Johnson finally loses his roost ROBINS SACK BOSS AFTER AWFUL RUN
LEE JOHNSON was sacked as Bristol City boss after sub Danny Ward grabbed a priceless late winner for play-off chasing Cardiff.
Just as Neil Warnock left Cardiff after the Severnside derby defeat in November, this time Johnson lost his job after a home defeat to their rivals.
The league’s longest-serving manager paid the price for a woeful run of form before and after lockdown that’s seen the Robins’ hopes of promotion fade.
City have placed
No.2 Dean Holden in caretaker charge and chief executive Mark Ashton said: “We recognise the huge amount of work that Lee has put in over the last four-and-a-half years to move this club forward and we thank him for all his efforts.
“There have been some special moments over those years and Lee has played a significant part in them.
“However, success in football is ultimately judged by results and league position and the board believes a change of management is needed now.”
It might have been different had Robins sub
Filip Benkovic not headed wide from Jamie Paterson’s 81st-minute corner when he should have scored.
But the ninth game without a win did for 39-year-old Johnson (left), who had been at Ashton Gate since 2016. City’s struggles are in stark contrast to Cardiff. Opposite number Neil Harris praised the impact of his super-subs after Lee Tomlin and Ward combined to settle the game in their favour.
Cardiff boss Harris said: “We have seen the importance of the players on our bench in recent games and it was evident again.
“People may wonder why Tommo and Wardy didn’t start, but both have had fitness issues and if they had done so might have lasted 50 or 60 minutes.
“The question was did we want them on at the start or the end. That is for me to decide and it worked out well today.
“We want to dedicate the win to fans who could not attend.
“We knew the importance of local rivalry and hopefully they will enjoy a few beers.
“We’ve become tough to beat, while we have that bit of magic in us. There is a clear game plan and the players are carrying it out.”
While Cardiff strengthened their bid to extend their season, Bristol City now have to make up nine points in five games and look out of contention.
The keepers made fine saves, Bristol’s Dan Bentley to deny a second-half shot from Will Vaulks and Cardiff stopper Alex Smithies to palm wide an acrobatic Nahki Wells’ volley.
Benkovic’s miss from close range summed up their woes. And it was crucial as sub Benik Afobe lost the ball and Tomlin’s pass allowed Ward to fire in.