Five Things We Learned

Bristol City: January signings, defensive frailties, big test for Johnson and no stopping Wilbraham
By a_stockhausen

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FOR the first time since the start of the season, Bristol City are nearer in proximity to the Championship relegation zone than they are to the play-off positions.

A campaign that began so brightly, amid such excitement and which initially promised to deliver so very much, has temporarily lost its way as the Robins have slipped out of top-six contention and dropped down the table.

Daniel Johnson's late goal consigned Lee Johnson's side to a sixth loss in seven league outings and served to dampen spirits ahead of the Christmas festivities. Here are five things we learned from City's 2-1 home defeat to Preston North End.

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1 It is now abundantly apparent that City require reinforcements in January
THIS is by no means a relegation battle – City remain seven points clear of the Championship drop zone – but the season could descend into one of struggle unless majority shareholder Steve Lansdown is prepared to release funds to attract new players in January. Head coach Lee Johnson admitted as much after the game when he told journalists he would like to bring in at least another couple of players to provide "a bit of security" for those who are already on board. It has long been evident that City are in urgent need of a physically-imposing striker to complement top-scorer Tammy Abraham, while a ball-winning midfielder with the ability to shield a back four that has been regularly exposed in recent weeks would also not go amiss. City already possess a squad bursting with youthful enthusiasm and there is no doubting the rich potential of many of those recruited in 2016. But the overriding requirement in the short-term is for experienced campaigners who can step straight into the first team and do a job in the here and now. January is an expensive time to shop for ready-made Championship-quality players, but that is exactly what it is going to take if the current slide is to be reversed and confidence restored among the youngers players, who just need a helping hand.

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2 City's inability to take their chances when on top is costing them dearly
CITY summoned arguably their most intense start to any home game this season as they dominated Preston during an opening 20 minutes in which the visitors scarcely left their own half of the pitch. At their fluent best, the Robins exposed Preston's high line, stretching the visitors to breaking point with dynamic pass and move tactics. But the only criticism during those opening exchanges was that the home side failed to translate possession and territorial dominance into the hard currency of goals. Credit where it is due, North End goalkeeper Chris Maxwell excelled, stopping everything that was thrown at him as Simon Grayson's team was made to weather an early storm. As well as he performed, though, it is incumbent upon City to make more of the chances they create and we saw an all-too familiar tale unfold as they failed to make their superiority count. City enjoyed a similar level of dominance without being able to finish in front of goal at Birmingham last month, while the same shortcomings cost them dear against Brentford only last week. City were well and truly punished for their profligacy when Simon Makienok fired Preston in front from their first meaningful attack in the 21st minute. Scoring first gives teams such a significant advantage in the Championship, yet it is something this City team has managed to do on a mere six occasions this season.

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3 The Robins are vulnerable when turning ball over to counter-attacking opponents
LEE Johnson's side is struggling to cope with the transition between being in and out of possession. Ashton Gate regulars must be scratching their heads and asking themselves the question 'how can it be that a team so enterprising in attack, can also be so frail in defence?' Wide open during the early stages of last week's home game against Brentford, the Robins could easily have been down and out before half time as Preston consistently embarrassed them with swiftly-delivered counter-attacks. Quick to break whenever they regained possession, Preston passed the ball accurately to cut through City's ragged defences like a knife through butter. It was far too easy for Callum Robinson to deliver the cross from which the unmarked Simon Makienok volleyed the visitors in front and had Ivan Lucic and the cross bar not come to City's rescue, denying Tom Clarke and Robinson respectively, the outcome would have been beyond doubt before the break. City's defensive frailties again emerged as Preston regained the lead four minutes from time, Daniel Johnson beating Lucic at his near post to deliver a real hammer blow to Lee Johnson's men. It is not enough to hold the defenders themselves responsible; City need t learn to defend better as a team.

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4 Aaron Wilbraham can always be relied upon to score against Preston
Aaron Wilbraham's eyes must have lit up when head coach Lee Johnson ordered him to warm-up early in the second half. The reason? City's super-sub boasts an impressive track record when it comes to scoring goals against Preston North End. The big striker netted a crucial headed equaliser in a top-of-the-table League One encounter at Deepdale the season before last and then netted again at the same venue in the Championship a few months later. He was at it again here, rising unopposed at the far post to meet Adam Matthews' deep cross with a header that looped back across goal and beyond the despairing dive of keeper Chris Maxwell. Once again, Wilbraham proved his worth to this young City team, providing them with an attacking focal point and a physical presence served to keep Preston's centre halves fully occupied. At the point where City's club captain levelled matters, the home side were the dominant force and looked the one most likely to go on and win the contest. But not even Wilbraham was able to overcome the defensive frailties that continue to let City down on an alarmingly regular basis.

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5 Lee Johnson has come back from adversity before and will do so again
ALTHOUGH Robins head coach Le Johnson is enduring his worst run of form and results since taking chance in February this year, it is nothing he has not experienced previously. On the receiving end of eight straight defeats when at the helm at Barnsley in League One last season, Johnson feared he might lose his job. But he rode out the storm, stuck to his football principles and eventually set in motion a recovery that swept the Tykes to a promotion and Johnstone's Paint Trophy double triumph. Of course, he will be hurting following a depressing sequence of six losses in seven outings that has seen his team slide out of immediate play-off contention and plummet from fifth to 16th in the Championship table in the space of a couple of months. Johnson's father, Gary, once suffered 10 defeats on the bounce when in charge at Ashton Gate and steadied the ship before achieving promotion to the Championship the following season. Not only will Lee draw upon his own experiences last season in order to effect a transformation in fortunes, he will also be able to seek advice from his father. He has the full backing of the Ashton Gate board of directors and the players and will not rest until he has returned the Robins to winning ways. In the meantime, continued patience on the part of the supporters and another couple of transfer windows will be required before this City team can be considered the finished product. This is a longp0term project which remains in its early stages and now is the time for everybody involved to pull together and show a united front.

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'Johnson feared he might lose his job. But he rode out the storm, stuck to his football principles and eventually set in motion a recovery that swept the Tykes to a promotion and Johnstone's Paint Trophy double triumph.'