JOHNSON SWITCH BLUNTS BLADES
Change of tactics secures victory
LEE JOHNSON gave all the credit to his Bristol City players after his gameplan had worked to perfection in a battle of two in-form Championship teams.
The head coach admitted to “having sleepless nights” about switching from his normal 4-4-2 formation to match United’s wing-back system after a run of three successive wins. But it snuffed out the free-scoring visitors to such an extent that Niki Maenpaa did not have a testing save to make and an 81st minute header from substitute Marley Watkins bagged another three points.
Johnson said: “It doesn’t matter what game plan you employ if the players do not carry it out and they did it to perfection.
“Switching things around was not a decision I took lightly, but I felt it was right to set up to match Sheffield United because of their quality.
“They create very good overloads down both channels so we had to work on nullifying that and going toe-to-toe athletically with each opponent.”
United boss Chris Wilder wasn’t sure Watkins was aiming for goal when his glancing header from a cross by fellow substitute Callum O’Dowda sneaked in at the far post.
But he admitted it was a fine goal from City’s perspective, even though it left his side with nothing to show for a committed and positive display.
Wilder said: “We should have come in at half-time, not one, but probably two up. Any manager will tell you that the first goal in Championship games is so important.
“It was a very good away performance without the most important bit, which is winning the game. They paid us the compliment of changing their system around, while on a decent run in a very competitive division.”
United had the better of a first half full of attacking intent. But it was City who almost struck first on four minutes when Niclas Eliasson’s shot was parried by Dean Hen- derson and Jay Dasilva volleyed wide from the rebound.
City finished the first half as they had begun it, with Famara Diedhiou heading over from Dasilva’s cross.
United came out firing again for the second period and some poor defending allowed John Lundstram to get in a rightfooted curling shot, which did not carry enough pace to beat Niki Maenpaa.
By the hour mark home boss Lee Johnson had seen enough and made a double change, sending on Watkins and O’Dowda for Dasilva and Eliasson. Chris Wilder quickly responded with two substitutions of his own as Marvin Johnson and Conor Washington took over from Mark Duffy and Sharp.
Andreas Weimann had a shot blocked in a crowded penalty area as City enjoyed their best spell of the match. Marlon Pack appealed vainly for a penalty when his 20-yard drive hit a defender.
Watkins made no mistake with his second heading chance.