Football Paterson’s goal celebration sums up spirit in the squad, says Holden
ABRILLIANT Bristol City performance at Middlesbrough on Saturday made it back-to-back wins for the Robins for the first time since the beginning of February.
Two goals from Nahki Wells made it 20 for the season for the January signing in all competitions (including his strikes for QPR).
Jamie Paterson also scored with a sumptuous smash into the top corner, to follow up his goal and assist in midweek against Hull City, as the Robins ran out 3-1 winners.
Paterson celebrated his fine goal by holding aloft his shin pad and using it as a phone.
The Bristol Post understands that the celebration was a tribute to City kitman Scott Murray who forgot the players’ shinpads but then was able to supply some more before the game.
“It shows you the spirit of the squad,” said interim head coach Dean Holden, pictured. “There was a bit of an issue with that prematch but Scottie went and sorted it out, as he always does.
“I have to say in the four years I’ve been at the club you would not believe the amount of times that Scottie has bailed out the players, whether it’s boots, shirts, socks and some of the ex-players if they listen to this they’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
“He’s bailing the players out on a daily basis in training, never mind on a matchday, so I think they owed him one.
“I didn’t even see that but it shows you the relationship that Scottie has with the players - and as I say it was a great finish from Pato, wasn’t it?”
Two wins from two games underlined Holden’s competency for the head coach post - and City are now in the reckoning for the top six again, with three points between them and the final play-off place, though the goal difference effectively makes it four.
Excellent defending set the platform for the win, and dealing with an aearil bombardment was the key.
“The plan was to build on the performance from the other night,” said Holden. “Luckily, Nathan Baker got himself fit after a huge migraine the other night - I saw the challenge and can see why!
“Middlesbrough are the most direct team in the division. We knew it was a second-ball game and we knew we had to do well on set-pieces as well.
“We asked the players to focus on their own play. We knew where Middlesbrough’s threats were, in terms of the direct play. We asked them to dominate the second ball which they did.”
The Robins return to action against Stoke at Ashton Gate on Wednesday (5pm). Stoke eased their relegation worries with a 2-0 home win against Birmingham yesterday, thaks to first-half goals from Danny Bath and Sam Clucas.