Independent on Sunday article- parallel worlds at Sunderland and Bristol City

On my flight back to Portugal after watching the Blackpool match, I saw an article in the Independent On Sunday by Martin Hardy entitled “O’Niell invokes the spirit of Clough in adversity”. It’s about Martin ONiell’s first year at Sunderland. For every reference to Clough, O’Niell and Sunderland insert Derek McInnes and Bristol City.

It sounds crazy but he (Brian Clough) had a first year at Forest where he did not improve the team one jot!
A reminder that Clough’s foot sometimes went underwater is apposite right now.
Martin O’Niell has been at Sunderland just less then 12 months during which time they have had just ONE WIN in the last 17 games. Only in the past few weeks and despite the length of the bad results, he has felt difficult.
During Brian Clough’s first year at Forest, O’Niell said that the team may even have gone backwards although Clough would never have told you. The advice Clough gave to his players and his football club whenever it got tough; “Stick in together, renew your effort, pull in and get even stronger.”
“Did I see any of this coming at Sunderland ?” said O’Niell. “Yes because the manager’s job is becoming more difficult all of the time. Other teams are getting stronger because of outside investment. We’re not at that stage yet but we will get there. It will be slow. It won’t be a decade because I won’t get that time but by the same token we will get there. That is my genuine view and I have a timescale, I have a contract. If I have not lifted this club into our proper position, I will move over.”
“In terms of experience, we have a distance to go. This time last year when I arrived at the club, confidence was low, bruised but not broken. We now find ourselves scrapping again, but we’re not the only team (scrapping). If we do win a game or two, the confidence will come flooding back”
“Of course this is a major test, absolutely. We have signed players for money and I think they have shown what they are capable of doing. I need other players at the football club to step up!

This brief version of the article mirrors almost exactly what is happening at Bristol City. I genuinely believe that we, the supporters, Board and Major shareholders must continue to give 100% support to our current football management team led by Derek McInnes. If Bristol City are ever to be a force in the foreseeable future, we must give them time like Forest gave to Clough and Sunderland are obviously doing for Martin O’Niell.