Aden stands tall for Robins

JAMIE PATERSON reckons Aden Flint is head and shoulders above the rest of the Championship.

The Robins winger hailed the 6ft 6in centre-half after he rose above Barnsley’s defence for the winner that warded off the threat of relegation at Ashton Gate.

“Flinty is one of the best players in the air in the whole league if not the very best,” said Paterson.

“We’d been working on corners all week and Flinty connected perfectly with the finishing touch.

“He’s a great player and stepped up to the mark just when he was needed.”

Flint ensured City’s ex-Barnsley boss Lee Johnson had the last laugh after being barracked by travelling Tykes, whose side went ahead when Alex Mowatt deflected George Moncur’s shot beyond Frank Fielding.

But Barnsley skipper Marc Roberts succumbed to injury at half-time and Johnson’s comeback kids took maximum advantage of the highly-rated centre-back’s absence.

Tammy Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, equalised from close range with his 26th goal this season before Moncur brilliantly finished off a counter-attack.

But Paterson led the comeback, cleverly grabbing his third goal in successive home games before centre-back Flint headed in his 74th-minute corner.

The result took the gloss of a fine display from Moncur and his first goal in Barnsley colours.

He said: “It was nice to open my account but really frustrating to lose.

“Losing Marc at half-time was significant because he’s our leader. Next year we can push on.”