THE VERDICT: BRISTOL CITY 1 TOWN 0 Cup brings no relief for ‘ponderous’ Town show
TOWN RATED TERRIERS MUST SHOW MORE FIGHT IF THEY HAVE ANY CHANCE TO AVOID SEEMINGLY INEVITABLE DROP
SUBSTITUTES MOUNIE:
PRITCHARD: (Bacuna, 45) Busy show but hit a good chance over the bar 6
MBENZA: (Diakhaby, 73): Didn’t get chance to influence things 5
NOT USED: Lossl, Kongolo, Billing, IF Town are to mount any sort of survival campaign in the Premier League they are going to have to produce much more than in this ponderous FA Cup exit.
A 72nd-minute goal from Bristol City midfielder Josh Brownhill was enough to inflict a ninth successive defeat on David Wagner’s side and send 800 travelling fans home disappointed.
Even a debut for new loan signing Jason Puncheon at Ashton Gate couldn’t lift a lethargic performance, with too many basic errors.
Only skipper Jonathan Hogg showed the sort of purpose necessary to upset Championship opposition and potentially book a place in the fourth-round draw – but it never really looked likely in a dull display.
Town, looking to reach the FA Cup fourth round in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1965-66, made eight changes and gave a first start to Puncheon.
Adama Diakhaby returned for the first time since October, while Jon Gorenc Stankovic was at the heart of defence in a 4-23-1 formation – and making his first appearance since the win at Wolves in November.
Ben Hamer was in goal against the side he supported as a boy, with captain Hogg, Elias Kachunga and Mathias Jorgensen the only players to retain their places following the 2-1 home Premier League defeat by Burnley.
Lee Johnson’s side, who knocked out four Premier League opponents last season in the League Cup, featured four changes from the team that won at Stoke to take their record to eight matches unbeaten – but included former Town man Jack Hunt and loanee Jamie Paterson.
Bailey Wright, who made his return in the previous game, captained a City team which featured 17-year-old attacking midfielder Sam Pearson on the bench.
While City have a fine record against the top flight in the League Cup, they had not won any of their last 14 FA Cup games against Premier League oppo- nents (drawn four, lost 10) since famously beating Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in January 1994.
Town’s fans echoed their support as Puncheon started alongside Hogg at the base of midfield, allowing Bacuna to take the No10 slot.
Chris Lowe and Diakhaby put probing left-wing crosses into the box in the early stages, but Wright and Adam Webster were as solid on the deck as they were in the air.
Town made some careless errors, notably Puncheon at a corner and then Hamer when trying to pass to Jorgensen and conceding a corner, and they misfired in the final third when going forward.
Lowe looked the best point of attack in the first half-hour, when Town had 66 per cent possession but neither side fashioned an effort on target.
Town were being frustrated by City’s solid bank of four in defence and spent too long playing square, even missing some simple opportunities to play the ball forward into more attacking areas.
And it was City who went closest to opening the scoring in the 36th minute when a cross from