City rediscover their attacking flair to revive play-off hopes
Talking points from Bristol City’s victory at Middlesbrough, by Gregor MacGregor
SUDDENLY, the season springs back into life. Admittedly, it’s very unlikely Bristol City can finish in the top six - but City remain just three points off the nearly men.
The improved outlook comes courtesy of a great display on the road up at Middlesbrough, with back-to-back wins registered for the first time since the first day of February.
The Robins were good on Saturday. Very good. It had been some time that they mustered six shots on target (Fulham at home the previous occasion) and they returned to some exciting attacking that we haven’t seen of late. They did this against a Neil Warnock side, too, to make things even sweeter. The candidacy of Dean Holden for the permanent head coach’s position at Ashton Gate grows. Our City writer Gregor delves into why City are now back in within a shout of making th eplay-offs.
CITY ATTACKING SPARK IGNITED
AGAINST Hull in midweek, the Robins hit more than one goal for the first time in 11 games. Now, for the first time since December 29, they did it in consecutive games.
There were plenty of chances for the Robins to hit the net in this one, and Nahki Wells may have thought he could have done better with a gilt-edged chance missed seconds before half-time as Famara Diedhiou cushioned the ball to him following a corner.
Diedhiou, too, had several sightings of goal, and, importantly, it was fun to watch City again - none of the stodgy football of recent times under the former head coach, with the Bristol City board’s decision to change the man at the helm vindicated game by game.
“The three goals we scored are all top-drawer goals in their own right. We created chance after chance so all in all, it was a really pleasing performance,” said Holden.
TRIO OF ATTACKERS LOOK GOOD
THERE was a lovely balance to the City side on Saturday - something that often worried us with Lee Johnson’s team selections. The best sides have the man for every occasion and are able to deal with everything. And in Andi Weimann, Famara Diedhiou and Nahki Wells, City have the three men they need in attack, with all complementing each other. Diedhiou is proficient in the air, Wells - via the curvature of his runs and intelligent finding of space - is deadly on the floor, and Weimann simply doesn’t stop running, but in the this system it is the extra man running from deep who can often go unnoticed by opposing defenders. Weimann, pictured, was at his best on Saturday and came away with a hat-trick of assists, showing he can offer creativity, even if it is 19 games without scoring.
Wells deserves special mention for his 19th and 20th goals of the season, and Jamie Paterson, too, for a goal-of-the-season contender to add to the assist and goal he scored against Hull. It’s been some week for the Robins, and especially the City attack, with Diedhiou scoring against Hull and playing superbly in this game.
The West Country men finally look dangerous and lethal again at the sharp end of the pitch and
Wells admitted he was disappointed to have come off the pitch and not get a hat-trick: “It’s just natural football instinct,” he said after the match, also pointing towards the 3-5-2 formation helping.
UNSUNG HEROES
WHILE City’s attack took the plaudits on Saturday, it was the three centre-backs who laid the groundwork for the win, with Colin Murray pointing that out on Quest’s EFL highlights on Saturday evening.
Filip Benkovic came in and made it two good performances in a row as he led the game for headed clearances (with Diedhiou; four) and clearances (with Nathan Baker and Diedhiou; five).
City repelled wave after wave of Ryan Shotton long throws and
Paddy McNair/Marvin Johnson corners during a period of Middlesbrough pressure in the first half. And together, Tomas Kalas, Benkovic and Baker were all outstanding in defence, if only allowing Britt Assombalonga a little too much space in the 82nd minute for his goal. A shout-out, too, for Jay Dasilva who completed all but one of his passes in the game - 28 of 29 - as well as making the most successful tackles (five out of five; more than anyone else).
HOLDEN THE LINE BRISTOL City looked super-organised on Saturday, and again the stand-in head coach must take a lot of credit. The Robins look so well suited to this 3-5-2 formation, and while it is only struggling Middlesbrough seen off, Holden continues to impress. Not only has the experience of Ashley Williams been of value to Holden, but the Bristol Post can reveal club stalwart Brian Tinnion has also been called up to lend his knowhow to the City squad.
‘Tinns’ was there on Saturday afternoon to lend another voice to the coaching ranks and further ideas to the collective thinking.
This attention to detail and magnanimous gesture towards Tinnion, tapping into his vast experience, was the sort that Lee Johnson did, too. Only there seems to be more simplified and clearer messages coming from Holden. SUPER SCOTT HAS ALIGHTER
WALLET PATERSON’S goal was celebrated by the attacking midfielder holding a shin pad to his ear, playfully mocking kitman and Bristol City legend Scott Murray for forgetting the team’s shin pads.
Murray admitted after the game on social media that the event had cost him £300 as he scrambled to purchase 19 pairs of shin pads, with City only able to field eight subs after Benik Afobe fell ill on the morning of the game.
City will review their injuries with Afobe unavailable to play Stoke City next, though Kasey Palmer is due to rejoin the squad.
Should anyone else drop out however, Freddie Hinds would make the bench, but if another player is out after that, it could result in Liam Walsh, Taylor Moore or Joe Morrell rejoining the senior playing squad.