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'Another Lead Squandered'

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, Dec 16, 2018.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    'Another lead squandered' - Positives and negatives from Bristol City's draw with Norwich City
    Our City writer takes a balanced look at the Robins' last match...

    Bristol City showed once again at the weekend that they can go toe to toe with anyone in the division.

    The visiting Norwich City were outplayed for large parts of Saturday's late kick-off and head coach Lee Johnson's team were excellent in the main, unfortunately just stepping off the gas late on and being punished for it when the game should have been won.

    Still, the Canaries are on their best unbeaten run for 10 year, and have eight wins in their last 10 matches so maybe a draw is no bad result.

    There were more positives for the Robins too, even if they missed the chance to move into the top 10 of the Championship.

    Here are a few talking points from the game via our City reporter Gregor...

    Reasons to be cheerful

    The Robins now go four games unbeaten, put in a great performance against the then league leaders at the start of the day, and it feels like some momentum is building at Ashton Gate again.

    The Expected Goals stats following the game were 1.0 to 0.9 indicating that the draw was the right result.

    There were some great individual performances too - none better than Callum O'Dowda who shone on his recall to the side, something we had predicted pre-match.

    He added to last week's vital assist with a goal and all-round energetic and barnstorming showing that included the most successful dribbles, most crosses and being the most fouled player in the game - according to the post-match Opta stats.

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    Sky Sports Statto ✔ @SkySportsStatto


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    @CallumODowda is Man of the Match

    1st goal since November 2017
    3 chances created - most in match
    8 crosses - most in match
    7 fouls won - most in match
    88% passing accuracy - best for @BristolCity@SkyBetChamp


    It was also Famara Diedhiou's third goal in four games as the birthday boy shows some consistency to make it six goals for the season in 11 league starts.

    We also thought Jamie Paterson, Marlon Pack and Josh Brownhill were superb at times too, with plenty for the head coach to build on as the home side had more shots, more shots on target and forced more corners against a team in the mix for promotion.

    At times it was one of the Robins' best displays of the season, and that bodes well for the vital festive period where there looks to be plenty of winnable fixtures.

    Johnson's side looked well drilled, organised, motivated and hungry for most of the game.

    Words of warning
    If ever there was a good time to play the Canaries it was last night. The visitors had problems in central defence missing both first choice players to begin: Timm Klose out with a knee injury and Grant Hanley only available via the bench following an eye problem, and recovering from a long-term knock too.

    So when Christoph Zimmermann had to leave the field on the hour mark it further added to Daniel Farke's problems in a key part of the pitch, with Ben Godfrey, normally a central midfielder, filling in.

    The Robins pressed high and almost exploited the weaknesses.

    And if Norwich looked a little off colour compared to recent performances that's because they were. Farke explained after the game in his press conference that several players had been suffering with a bug in the build-up to the match, meaning that not much sleep was had coming into the fixture.

    “I didn’t want to mention it before the game, but we also had four or five struggling with the flu,” he said.

    “Christoph did not sleep last night. We had Todd Cantwell, Emi Buendia, Max Aarons all a bit weak with the flu. I didn’t want to mention it because I don’t like to offer excuses."

    Bristol City lucky? Possibly. But still a Robins win wouldn't come.

    Plus, that propensity to concede goals at home when winning popped up to bite the Robins on the tail feather once again.

    Moving forward

    Plenty for the head coach to build on then, even if a tricky trip to Derbyshire does lie in wait next.

    Currently the City squad shows good strength in depth and there are some key players hitting good form such as Diedhiou, Pack and O'Dowda, who must start more games.

    But leads have now been thrown away at home to Norwich, Millwall, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest - four games in 11 - and the Robins simply must score more goals in BS3 or learn to shut out the opposition over 90 minutes.

    As they say, AS Roma wasn't built in a day. Johnson knows this and is striving hard to turn right the wrongs.

    But for that late goal, Bristol City would be well placed in the top half of the Championship. Patience may yet see those fine margins turned and the Robins soar.

    https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/another-lead-squandered-positives-negatives-2333457
     
    #1
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2018
  2. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    This is a recurring problem the team has got to tighten up on.
    ' But leads have now been thrown away at home to Norwich, Millwall, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest - four games in 11 - and the Robins simply must score more goals in BS3 or learn to shut out the opposition over 90 minutes.'
     
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  3. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    We've been doing the same thing for years and that mantra needs to change if we truly want to improve.
     
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  4. NickH

    NickH Well-Known Member

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    Not sure how much can be taken from that stat. How does it compare to other teams? Is it better to go a goal behind but then earn a equaliser? There's always room for improvement and there may be a point about how to approach the game from a position of strength, but otherwise it's a little wishy-washy.
     
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  5. Alandicksthegreat

    Alandicksthegreat Well-Known Member

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    Even after a 4 game unbeaten run Wiz will still look for the negatives.
     
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  6. Cliftonville

    Cliftonville Well-Known Member

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    Norwich were quite good. A point gained rather than two lost.

    Norwich scoring can be seen as a waste when the team dropped deeper, or a positive to improve upon = Mr Johnson interestingly did employ a means of pressing and playing Famara which worked reasonably well for the majority of the game ..
     
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  7. johngalleyfan2

    johngalleyfan2 Well-Known Member

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    wiz is being very patient! at the moment the only negatives are temporary ones ... when we lose .. by the odd goal! I would love to see 38 points on the board before we play Huddersfield but don't think there will be .. not being neggie just realistic!
     
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  8. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    In the bigger picture, whilst disappointing, losing the lead late on to top of the table Norwich , is not the problem , it’s the inability to perform and beat lesser teams, at home In particular , that is . We have to learn how to beat teams that come to Ashton Gate and ‘sit in’ if we want to continue our season on season progresses.
     
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  9. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    I'm with you all the way on those comments Ashton and until the time that we make Ashton Gate a place where other teams fear to visit we will continue to be just average, at best. I don't consider conceding a late goal against Norwich as a negative but our home performances against lower placed teams can be pretty bad at times. To stand any chance of being a contender in this division we need to become more resilient and I can't see that coming in the near future.
     
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  10. Angelicnumber16

    Angelicnumber16 Well-Known Member

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    Are you for real ??

    If so, that's an ignorant response against Wiz who is someone that's almost singled handed has kept this forum going at times, and who has simply reported a news story ABOUT THE CLUB THAT YOU SUPPOSEDLY SUPPORT FFS !

    The headline of the thread - 'Another lead squandered' - Positives and negatives from Bristol City's draw with Norwich City
    followed by the sentence Our City writer takes a balanced look at the Robins' last match... should tell you it wasn't written by Wiz he just put it on here to let people read it and talk about it.

    Get over yourself
     
    #10
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  11. invermeremike

    invermeremike Well-Known Member

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    Wiz is our hero.
     
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  12. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

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    Seem to remember 4 games ago you were calling for Steve Bruce.
    Kettle, pot, black.
     
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  13. Alandicksthegreat

    Alandicksthegreat Well-Known Member

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    Ha ha Wizs band of brothers, i'm sure he's old enough to look after himself, Rp I did say IF we lost our next game and Johnson was sacked I would go for Bruce, unfortunately for you and wizs followers it didn't happen.
     
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