Shot-shy City slip up at home again as Millwall end poor run
BRISTOL City slipped to a fourth defeat in six games against a typically stubborn Millwall side.
Birmingham City, Rotherham and now Millwall have all ended their losing runs playing the Robins and any struggling side must now be licking their lips at facing City.
Head coach Dean Holden explained his side was missing a spark after the last game at Ashton Gate but things got worse here - with one of the poorest attacking displays for many years in BS3.
Tom Bradshaw’s deflected shot in the first half started the scoring, and Mason Bennett wrapped things up with 22 minutes to play as the team from the capital enjoyed a comfortable evening.
It may be that the wheels are coming off for City again as the winter arrives.
Before the game, it was confirmed Chris Brunt was the latest member of City’s long injury list, with the midfield veteran having suffered a calf injury and needing a scan this week. With neither Jamie Paterson or Jay Dasilva fit to return and six long-term injured, the Robins were seriously stretched again - leading to four players on the bench from the Under-23s squad with no senior league starts between them, including Zac Smith’s first involvement on the bench.
The hosts continued their generosity in front of goal from the weekend as Bradshaw was fouled on the edge of the City penalty area and though the set-piece was repelled, Bradshaw managed a snapshot from the rebound with a deflection taking the ball into the corner of the goal, with goalkeeper Dan Bentley staring disappointingly as the ball nestled in the corner.
City almost responded immediately as Tommy Rowe raided down the left flank and was fouled, with Nahki Wells firing the free-kick at the near post. Bartosz Bialkowski saved but looked to have let the ball run over the goal-line with TV frames supporting that it was a goal.
Referee David Webb pointed to his watch however, indicating that goal-line technology had indicated it wasn’t a goal.
The Ashton Gate sound system seemed to be convinced it was scored, with crowd cheers pumped in, but soon cut off as the realisation took place it had not been given.
In fact, with City looking to add urgency to their play, it was Gary Rowett’s side who seemed more likely to score the next goal. Mason Bennett missed a glorious chance as he stole in at the back post beyond Adam Nagy, only to volley over the crossbar from well within the area.
The former Derby man made up for that on 68 minutes, however, as the recalled Han-Noah Massengo lost posession in midfield and the ball made its way to Bennett out wide for the 24-year-old to run in from the left and curl beyond Bentley from outside the area for his first goal of the season.
The Robins fought on as Holden rung the changes but things got worse when Famara Diedhiou was yellow-carded for a late sliding tackle, before collecting a second booking for a high foot in the area, resulting in a sending-off. Plenty of cards for the Senegal international on his 28th birthday.
Former Robin loanee Matt Smith could have wrapped things up in stoppage-time but couldn’t convert from close range, as City finished the game with just a single shot on target: Wells’ controversial setpiece.