Bristol City’s net-busting defender looks ahead ADEN’S NEW GOAL IS PREMIER LEAGUE
ADEN Flint admits he has surpassed all expectations this season, but Bristol City’s 15goal defender has set his sights even higher next term – promotion to the Premier League.
The 25-year-old centreback capped a fairytale campaign with a brilliant hat-trick in the remarkable 8-2 romp against Walsall on Sunday. It took him to a stunning 14 goals in League One.
To put that in some sort of context, Flint finished the campaign as the 12th highest scorer in his division; level with Scunthorpe striker Paddy Madden and above the likes of £750,000 team-mate Kieran Agard and Preston hotshot Jermaine Beckford.
Detail
Remarkably, his last 11 goals have come in the final 18 games – including the opener which helped seal the Robins a record third Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a 2-0 win against Walsall at the end of March.
The 6ft 5in defender, City’s second top scorer behind Aaron Wilbraham (21), has mastered the knack of being in the right place at the right time at both ends of the pitch and the secret, according to the former Swindon man, is boss Steve Cotterill’s attention to detail.
“The gaffer makes us work on setpieces religiously on Thursdays and Fridays and you can see it is paying off,” said the modest Flint. “It’s been my best season in front of goal without a doubt. My best prior to this was four, so I’ve surpassed all my expectations.
“I have to give credit to the rest of the team, though, especially the likes of Luke Freeman and Marlon Pack.
“Most of the time it’s harder not to score with their deliveries from setpieces.
“If you had said to me you’d score 15 goals this season, I’d have said you were having a laugh. It’s been fantastic and it’s nice to chip in with the goals. It’s been a bit more than I expected, but I’ll take it.
“To score a hat-trick is great for a striker, but for a centre-half to do it is something else.
“It doesn’t get any better than scoring a hat-trick and running into the corner to celebrate with the fans before lifting the League One title.
“It’s sunk in now, but we’ve worked so hard for it all year. It’s been a great season – we set a target to get promotion and to win the JPT and we’ve done both now, which is brilliant.
“It was a great win and the perfect way to cap off what has been a brilliant season. Scoring at Wembley was a great feeling. If you ask anyone their dream as a kid, scoring at Wembley is right up there and I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.”
If the prospect of facing the towering Flint is not enough for Championship sides next term, he claims City already have a squad worthy of challenging in the second tier – even before any summer investment.
Consistent
The stats bear out that claim. The lowest Cotterill’s champions have been placed is fifth and that was after their opening-day fixture.
Indeed, there has only been one week since September 13 when they have not been top of the pile and they have lost just three games in all competitions since the turn of the year.
The Robins’ 96 goals is the third high- est in the Football League, behind only MK Dons and Premier League new boys Bournemouth, while the 38 goals they conceded was the fewest in League One.
Add to that the fact a fabulous five Bristol City players – including Flint – featured in the PFA’s League One team of the year and you get the impression he is on to something.
“This squad as it is now would be strong in the Championship, there’s no doubt about that,” he adds. “But we don’t just want to stay up next season. We want to play to the best of our ability, those are the standards that we set ourselves.
Achievement
“I think successive promotions is possible, I can’t see why not.We have to take it one step at a time, though.
“Being in the PFA team of the year is one of the biggest achievements you can get as a player. I’m happy that the other lads got recognition as well because we all deserve it. There’s too many to mention, but it’s been a fantastic team effort throughout the entire season.”
Flint’s rise has been all the more impressive given the fact his season was cut short last March by a dislocated knee.
The recovery required surgery and the Pinxton-born powerhouse has certainly shown no ill-effects.
The end of next season will mark 40 years since City were last promoted to the top-flight when Alan Dicks’ side went up to the First Division in 1976.
And with the backing of billionaire owner Steve Lansdown, as well as a ren- ovation of the club’s Ashton Gate home to expand the capacity to 27,000, Flint feels ready to return the Robins to their rightful place.
“This club is definitely going in the right direction,” he continued.“Just look at the work the chairman is trying to do for the club and the new stadium in the pipeline.
“Last year was a difficult time for me. I wasn’t playing at my best and I suffered a tough injury which ended my campaign, but this season I’ve shown what I’m all about. I just want to enjoy this time and look forward to next season.”