'Even if Frank Fielding is fit on Wednesday, Bristol City should keep faith with Max O'Leary' By Matthew Withers Our Robins fan writer gives his thoughts. Brentford’s Griffin Park Stadium is ‘old school’. The away terrace is compact to say the least and the facilities are dated, putting it politely, but as it’s a relatively short trip up the M4, it’s always a game I look forward to, even though our record there is poor. It had been some 13 years since our last away victory at the home of the Bees and I’ll admit to being a little pessimistic about getting anything against a side that I consider to be one of the best footballing teams in the Championship. With injuries and illness to City’s first choice goalkeepers Frank Fielding and Niki Maenpaa, youngster Max O’Leary was given the gloves and made his league debut for the club. Max has had some excellent loan spells in non-league and is highly thought of at the club, but the Championship is a different beast and a first start away at a ground like Brentford must have been a daunting thought. Not a bit of it. Max was excellent and rewarded Lee Johnson’s faith in him with for me a man-of-the-match performance. Don’t get me wrong, Max didn’t have to make save after save but when he was called upon he dealt with everything that Brentford could throw at him and made a couple of top quality saves to keep City on level terms. The near 2,000 fans who made the trip up the M4 were singing Max’s name from the warm up to the final whistle and a clean sheet and 3 points on his 1st league start will be something that the youngster will never forget. Even if Frank Fielding is able to play on Wednesday I would keep faith with Max. If a player comes in and performs then he should keep his place. This wasn’t all about Max, there were a couple of excellent performances from Lloyd Kelly and Jay Dasilva and it was great to see Niclas Eliasson get the winner in the last minute of injury time. Lee Johnson opted to play Eliasson and Jamie Paterson wide with Marlon Pack and Josh Brownhill in the middle and up top Matty Taylor and Andrea Weimann were given the nod with Famara Diedhiou on the bench. City needed an energetic team to match the work rate and pace of Brentford who had lost manager Dean Smith to Aston Villa in the week before the game. City started slowly and just couldn’t find any rhythm or pattern of play in the opening 20 minutes. Brentford were on top without really causing City too many problems aside from a great opening for top scorer Neal Maupay who somehow managed to scuff his shot wide from only a few yards out and then a smart shot from Ollie Watkins which O’Leary comfortably palmed away. There was more injury woes for City when Nathan Baker was forced to leave the field with a knock to the head. Jay Dasilva came on at left back and Lloyd Kelly moved into the middle alongside Adam Webster. Dasilva got on the front foot and started to run at the Bees and with his positive approach as the half wore on City found their feet and had a couple of goals ruled out for offside the second of which for Matty Taylor was very close and could easily have been given. The second half started in the same vein but the game turned in City’s favour when Bees centre half Chris Mepham was send off as the hour approached for a second booking. Mepham needlessly got involved in a melee with Marlon Pack early in the second half with both picking up yellow cards and then he made the slightest contact on Eliasson as he ran through and having been in the refs ear for most of the game, he was booked and two yellows meant a red and he was off. Lee Johnson seized the initiative and brought on Diedhiou for Taylor first and then Liam Walsh for Brownhill with just under 20 minutes to go. I have been saying in this column that Walsh deserved an opportunity and when he came on he didn’t disappoint. The ex Evertonian was forward thinking in everything that he did and kept City on the front foot, spreading the play wide. There was one scare for City when Watkins hit the post from a tight angle and the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Nic Eliasson ghosted in a the back post from an excellent Da Silva cross to seal the victory. I really like Eliasson and hopefully the goal will do his confidence the world of good. Final word to Max O’Leary, another academy product starting his journey with City. This was an impressive start and Max has to grab his opportunity and make it difficult for Johnson to drop him when Fielding and Maenpaa are available. Well done Max. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/even-frank-fielding-fit-wednesday-2132229
No chance FF is fit by Weds imo but if there is any shred of doubt at all, we should keep Max onboard. Great to have another academy product playing and he had a very strong league debut.
Agree with Rob , no chance FF will be fit so issue won’t arise, if by some freak of nature FF Is fit , tough call, i would go with FF because of experience, that said , I would not criticise Lee if he still stuck with Max. If I did pick FF though I would have a conversation with Max, explaining he’s still young and his chance will come.
I agree it's highly unlikely Frankkie will be availabe to play on Wednesday but the question is just a simple what if the circumstances existed a choice had to be made would you drop Max after his great performance on Saturday?
Max should be the only choice for me and it would also make him more a part of the unit. We thought goalkeeping could be our nemesis but we seem to be O.K and a good win in our next match would make Max feel great, and that's always a good feeling.
If FF is fully fit I would pick him in preference to Max for his experience yes, it’s a no brainier really. Max is still young , his time will come.
I voted for Max. However, it depends where the kids head is at - he put in a fantastic display on Saturday so he should be confident - but to be fair he was LJs ONLY choice - against a side who were expected to win, so he would have been blameless even if he had conceded. If Frankie is back fit then it’s a different prospect keeping a hardened pro out of the side - he will need to be super confident, knowing that questions will be asked (of LJ) if he makes a mistake.
It’s a bit like saying would you pick Vyner over Kalas on the strength of one good performance, of course not , it would be madness.
Don’t worry, if Max conceded 2 on Wednesday RR will be saying he’s never rated him and LJ is useless to have picked him. And one or two would also agree with him.
The kid deserves his chance,great performance Saturday when Nikki is fit then that would be a tough one. Frankie Fielding for me has been one of the weak links for seasons.
It’s all about opinions RR, but sometimes you talk nonsense, I wonder at times whether you say things to deliberately be controversial.
WELL bcfc in the after game interview for local itv he was as sound as a pound, well anchored to the moment and came over very assurred
Sorry I would stick with young Max, after his fine performance Saturday, why send the wrong message to the lad and say your not good enough for the next game, so stick with him he must be on a high, don't knock his confidence.
He played well tonight , I don’t think either of the two main keepers will be fit for Saturday , so Max will start again & that doesn’t concern me , but I still think he will make way once they are fit. My preference would be FF, as I’m not convinced by Maenpaa. It’s encouraging to see academy youngsters coming through and doing well in the first team & definitely the way forward .
