Early days but Dean’s made such an impressive start
NOW we’re talking. How many Bristol City fans would have thought City would be top of the Championship after three games and three victories when Dean Holden was appointed as head coach in August?
Not since 1927-28 - according to the BBC - have the Robins started so well in the English second tier, and it’s 19 years since City won their first three games in any division.
The West Country outfit were possibly lucky to not be behind at the break against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday but they weathered that - like in their first home game against Coventry - and ended the game on top. Being resolute is a handy trait to develop.
Our City writer rounds up a good victory and other talking points...
DEANO MOURINHO HAS CITY FLYING
‘DEANO’ is getting so much right and the progress is so remarkable and obvious that it’s a wonder what the hold-up was before.
It’ll be robbery if Holden is not the manager of the month, although Veljko Paunovic of Reading may nick it due to two wins on the road to City’s one. Lee Johnson won it back in September 2017, if you were wondering when the last time a Robins boss received it.
The head coach is impressing City fans with his work on the pitch - but off it too, as he endeared himself to the fans by having a cider and a game of pool in the run-up to Sunday’s win at the Three Lions pub where he spoke to City fans with his brother Matt and father alongside him.
It’s early days - as Holden admitted after the game - but things look very encouraging. It was important to get a result after the Villa trouncing to maintain league momentum, and Bristol City did just that.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT CONTINUES
THE Robins needed to improve at the back this season to achieve their ambitions after conceding 65 goals in the last campaign. And so far that has come.
Dan Bentley admitted recently that the squad had set an internal target for clean sheets this season - and they grabbed a vital second on Sunday, to make it back-toback shutouts for the first time since the beginning of February. Only Swansea City and Watford have conceded fewer so far, though it is just the three games played.
While Alfie Mawson and Zak Vyner’s passing wasn’t as good as it can be - both 70 per cent pass rates at the weekend - there was good resolve on show against Garry Monk’s team.
And with the intensity that the whole City side produces game to game, nobody is getting an easy ride in BS3 - even if the odd chance is dollied up occasionally (and far fewer than in recent seasons). Sunday’s shutout was also achieved without captain Tomas Kalas, or regular defenders Nathan Baker or Jay Dasilva. It bodes well and shows City probably do not need another defender to come in.
SLOW START AT HOME AGAIN SHEFFIELD Wednesday, like Coventry City in the opening game, looked very dangerous shooting towards the South Stand.
It wasn’t until 55 minutes that City got their first shot on target, when Cameron Dawson palmed away an inswinging Jamie Paterson free-kick.
Thereafter, it was all the home side who finished with 16 shots to Wednesday’s seven, with three on target to the Owls’ two. What is for certain, though, is that the best teams in the division may punish City at Ashton Gate in the future, like Villa did last week.
One improvement needed in BS3, therefore, is to try to start games in more breakneck fashion and try to blow away teams early on. One step at a time though, with steady steps being taken in the right direction.
STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
THE Robins are playing some great stuff - and as written last week, they are getting results and the performances. Perhaps a key difference to their good start this time last year.
City are the equal second top scorers in the Championship,with just one goal conceded. Additionally, their Carabao Cup run included six goals, too. But better than that, all of their matches have seen plenty of chances created and front-foot attacking footballl. Every game bar facing Villa has seen City have more shots on target than the opposition. Again, full credit to the head coach for his effective and settled tactical system that seems to be getting the best from many of the players, and in particular Andi Weimann, Jamie Paterson, Taylor Moore, Tyreeq Bakinson and Chris Martin.
SLINKY JAMIE PATERSON
AFTER a fifth goal in his last nine Bristol City games, former Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Jamie Paterson warrants a special mention. That’s now three for the season in all competitions for the 28-year-old. Like attacking midfield colleague Weimann, Paterson is thriving in his role in the centre of the pitch.