by CountryRoyal »
03 Jan 2017 11:01
At 60 minutes in and 2-0 down after our umpteenth failure to pick out a final ball, or our lack of willing to do anything other than pass it side to side, I was really questioning my decision do to dry January (taking a day off for United away obvs), but that come back was brilliant. De ja vu of 11/12 when we did the same against them and Manset got the winner, I was at Uni at the time and so couldn't go but to anyone that went to both - what was more scenes at the end? This or that?
It's easy to get overawed with a win of that nature but had we lost that we would have had no one else to blame but ourselves. We started brightly but tapered off and never really clicked. The play was too slow and disjointed, in contrast I thought City (finishing aside) looked decent, quicker and hungrier getting to the ball and dangerous coming forward. I think they were allowed to grow into the game by an incompetent set of officials who were reluctant to blow for anything meaning Bristol could press us with more physicality which certainly gave them confidence and hampered us. How the ref took 60 odd minutes to give a yellow was comical and was met with an appropriately loud sarcastic cheer.
That being said for all of our mediocrity we weren't threatened that much but we had a few shaky moments at the back and so it was of no surprise to anyone how we conceded. Messing about with the ball in our corner, Gunter passes it back to Al-Habsi, and whilst under pressure he might have had time to take a touch, but his first time miss kick clearance went low and hard towards McShane who couldn't quite readjust his feet to gather the ball. Consequently their player had space to run into take a pot shot - which again should have been dealt with better than Al-Habsi, and the rebound was put in by the very impressive Abraham. At that point thought I felt we could still get something out of the game which was reaffirmed when we hit the crossbar at the end of the first half. We started the second with so little urgency though and while it was a silly challenge I thought the penalty was soft, it certainly looked it from the away end anyway. 2-0 down and for anyone that has watched us recently = game over.
What followed was so frustrating and reminiscent of the latter stages of Adkins, there was no urgency, indecision and, sideways passing. Bristol defended well for the most part but its easy to when you sit back and have everyone behind the ball, still made it easy for them with our lack of movement and static play. Then came the substitution and on came MOTM Kelly. Was quick, nimble, hungry, upped the tempo, looked to get in behind and was ultimately the difference today. Got the first goal which kick started our come back and was a neat little finish across goal. Has to be said felt Fielding should have done a lot better for all of the goals but I'm not complaining. I'd be rightly pissed off if I was a Bristol City fan, they sat back and shut up shop far too early.
Ratings
Al-Habsi 3 - Untested with the shots that went straight at him and were comfortable, almost cost us the game with poor handling and distribution under pressure. For our style of play, long term, we need a better option. He's fine for now as the team is learning, but its paramount our keeper is better with the ball.
Gunter 5 - Showed willingness but was very poor going forward.
McShane 6 - Him and Gunter both guilty of pissing it about at the back too much, made some important challenges though.
Moore 7 - Not his best game but still our most solid defender, didn't take so many chances playing out of defence today, a lot more hoofs but for the most part were necessary.
Blackett 6 - Thought he did ok, and surprisingly decent going forward. Think it was his challenge for the penalty but it did look soft.
Swift 6 - A lot of endeavour but it very much looked like he has been out for a while. Needs to get back some match sharpness.
VDB 6 - Gave the ball away cheaply at times but he wasn't alone in that regard. Was often an outlet in the attacking third but didn't have the ability to pick out a killer pass, slowed the play down too much, felt Evans would have been a better option.
Williams 7 - Thought he was our best midfielder. A lot of energy and while not everything came off and there were some misplaced passes his tempo and the pace he plays at was crucial in the latter stages of the game.
McCleary 5 - One good run at the start of the game but if I'm being honest felt it was his poorest game of the season, just wasn't his day.
Beerens 6 - Felt he was marginally more effective than the above.
Kermorgant 8 - Played well throughout but didn't have a lot of opportunities. Hit the bar in the first half with a good header, got the equaliser and then the winner. Good feet and always looked to play people in and get attacks going.
Subs
Obita 6 - More attacking, got a couple decent balls in but was nothing overly special. Prefer him going forward than Blackett though.
Meite 6 - Looked lively when he came on. WE'VE GOT MEITEEEEEE
Kelly 9 - MOTM. One of the most impressive cameos I've seen in a while. Took the game by the scruff of the neck and was the reason we got anything out of the game at all. Brilliant performance from the lad.
Absolutely mental scenes at the end down the front and it was great to see how much it meant to the team walking off. Bit of banter towards LJ and City players but dissapointed to hear one guy repeatedly calling Abraham "a black pcunt". Didn't really think it was necessary tbh.. Not east because it's not even like he was a dick, he played well and I felt sorry for him that the rest of his team oxf*rd it up.
Liked our reply to "2-nil on your big day out". "3-2 on our big day out, 3-2 on our big day out". Anyway great day in the end its nice to finally get a come back win.
Going back to work tomorrow suddenly doesn't seem so bad.....
Thanks for all the reports.
