Bristol City right back Bradley Orr claimed last night's clash against Birmingham City was a must win tie, with both sides unbeaten and Birmingham already four points clear of The Reds he stated they "Simply couldn't allow Birmingham to go seven points clear already." Unfortunately for Bradley and the rest of his teammates, a poor first half performance meant Birmingham City did stretch their lead over last year's play-off finalists, beating Gary Johnson's side 2-1 at Ashton Gate.
A near capacity 18,456 fans enjoyed a game that thanks to a spirited second half wasn't a walk in the park for Alex McLeish's Birmingham City side. However, the first half was something of a horror show for Bristol City, beginning in the eighth minute when Bradley Orr needlessly brought down Gary McSheffrey on the left hand touchline. The resulting free-kick saw Swedish international Sebastian Larsson beautifully flight his cross into the crowded Bristol City penalty area with whip and pace. Louis Carey's skimmed header flew across Adriano Basso in the City goal and into the corner of the net. Ashton Gate was silenced, as the travelling support celebrated going a goal up.
With Bristol City's usual short, crisp passing and moving of the midfield apparently moribund, the system was switched to a 4-5-1 with plan A being get the ball to dangerman Dele Adebola. His strength and aerial prowess was working as he won free-kick after free-kick and flick-on after flick on. The change in tactic did, however, mean that the midfielders were being bypassed and therefore felt short of confidence when in possession of the ball. The case in point was most apparent when Cole Skuse, a ball playing centre midfielder inexplicably gave possession away in his own half. James McFadden gathered the ball and ran from right to left, where left back David Murphy had made himself available. The pass was made and as Murphy looked up he saw a through ball was on and immediately laid in Cameron Jerome whose first touch got the ball out of his feet and his second hit the ball hard and sweet through the legs of the onrushing Adriano Basso to mak it 2-0. Just twenty four minutes were on the clock and the match was in danger of becoming out of Bristol City's reach.
The attacking play got more and more desperate with hopeful long balls hit in the direction of Adebola causing the only damage to the back line, if only in terms of winning Bristol City free-kicks. Of these free kicks, Lee Johnson came closest as a deflection took his low drive just past the post for a corner.
Alex McLeish had got his tactics spot on. Despite having a plethora of attacking talent in his squad, the back line were organised and solid, Maik Taylor was commanding and confident in goal and the centre midfield pairing of Agustien and Carsley had eyes only for defensive duties, marking the potentially dangerous pair of Williams and Johnson out of the game with their hard work and superior physicality. Too often were the Bristol City midfield outfought of possession. This solid base allowed the front four of wingers Gary McSheffery and Sebastian Larsson, and forwards Cameron Jerome and James McFadden to counter attack at pace which looked goal threatening every single time.
In contrast, Bristol City were struggling to play their passing game, and were playing record signing Nicky Maynard on the left hoping for the pacy ex-Crewe man to see more of the ball. To make matters worse Adriano Basso had to leave the field due to a calf injury, being replaced in goal by Chris Weale.
As the half time whistle was blown, something magical happened. Despite the poor performance and the disappointing score-line the players trudging off into the tunnel at the Atyeo end were not greeted with an angry mob and boos and whistles, but a defiant chant of " We always believe... we always believe! We're Bristol City, we always believe!"
That chant and a probable rollicking from Gary Johnson gave the side a belief, because the difference between the first and second half was startling. The midfielders were more committed in attacking the ball, and did not seem frightened when in possession. The Birmingham players were beginning to show signs of nerves as the atmosphere in Ashton Gate grew louder and louder. James McFadden who was excellent throughout, almost ruined the atmosphere with another run from right to left, this time taking the shot on himself and only just seeing his effort go wide.
Gary Johnson brought on Ivan Sproule to replace Gavin Williams and reverted to a 4-4-2 with Sproule on the right, McIndoe on the left and Maynard returning to his forward position. The pace and energy of Sproule was immediate. His runs were troubling his opposing full back and former Hibernian team-mate David Murphy, and importantly seemed to shift Bristol City as a team up a gear. He was an inspiration and the fans grew louder and louder in supporting their team, sensing the improbable.
Bradley Orr made Maik Taylor work in the Birmingham goal with a left footed curling effort, and a great ball in from Sproule saw Adebola felled in the box only for Skuse to charge in and skew his shot high and wide with a complete lack of composure. With the atmosphere still bubbling, Gary Johnson made a bold substitution as right back Bradley Orr was replaced by 'magic daps' himself, Lee Trundle. An attacking 3-4-1-2 was employed with Trundle just behind the front two and the waves of Bristol City attacks kept coming.
A quick Lee Johnson free-kick was brilliantly flicked on by Maynard but Adebola was just too slow in reacting with his slide at the back post as he failed to connect with the ball. Another set-piece was pulled back to McIndoe, whose shot was blocked and fell out to Sproule on the right and he delivered a threatening ball into the area. A resulting goalmouth scramble saw Adebola's effort hit the outside of the post and go wide.
Birmingham, sensing the opportunity of a counter attack brought on the pacy pair of Quincy and Marcus Bent, but it was Bristol City who got the next goal. A back pass to Maik Taylor was chased down by Maynard and as the clearance did not reach the Bristol City half, Carsley battled Skuse for the ball. Skuse won the battle and the ball slipped out underneath their bodies and Trundle saw the opportunity to hit for goal. From all of 40 yards his first time left footed strike swerved from left to right and with one bounce nestled into the corner of the net. Ashton Gate exploded, knowing City had 11 minutes still to find their equalising goal.
To their credit, Birmingham City came closest to scoring in those resulting 11 minutes as Quincy forced a great save from Weale with a curling effort and Bent also hit just wide when well placed. City were unable to spread the ball and were resorting to straight long balls which Martin Taylor and Liam Ridgewell did a great job of defending, and the knock downs then resulted in Birmingham City attacks. As the final whistle blew both sets of supporters applauded their respective teams but it was clear who the happier manager was.
"We played really well in the first half, but gave ourselves problems in the second by giving the ball away. Overall, however, I am thrilled with the lads" a chuffed Alex McLeish said of his players.
Gary Johnson on the other hand was not impressed with the attacking of his Bristol City side, "Where it matters in both penalty areas we were second, they had two good finishes - even our finish was 45 yards out - it wasn't in the penalty area and we've got to do quite a bit of work."
BRISTOL CITY ARCHIVE OF THE WEEK:
Bristol City face Everton, featuring the now Birmingham City pair of Lee Carsley and James McFadden in the Carling Cup, back in 2005. Enjoy Duncan Ferguson, Luke Wilkshire, Leroy Lita and of course Christian Roberts in all their glory.
A near capacity 18,456 fans enjoyed a game that thanks to a spirited second half wasn't a walk in the park for Alex McLeish's Birmingham City side. However, the first half was something of a horror show for Bristol City, beginning in the eighth minute when Bradley Orr needlessly brought down Gary McSheffrey on the left hand touchline. The resulting free-kick saw Swedish international Sebastian Larsson beautifully flight his cross into the crowded Bristol City penalty area with whip and pace. Louis Carey's skimmed header flew across Adriano Basso in the City goal and into the corner of the net. Ashton Gate was silenced, as the travelling support celebrated going a goal up.
With Bristol City's usual short, crisp passing and moving of the midfield apparently moribund, the system was switched to a 4-5-1 with plan A being get the ball to dangerman Dele Adebola. His strength and aerial prowess was working as he won free-kick after free-kick and flick-on after flick on. The change in tactic did, however, mean that the midfielders were being bypassed and therefore felt short of confidence when in possession of the ball. The case in point was most apparent when Cole Skuse, a ball playing centre midfielder inexplicably gave possession away in his own half. James McFadden gathered the ball and ran from right to left, where left back David Murphy had made himself available. The pass was made and as Murphy looked up he saw a through ball was on and immediately laid in Cameron Jerome whose first touch got the ball out of his feet and his second hit the ball hard and sweet through the legs of the onrushing Adriano Basso to mak it 2-0. Just twenty four minutes were on the clock and the match was in danger of becoming out of Bristol City's reach.
The attacking play got more and more desperate with hopeful long balls hit in the direction of Adebola causing the only damage to the back line, if only in terms of winning Bristol City free-kicks. Of these free kicks, Lee Johnson came closest as a deflection took his low drive just past the post for a corner.
Alex McLeish had got his tactics spot on. Despite having a plethora of attacking talent in his squad, the back line were organised and solid, Maik Taylor was commanding and confident in goal and the centre midfield pairing of Agustien and Carsley had eyes only for defensive duties, marking the potentially dangerous pair of Williams and Johnson out of the game with their hard work and superior physicality. Too often were the Bristol City midfield outfought of possession. This solid base allowed the front four of wingers Gary McSheffery and Sebastian Larsson, and forwards Cameron Jerome and James McFadden to counter attack at pace which looked goal threatening every single time.
In contrast, Bristol City were struggling to play their passing game, and were playing record signing Nicky Maynard on the left hoping for the pacy ex-Crewe man to see more of the ball. To make matters worse Adriano Basso had to leave the field due to a calf injury, being replaced in goal by Chris Weale.
As the half time whistle was blown, something magical happened. Despite the poor performance and the disappointing score-line the players trudging off into the tunnel at the Atyeo end were not greeted with an angry mob and boos and whistles, but a defiant chant of " We always believe... we always believe! We're Bristol City, we always believe!"
That chant and a probable rollicking from Gary Johnson gave the side a belief, because the difference between the first and second half was startling. The midfielders were more committed in attacking the ball, and did not seem frightened when in possession. The Birmingham players were beginning to show signs of nerves as the atmosphere in Ashton Gate grew louder and louder. James McFadden who was excellent throughout, almost ruined the atmosphere with another run from right to left, this time taking the shot on himself and only just seeing his effort go wide.
Gary Johnson brought on Ivan Sproule to replace Gavin Williams and reverted to a 4-4-2 with Sproule on the right, McIndoe on the left and Maynard returning to his forward position. The pace and energy of Sproule was immediate. His runs were troubling his opposing full back and former Hibernian team-mate David Murphy, and importantly seemed to shift Bristol City as a team up a gear. He was an inspiration and the fans grew louder and louder in supporting their team, sensing the improbable.
Bradley Orr made Maik Taylor work in the Birmingham goal with a left footed curling effort, and a great ball in from Sproule saw Adebola felled in the box only for Skuse to charge in and skew his shot high and wide with a complete lack of composure. With the atmosphere still bubbling, Gary Johnson made a bold substitution as right back Bradley Orr was replaced by 'magic daps' himself, Lee Trundle. An attacking 3-4-1-2 was employed with Trundle just behind the front two and the waves of Bristol City attacks kept coming.
A quick Lee Johnson free-kick was brilliantly flicked on by Maynard but Adebola was just too slow in reacting with his slide at the back post as he failed to connect with the ball. Another set-piece was pulled back to McIndoe, whose shot was blocked and fell out to Sproule on the right and he delivered a threatening ball into the area. A resulting goalmouth scramble saw Adebola's effort hit the outside of the post and go wide.
Birmingham, sensing the opportunity of a counter attack brought on the pacy pair of Quincy and Marcus Bent, but it was Bristol City who got the next goal. A back pass to Maik Taylor was chased down by Maynard and as the clearance did not reach the Bristol City half, Carsley battled Skuse for the ball. Skuse won the battle and the ball slipped out underneath their bodies and Trundle saw the opportunity to hit for goal. From all of 40 yards his first time left footed strike swerved from left to right and with one bounce nestled into the corner of the net. Ashton Gate exploded, knowing City had 11 minutes still to find their equalising goal.
To their credit, Birmingham City came closest to scoring in those resulting 11 minutes as Quincy forced a great save from Weale with a curling effort and Bent also hit just wide when well placed. City were unable to spread the ball and were resorting to straight long balls which Martin Taylor and Liam Ridgewell did a great job of defending, and the knock downs then resulted in Birmingham City attacks. As the final whistle blew both sets of supporters applauded their respective teams but it was clear who the happier manager was.
"We played really well in the first half, but gave ourselves problems in the second by giving the ball away. Overall, however, I am thrilled with the lads" a chuffed Alex McLeish said of his players.
Gary Johnson on the other hand was not impressed with the attacking of his Bristol City side, "Where it matters in both penalty areas we were second, they had two good finishes - even our finish was 45 yards out - it wasn't in the penalty area and we've got to do quite a bit of work."
BRISTOL CITY ARCHIVE OF THE WEEK:
Bristol City face Everton, featuring the now Birmingham City pair of Lee Carsley and James McFadden in the Carling Cup, back in 2005. Enjoy Duncan Ferguson, Luke Wilkshire, Leroy Lita and of course Christian Roberts in all their glory.
Ross Verbals
