven points adrift of Stoke City in second place, so winning this game will be seen as crucial.

HOW THEY LINE UP

They operated in a 4-5-1 versus Sheffield United, with experienced Nicky Weaver in goal, on-loan right back Greg Halford, who was recently criticised by Pardew after the below par performance against Blackpool, and on the left hand side of defence is Kelly Youga, whom City had on loan two seasons back, but has improved since then. The centre halves will be McCarthy and Sam Sodje, who some will remember from his Brentford days.

Although, they played with 5 in midfield last week, it seems Pardew fancies a 4-4-2 formation against City, with Darren Ambrose on thr right, Jerome Thomas on the left and Zheng Zhi and Matty Holland completing a very experienced midfield, a midfield in fact that was utilised in the Premier League.

Up front is the bustling Chris Iwelumo, who scored the late winner at Ashton Gate, and the intelligent Varney will offer a different threat.

LATEST NEWS

Charlton players Scott Sinclair, Ben Thatcher and Lee Cook all completed a reserve game this week and will be pushing for a place in the starting line up. Algerian international Madjid Bougherra is out with a knee injury. It is rumoured Sinclair could be handed his full debut, so Brian Wilson will face a different challenge than that of Pedersen at the weekend.

CITY NEWS


A delighted Gary Johnson will surely name an unchanged starting eleven. If a 4-4-2 is Pardew's preferred formation Nicky Carle should have space to link the midfield with Adebola. Wilson, who stood in for Bradley Orr against Hull magnificently faces the threat of Jerome Thomas or Scott Sinclair, and the battle of Iwelumo and McCombe could prove crucial. Charlton will be a threat with direct set pieces, including Greg Halford's long throw ins, so Basso's decision making needs to be spot on. Johnson was quoted today as saying he wants Murray to be involved in the 16, a sign of Sproule's recent inconsistency.


LIKELY LINE UP


Basso

Wilson McCombe Fontaine McCallister

Sproule Elliott Johnson McIndoe

Carle

Adebola


I am hoping for a point in this tricky tie. As with many away games this season, City will look to soak up early pressure and gradually take hold of posession. Charlton have let out a battle cry of this being a must win game, and that brings pressure, if City stand firm we can come away from the Valley with an away point. However, an early goal could set the tone for another away day horror show. A 1-1 draw with another Adebola strike would be fantastic. C'mon the reds!!!


TRIVIA


If Youga does play for Charlton Athletic this evening it will be the first time he has played against us since Scunthorpe United lost 2-1 at Ashton Gate in the early part of this season. Perhaps Lee Trundle could pull his magic daps out of his boot bag at The Valley tonight and produce another glorious winner like he did in that tie?

Ross Verbals

Boom, Boom! We are top of the league

Bristol City 2 - 1 Hull City

Bristol City clinched top spot after defeating Hull City in a pulsating encounter yesterday. A crowd of 15,859 witnessed the match which boss Gary Johnson described "The match in which the crowd started to believe." With 11 games remaining this season, Bristol City are in pole position to gain back-to-back promotions and claim a spot in the lucrative Barclaycard Premier League.

Louis Carey was ruled out for the match, as his injured foot had not healed sufficently, so Brian Wilson stepped into the right back spot due to Carey's injury and Bradley Orr's suspension. For Hull, new loanee Neil Clement was drafted into an unfamiliar centre back role because of Michael Turner's suspension.

The players ran out, greeted by the now custom firework display, and an atmosphere so riled roared Bristol City onto the pitch willing them on to what was to be a memorable victory. The players had to deal with difficult conditions, as a blustering wind swept through Ashton Gate, with the ball holding up and racing through causing all sorts of mishaps in the process.

Hull should have been in front within one minute as a swift passing move started by Caleb Folan, culminated in Henrik Pedersen finding the leggy forward in the box only for the striker to slip and miscue his shot wide. With the wind causing problems for all players, Neil Clement making his debut was clearly struggling to read the flight of the ball, losing in the air to Adebola on countless occasions.

It was Clement's indecision that lead to the opening goal on 14 minutes, a hopeful lofted pass from Fontaine towards Adebola held and swerved in the wind and the new signing allowed Adebola the time to take the ball on his chest and emphatically volley the ball past Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal.

Despite going behind Hull continued to press forward, and only poor finishing let them down, with Richard Garcia and Dean Marney both guilty of wild shooting. When the efforts were on target, Adriano Basso, recently voted the best goalkeeper in The Football League by Four Four Two Magazine, stood firm in the Bristol City goal. Not only did Basso save shots, but he did not fumble any efforts with Campbell lurking.

With the half drawing to a close, another purposeful Hull attack culminated in Tigers' captain Ian Ashbee 8 yards out, only to slip on the ball, but somehow he was allowed the time to pick himself up, force the ball wide and cross across goal. With Fontaine scrambling back towards the goal-line, he was helpless to see the ball strike his hip and drop into the corner of the net. Hull had equalised on the stroke of half time. Gary Johnson needed to inspire his players at half-time, after that body blow.

Half - time Bristol City 1 -1 Hull City

Inspiring he was, as a Lee Johnson straight lofted free-kick landing on the penalty spot, so often effective this season, caused panic in the area and as the ball looped into the air Boom Boom Jamie McCombe produced a beautiful bicycle kick which Boaz Myhill could only watch and admire as it looped into the top left hand corner. Ashton Gate erupted, and the dream was still alive.

Hull City introduced Jay-Jay Okocha and pushed Henrik Pedersen up-front and became more direct with their attacking play. Throw-ins became corners as Okocha's almighty throws were aimed for the head of Pedersen reminicent of Allardyce era Bolton Wanderers. Still, the City defence would not cave in, with McCombe winning aerial battles and Fontaine managing to stay with the pacy Frazier Campbell. With just two minutes remaining, sloppy control from Fontaine allowed Folan to run into the area, and square the ball across the onrushing Adriano Basso and into the path of Frazier Campbell, who somehow, with the goal at his mercy, hit the foot of the post with his drive, and as McCombe's miscued clearnce fell to Pedersen, his shot struck the side-netting.

Perhaps God has noticed all of Adriano's praying and we are encountering some divine intervention. The ecstatic fans and players alike celebrated the final whistle fully aware the three points are huge in the context of this seasons run in. Exhausted and elated, I had been truly entertained by both sides, in a match I shall not soon forget.

PLAYER RATINGS

BASSO - Did well with handling shots and crosses, no fumbles or mistakes. 8/10

WILSON - Deputised for Orr and was solid, keeping Pedersen wide 8/10

FONTAINE - Didn't let Campbell breathe, tackled well and swept up, unlucky oggie 8/10

MCCOMBE - Goal to die for and was monumental at the back 9/10

MCCALLISTER - Solid at the back, sniffed out Garcia, harshly booked 8/10

SPROULE - Didnt really get in the game, one great surging run lifted us though 7/10

JOHNSON - Not at his usual standard first half, much improved second half 8/10

ELLIOTT - Back to his bustling best, challenging for every lost cause 8/10

CARLE - Worked incredibly hard, strong on the ball and found space between midfield and defence 8/10

MCINDOE - Another full throttle performance, a great outlet to the team 8/10

ADEBOLA - Absolutely bossed Hull's defence, dominant strong and effective 9/10

Ross Verbals