Western Daily Press (Saturday)
City working every day to improve, says Holden
BRISTOL City assistant head coach Dean Holden says the Robins must retain their focus during games if they are to regularly collect three points rather than one after a run of drawn matches.
City are hoping to end 2018 on a high, and a win at home to lowly Rotherham today would be the ideal way to do that. The Robins have led in each of their last three games, but have been pegged back each time, although they still boast a six-game unbeaten streak.
“It’s another home game, which we’re very much looking forward to,” Holden said ahead of the clash with Paul Warne’s Millers.
“We want to improve our home record, but Rotherham presents a tough game, as they all are in the Championship. They’ve got their strengths, it was a tough game at their place, but we’re six games unbeaten.”
When asked how City can turn their draws into defeats, Holden added: “It’s different things in different games. Against Brentford, for example, it was a lack of concentration and focus for 15 seconds or so while the ball was out of play.
“Within a couple of seconds of the ball being back on the pitch, Neal Maupay has put the ball in the back of our net; it’s fine margins.
“We created good moments, we needed to be more clinical in the attacking third, but that’s what we’re working on every day. It’s that determination and focus when you’re ahead, if we can do better at that then the more chance we have of getting the three points.”
Looking ahead, Holden went on: “We expect a tough game, we’re under no illusions. It was a tough game at their place, they’re physical team whose work rate is exceptional and they are fighting for everything.
“We want to start the game fast, we want to play forward and aggressive in our running power. The second balls are a must against Rotherham, we have to match their work rate and if we can do that then we hope our quality will show.”