Bristol City v Hull City please log in to view this image Holden ‘hugely proud and honoured’ to take lead Tuesday, July 7th 2020 Dean Holden is looking forward to taking charge of his first City game against Hull City this week (July 8th, 6pm KO). The interim head coach takes the reins following the departure of Lee Johnson on Saturday. It’s a new chapter for Holden and one he is heading into with full focus as he looks to try and guide the Robins to a successful end of season. “There’s a lot more responsibility in terms of team selection and press but Mark Ashton asked me to take the team until further notice and I have to say it is something I am hugely proud and honoured to be given the job by the Board of Directors,” Holden told Robins TV. “It’s something I am going to try and make the most of, try and get the players, me and the staff performing at our best and there’s a big game on Wednesday and we’re looking forward to it.” Holden was also quick to praise his former colleague Johnson, who was relieved of his role following a fourth-consecutive defeat. The Robins are winless since the restart but remain mathematically in the run-in for a top-six finish, with the Tigers heading to Ashton Gate aiming to steer clear of the relegation zone. Holden and Johnson had worked together since the former Bolton Wanderers defender's appointment as assistant head coach in November 2016. “First of all, I want to go on record and say how grateful I am to Lee for bringing to the club in the first place, nearly four years ago,” he said. “I’ve loved working with him, we’ve had some incredible moments and some down times too but we’ve built a great relationship as he has with all the players and staff and I’ve no doubt he will go and get another fantastic job in football. “He’s worked incredibly hard behind the scenes for every player and member of staff to try and get this club successful.” But the club’s focus is now on preparing for the midweek visit of Grant McCann’s Tigers and Holden is relishing the occasion. “We have to move forward quickly and it’s the job we signed up for. We’ve got another game in 48 hours and nobody will feel sorry for us,” he said. “They (Hull) are fighting for everything and we’ve seen that in recent games. They’ve got dangerous players on the counter-attack and we have to be aware of that but most of the focus is on us. We’ve got to get the shackles off the players, get them confident in their ability because naturally confidence has suffered because of the run of results. So we want to get off to a flying start on Wednesday. I really can’t wait to see the players get out there and put in a performance for the football club.” https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/holden-hugely-proud-and-honoured-to-take-lead/ Dean Holden - Preparing for Hull City. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/full-dean-holden-bristol-city-4300451 Grant McCann -Why Hull City Should Be Full of Confidence. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/spo...ews/hull-city-bristol-city-confidence-4300268
If City win we'll all know the problem was Junior. If we don't win its Junior's fault - he signed Holden. Simples.
If we win the Champions League next season, then we all know it was LJ's fault! RP, just remember where he left us.......
Holden's choice: Expected Bristol City team to try and turn form against Hull City Our City writer explains who he expects to play on Wednesday evening. Predicted Bristol City team (4-1-3-2): Bentley; Vyner, Kalas, Baker, Dasilva; Smith; Weimann, Nagy, Paterson; Wells, Afobe https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport.../holdens-choice-expected-bristol-city-4304537
Preview: Hull City (H) Interim Head Coach Dean Holden takes charge of his first City game as the Tigers come to town for a Championship clash in which they will be vying to edge further away from the danger zone. The Robins are looking to end their run of defeats since the restart and are pushing to end the season in as high a position as possible, with the top-six still mathematically possible with five matches to go. By contrast, Grant McCann’s men were six points from safety at the time of writing and are scrapping to avoid dropping into League One for the first time in 15 years. Since joining the Premier League in 2008/09 (their first season in England’s highest division) the Tigers have yo-yoed between the top flight and Championship – relegated three times but enjoying two promotions. Hopes of sustaining a possible challenge this season were dashed when the deadly duo of Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki departed the club in January. Goal machine Bowen, who had struck 17 times in all competitions, departed for West Ham United for a reported £18m-plus deal, while Polish winger Grosicki left for promotion chasers West Bromwich Albion. Since then Hull have twice lost five in a row, and only won once: a 2-1 win over fellow Championship strugglers Middlesbrough. The midweek fixture is available free on Robins TV Live to Season Card holders (the stream starts one hour ahead of kick-off with all the build-up, analysis, and post-match comments). Non-Season Card holders can purchase a matchday pass at £10, and enjoy all the same benefits. Please note the match is not on Sky Sports or on the red button. MATCH DETAILS Date: Wednesday, July 8th 2020 Kick-off: 6pm Competition: Sky Bet Championship Where: Ashton Gate Officials: Gavin Ward (referee), Daniel Leach and Mark Pottage (assistants), Ollie Yates (fourth official) HEAD TO HEAD W: 35 (40%) D: 28 L: 24 FORM - Includes pre-suspensionBristol City: LLLLD Hull City: LWDLL Club news Dean Holden was appointed interim head coach after Lee Johnson was relieved of his role on Saturday evening Robins Foundation will hold an online education awards evening on July 16th City Women name three signings ahead of the 2020/21 WSL season: Megan Wynne, Jemma Purfield and Georgia Wilson, but club stalwart Frankie Brown has departed at the end of her contract. Hull City will be without Herbie Kane who is ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. Word from the camp Interim Head Coach Dean Holden wants the squad to believe in themselves and their abilities as he looks to get City back to winning ways. Callum O"Dowda has spoken of how City will fight and do "whatever it takes" to get out of the rut. Memorable match Hull City 2-3 Bristol City Saturday, November 25th 2017 Sky Bet Championship KCOM Stadium Scorers: Campbell 33, Bowen 63 / Flint 68, Reid 79, Brownhill 90 Attendance: 14,762 A late Josh Brownhill wonder goal capped off a brilliant second-half comeback as City beat Hull 3-2 at the KCOM Stadium. Fraizer Campbell and Jarrod Bowen had fired the former Premier League side ahead into a commanding lead only for CIty to turn the match on its head with 22 minutes left. First, Aden Flint smashed home from close range after Niclas Eliasson’s free kick was cleared off the line. Then, after Hull failed to clear a Jamie Paterson free kick, Bobby Reid needed two swipes at the ball before turning in the equaliser. By now City were on top and completed an incredible comeback in the 90th minute. A brilliant run from the 21-year-old Brownhill saw him drive forward from the edge of the centre circle, picking the ball up from Paterson, before placing his shot beyond the diving Allan McGregor from range. https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/preview-hull-city-h/
Niclas Eliasson Last played: v Sheffield Wednesday, June 28 Eliasson's Achilles injury dates a little further back than Palmer's with the Swedish winger having missed City's last two games due to an injury that left former head coach Lee Johnson a little perplexed. In the wake of Saturday's defeat to Cardiff, Johnson said that Eliasson's issue was "difficult to judge" and it seems unlikely, given the circumstances of the season, that the Robins will risk making it worse, unless they're 100% confident he's fit. "We're monitoring Niclas; he's got a nagging achilles issue so we're monitoring him as we are with Kasey Palmer," Holden said.
Kasey Palmer Last played: v Nottingham Forest, July 1 Palmer couldn't make the matchday squad against Cardiff due to a thigh injury which was sustained in training following the 1-0 defeat to Forest. He underwent a scan on Friday which revealed a tear and, according to caretaker manager Dean Holden, the Robins are monitoring the situation. A return against Hull seems unlikely. "Kasey's got a little quad issue so we're monitoring them and we're just going to see where they are fitness-wise, whether they're fit enough to come into the squad or not," Holden said. Pedro Pereira Last played: v Blackburn Rovers, June 20 The Portuguese full-back sustained a thigh tear at Ewood Park and was originally scheduled to be out for four weeks, a timescale that Johnson disputed slightly at the time. Pereira was pictured back in training at Failand this week, indicating he's close to a return, but Holden said on Monday that he's merely been undergoing "light grass work". Niki Maenpaa Last played: v Nottingham Forest, July 1 The Finnish goalkeeper will not play again for City this season after rolling his ankle in the first half against Forest, with Johnson confirming on Saturday he's out for the rest of the campaign. That could also be Maenpaa's last game in a City shirt with the 35-year-old out of contract when the season concludes, having signed a short-term extension in May. With academy graduates Max O'Leary and Joe Wollacott in reserve behind No1 Dan Bentley for 2020/21, City may choose not to keep Maenpaa.
First of all a win is a win and we won. So what did we learn? Bentley is like Dracula he doesn’t like crosses. When our defence goes to sleep they do it with aplomb. Vyner is a talent but does get turned too easily sometimes. Weimann offers us absolutely nothing, he runs around a lot, full stop. If only we had a midfield capable of allowing Paterson the luxury of not having to compete in midfield. Yet again the midfield (apart from Paterson for the first goal) ran out of ideas in and around the opponents box. Holden is probably not a manager, waiting 15 minutes after Hull pulled one back and whilst they were causing us a lot of problems, could have had consequences. But hey, stopped the losing run. I read LJ’s statement and I have to say it was classy, I hope he finds a similar club in the future that will give him the chance to try again. And finally I am enjoying Bob Dylan’s new album, reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen.