Bristol City v Sheffield Utd. please log in to view this image In brief: Pre-Sheffield United (H) Wednesday, September 12th 2018 Head coach Lee Johnson and forward Marley Watkins look ahead to City's home fixture with Sheffield United. Below is a summary of what he had to say ahead of Saturday's (September 15th, 3pm kick-off) Sky Bet Championship clash. Lee Johnson Discussing new training facilities at Failand, Johnson said it is something the entire City needs He believes it will help local players go on to perform at the "elite level" and it can help City reach the Premier League The City head coach had high praise for Marley Watkins, saying he is a trustworthy player who works extremely hard for the team The challenge now after the international break is to find the momentum He is looking forward to a "top-six, big game" when the Blades travel to BS3 this weekend He anticipates an "open, attacking game" but he's not frightened by their strengths He "has a lot of respect" for Sheffield United and sees similarities in their setup Johnson says both sides have added to the depth of their squads and the game could be "a marker going forward" He said Tyreeq Bakinson is playing well and he is delighted the midfielder has scored his first league goal out on loan All players who have returned from international duty have reported back unscathed Marley Watkins He said it felt great to score last time out (in the 4-1 win v Blackburn Rovers) and he hopes it will give him added confidence Watkins saw the international break as a "positive" and refreshing" He said City have to keep pushing and not get complacent after three wins on the bounce He described City as a "special club" in "a special city" The winger was able to get some time away to rest up during the international ‘We must get the balance right’ - Johnson Wednesday, September 12th 2018 City must “be at their best” if they are to record a fourth-consecutive win this weekend, head coach Lee Johnson believes. City head into Saturday’s (September 15th, 3pm kick-off) home clash with Sheffield United in good form, knowing another victory would see them leapfrog the Blades. It’s a top-six encounter, despite the 2018/19 season’s infancy, with United and City occupying third and sixth in the Sky Bet Championship, respectively. “The boys are confident and it’s important that line doesn’t roll over into complacency,” Johnson told bcfc.co.uk. “We have to be at it, we have to be on the front foot, be forward-thinking but with the defensive mindset from the start. “We’ve got to get the balance between soldier artist and I think we’ll have to be at our best, particularly in this game because of Sheffield United’s strengths.” The match at Ashton Gate comes after the first international break of the season, which saw 11 City players called-up for international duty. Callum O’Dowda, Lloyd Kelly, Jay Dasilva and Tomas Kalas were among those in the first team to play on the international stage over the last fortnight. Johnson added: “I think the international break naturally affects the dynamic because you’ve lost five or six players - particularly in our case - and you can’t get to work with those players for the week but seeing them there and looking at the strength of our squad, it’s very positive. “Sheffield United are a good, strong side, they work their system very, very well and they cause opposition problems. They’ve started well, as have we, but I think it will be fantastic game. “We’re a good side, and we will make sure we do our best to impose our strengths on their weaknesses. All teams have weaknesses in the Championship and we’ll certainly have to be at our best to make sure we put on a really good performance and do our best to get the three points on Saturday.” Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder gives his verdict on Bristol City The Robins host the Blades at Ashton Gate on Saturday Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has given his verdict on Bristol City ahead of Saturday's clash with the Robins at Ashton Gate. Both of the sides have started the new Championship season in impressive fashion as sixth place take on third in the table. Last season saw the two teams miss out on play-offs and they ended the season with a thrilling 3-2 Blades victory in Bristol. Speaking about the final day encounter against Bristol City, Wilder said: "The finale epitomised what we were all about as a group I thought." "Give them, City, credit because it did them too. We were 3-0 up and they could have gone out the back door but they didn't. They came back.” "I think there are lots of similarities between the clubs. Okay, we play different ways and their recruitment is possibly different to our recruitment. But there are lots of similarities. Their staff want to win and we want to win as well." Wilder was pleased to get his players back from the international break without any major injury issues and he believes that striker Leon Clarke could be fit enough to feature against Bristol City. He explained: “Going away with their countries is a great experience for them, playing against different styles and types of players. It’s great for their education. They’re all young players and it’s valuable experience for them. “I’m delighted and proud that they are involved at international level.” “Leon’s trained right through,” Wilder added. “It was a tight call for him against Villa and the break’s come at a decent time for him. He’s recovered and he’ll be involved.” BBC ~ Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson says Chelsea loan defender Tomas Kalas is fit to face Sheffield United, despite taking a knock on international duty with the Czech Republic. Fellow defender Nathan Baker is closing in on a return after an ankle injury. Blades boss Chris Wilder has no fresh concerns after six players returned from international duty unscathed. Third-placed United should have striker Leon Clarke available again after recovering from a hamstring problem. Match facts Bristol City have lost their last three home league matches against Sheffield United since a 3-0 Robins victory in November 2010. None of the last 10 league meetings between Bristol City and Sheffield United have ended as a draw - the Robins have won three and the Blades have triumphed in seven of those games. Bristol City manager Lee Johnson has won just one of his seven league meetings with Sheffield United (D4 L2). Sheffield United striker Leon Clarke has been involved in five goals in his last three league appearances against Bristol City (3 goals, 2 assists). Bristol City striker Andreas Weimann has already scored five league goals in just six appearances so far this term - in only one previous campaign has he scored more in a single league season (7 in 2012-13 for Aston Villa). No Championship team has scored more first-half goals than Sheffield United this season (7). please log in to view this image
Getting to the Gate: Bristol City v Sheffield United Friday, September 14th 2018 Bristol City welcome Sheffield United to Ashton Gate on Saturday, September 15th (3pm kick-off). This handy guide shows you how you can get to Ashton Gate. THE HEADLINES A new AG6 dedicated supporter bus service now serves Henbury, Westbury-on-Trym and Clifton Village The AG1 Portway Park & Ride and AG2 Brislington Park & Ride services will be running increased capacity and increased frequency The AG4 South Bristol and Abus Service A will operate as normal Fans can find their best route using public transport by using the TravelWest journey planner here Numerous off-street car parks are open locally Ashton Road and Marsh Road will be closed after the game in the interest of crowd safety DEDICATED SUPPORTER BUS SERVICES AG1 - Portway Park & Ride First departure: 12.45pm Last departure: 2.30pm Frequency: every 15 minutes Journey time: 20 minutes Collects: along the Portway at Station Road, Woodwell Road, Park Road, Riverleaze, Roman Way Drop-Off: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate Post-match departure: The Robins Pub, Winterstoke Road. Last return 6.40pm Parking: free This service will be operating at improved frequency and capacity before and after matches during the 2018-19 season AG2 - Brislington Park & Ride First departure: 12.45pm Last departure: 14.30pm Frequency: every 20 minutes Journey time: 20 minutes Direct service Drop-Off: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate Post-match departure: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate. Last return 6.40pm Parking: free This service will be operating at improved frequency and capacity before and after matches during the 2018-19 season AG4 - South Bristol Departs from Whitchurch, Wharnecliffe Gardens: 1.30pm Frequency: one bus only Journey time: 30 minutes Collects: Priddy Drive, Heathfield Crescent, South Bristol Hospital, Skills Academy, Bridge Campus, Lampton Avenue, Hollisters Drive, Bishport Avenue Lay-By, Crosscombe Drive, Fair Furlong, Newland Drive, Queen’s Road, Sherrin Way, Turtlegate Avenue, Shuter Road, Highridge Common, Highridge Green, Church Road, St Peter’s Church, Vicarage Road, Bishopsworth Library, Cheddar Grove, Lulsgate Road, Bedminster Down Drop-Off: The Robins Pub, Winterstoke Road Post-match departure: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate, 5.10pm AG6 - North Bristol Departs from Henbury, Tormarton Crescent: 1.25pm Frequency: one bus only Journey time: 35 minutes Collects: Tormarton Crescent, Marissal Road, Avonmouth Way, The Salutation, Crow Lane Lay-by, Brentry Roundabout, Brentry Lane, The Ridgeway, Falcondale Walk, Henbury Road, Lampeter Road, Downs Cote Avenue, Brecon Road, Henleaze Gardens, Westbury Road, Durdham Park, Black Boy Hill, Apsley Road, Clifton Down Station, Belgrave Road, Sunderland Place, Students Union, Victoria Square, Clifton Village, Christ Church, Percival Road, Bridge Valley Road. Drop-Off: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate Post-match departure: The Robins Pub, Winterstoke Road, 5.10pm AG1, AG2, AG4 and AG6 are all operated by First. Bristol Inner Zone Day Tickets cost £4 (adult) when purchased via the First Bus app (download the app by clicking here) and are valid on this service. Tickets purchased on board are £3 single/£4.50 return (adult). Concessionary pass holders can use their passes to travel free of charge, while up to two children (under 16) can travel free of charge with a fare paying adult. Service A - Brislington and Bristol Temple Meads Departs: Brislington, Eagle Road and Bristol Temple Meads: 2.30pm Frequency: two buses Journey time: 15 minutes from Temple Meads / 30 minutes from Eagle Road Collects: Bath Road PDSA (Bristol Factory), Black Castle (Arnos Manor), Arnos Vale Cemetery, Central Trading Estate, Totterdown Bridge, Temple Meads Stop TJ, Old Market Stop OK, Haymarket Stop RE, city centre stop CI Drop-Off: Winterstoke Road entrance, Ashton Gate Post-match departure: Trust Ford, Winterstoke Road Service A is operated by Abus. Single £2 / Return £3 (season card holders return = £2). English concessionary card holders travel free. PUBLIC BUS SERVICES Local bus services connect the stadium with much of Bristol and Somerset Plan your journey using the route planning tool here A route map can be viewed here Services include…. Service 24 Serves Bedminster, City Centre, Old Market, Easton, Eastville, Lockleaze and Southmead Hospital Nearest stop: Ashton Road Adult singles range from £2 to £3 and return / all day travel is £4.50 Services X1, X2, X3, X3A, X4, X6, X7, X8 and X9 Serves Hotwells and City Centre Nearest stop: Blackmoors Lane (Ashton Bridge) Adult singles range from £2 to £6 and return / day ticket from £4 to £7.50 Service 71 Serves Hotwells, City Centre, Gloucester Road, Filton Avenue and UWE Frenchay Nearest stop: Blackmoors Lane (Ashton Bridge) Adult singles range from £2 to £3 and return / all day travel is £4.50 Services X1, X2, X3, X3A, X4, X6, X7, X8 and X9 Serves various locations, including, Weston-super-Mare, Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea Nearest stop: Winterstoke Road (Ashton Bridge) Adult singles range from £2 to £6 and return / day ticket from £4 to £7.50 Visit the FirstBus website and search by service number for more specific timing information – www.firstgroup.com/bristol PARKING Off-street match day parking is available at: Bedminster Cricket Club, Clanage Road, Bower Ashton, BS3 2JX. £10 per car, 10 minute walk All Star Action Days, Clanage Road, Bower Ashton, BS3 2JX. £10 per car, 10 minute walk DJ Matchday Parking, Cala Trading Estate, Ashton Vale Road, BS3 2HA. £7 per car, 7 minute walk Public car parks can be found by clicking here TRAIN Parson Street station is a 15-minute walk and serves much of Somerset, South Wales and Bristol (Temple Meads is a 5-minute journey by train from here) Bristol Temple Meads is the nearest mainline station, a 40-minute walk and connected to Ashton Gate by the ABus service (details above) gwr.com has detailed information and includes a journey planner to help you plan your route WALK Fans are likely to find walking is the quickest and easiest way to/from the stadium Most of south, west and central Bristol are within an hour’s walk East Street, St John’s Lane, Clifton Village and the city centre are all accessible in under 30 minutes Use the stadium postcode BS3 2EJ to help plan your route CYCLE New YoBike parking spaces available at the Ashton Road end of the Stadium There are 96 cycle parking spaces outside the South Stand along with a free bike pump The stadium is served by numerous cycle paths – always consider your safety especially when cycling in the dark Click here for a local area cycle route map Click here to plan your route including cycle rack locations, elevation and route type. Use the stadium postcode BS3 2EJ to help plan your route https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/getting-to-the-gate-bristol-city-v-sheffield-united/
Gate Guide: Sheffield United Friday, September 14th 2018 City welcome Sheffield United to BS3 tomorrow in their first Sky Bet Championship match after the international break (September 15th, 3pm). Here’s you’re easy guide for what to expect, if you’re heading to Ashton Gate. ORDER OF EVENTS 9am - Coffee Shop open 10am - Bristol Sport Store open 10am - Matchday Ticket Office open (phone lines open 10am-1pm) 11am - Sports Bar & Pizzeria open 12noon - Fan Village open 12noon - Turnstiles open 2pm - Team announcements 2.20pm - Warm-up 3pm - Kick-off 3.45pm - Half-time 4pm - Second half begins 4.45pm - Full time STADIUM The South Stand, Dolman Stand and Lansdown Stand will be open for home supporters, including the Landsdown Upper tier and Family area. The Atyeo Stand will play host to Sheffield United fans. TICKETS The match is pay on the day for home supporters only. To purchase a ticket, call Supporter Services by 5pm today (Friday) or between 10am-1pm on the day of the game. Alternatively, the Matchday Ticket Office - adjacent to the Atyeo statue - will be open from 10am until kick-off. PROGRAMMES As well as the usual selling points, programmes - which work exclusively with the new, free to download Bristol City app - will be available for purchase in S2, S3 and D1 concessions. Price: £3.50. GETTING HERE For full information regarding parking and travel, click here. SPORTS BAR & PIZZERIA The Fan Village will be in operation, with a raft of food and drink on offer including the band Freeze performing live, whilst the Sports Bar will open from 11am. STORE The Bristol Sport Store at Ashton Gate Stadium will be open from 10am. SUPPORTERS CLUB & TRUST BAR Access to the Supporters Club and Trust Bar is via the Sports Bar & Pizzeria. Go through the main bar and up the stairs at the far end. The bar is on your left at the top of the stairs. RUCKSACKS Ashton Gate Stadium asks supporters not to bring large rucksacks on matchdays, following advice from the National Counter Terrorism Office and Avon and Somerset Police. Fans will still be able to bring smaller handbags into the stadium, although these will be subject to the usual search process. An Ashton Gate spokesman said: “The searching process will always be subject to change and whilst there is no specific threat to any Sports Ground, we must ensure that we remain vigilant and the message to spectators is to ‘Be Alert not Alarmed’.” https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/gate-guide-sheffield-united-1/
Bristol City FCVerified account@BristolCity 3h3 hours ago It’s finally matchday… please log in to view this image please log in to view this image @SUFC_tweets please log in to view this image Ashton Gate please log in to view this image 3pm please log in to view this image Pay on the day
Nice one lads because these are the kind of games we have to win, especially at Ashton Gate. Automatic promotion anyone?
Now, only conceded one goal in 4 games....Usually rubbish after international break.........it's all good so far... well done LJ and the boys!!
Fantastic win against a top side - admittedly they were without Fleck. 3rd in the table now and 4 back-to-back wins! Well done everyone at AG.
Yep the thre subs changed the game. Taylor should never off been dropped though. Fammy don’t look fit. Don’t change a winning side.
You said yourself the three subs changed the game , but then went on to say Taylor should have been in the starting eleven, he can’t do both RR, be in the starting 11, and come on as a sub and make a difference.
Should never have been dropped ,Fammy was out of sorts,what does it say to a fellow player that has been awarded mom in his last game and played well since he had his chance. I was always told you keep the shirt if you earned it. To pull it away from a player who has done nothing wrong is bang out of order in my opinion.
If what you say was true I’d agree with you , I honestly believe it isn’t . It’s not like years ago when first eleven was everything , it’s a squad game these days, we have 3 games in quick succession , LJ is well aware of the need to keep players as sharp as possible,he wasn’t dropped he was rested, Matty has proved his worth , I’m certain LJ would have made him well aware of this . Part of the problem why we dropped off so badly last season was we were not able to rotate players due to lack of numbers , much of which was down to injuries , but also squad depth.
RR, Lee Johnson cant do anything right in your eyes, when are you going to see what a top coach we have.
Have you ever been involved in football RR, you only mention one player MT, he also rested MWatkins but he came on and won the game for us, it's all about team work, sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong, today LJ got it spot on, get over it, but keep watching you may learn something one day.
