Monday Verdict - Outclassed, Rusty and Dragged Apart.

Bristol City verdict: Benik Afobe's impact, missing men and Lee Johnson under the microscope
Examining the finer details of a dispiriting 3-1 defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park

After a global pandemic, three months off and then four weeks of individual and group coaching sessions in the summer sun, Bristol City still leave us cold. They are way, way off the finished article, as they look to snaffle an unlikely promotion.

They weren't outclassed by the gritty Blackburn Rovers side they faced on Saturday but Tony Mowbray's team have deserved the win in both league games this season - and that was despite missing key men Bradley Dack and Ryan Nyambe in the latest encounter.

City looked rusty and like a side who hadn't played for 105 days, as Callum O'Dowda got the ball stuck under his feet, Jamie Paterson smacked shot after shot miles wide and high, and centre-backs Nathan Baker and Tomas Kalas were dragged apart.

Almost every player slipped over at some point, as if playing in just socks. (Does Lee Johnson still inspect the grass length with a gadget before games? If not, why not? If so, what happened?)

While the Robins scored the opener against the run of play, the first half was fairly even by the break and so the scoreboard showed.

But the start of the second half - which was always going to be the telling moment in the game given that side City had fielded and their players on the bench - was one-way traffic, despite lockdown restrictions. The Robins could not survive it and were later picked off time and again as City went long, Rovers broke and the game was wrapped up by Adam Armstrong. Again.

Lee Johnson under the microscope
Whatever motivation had been used on the players before the game it did not work. O'Dowda, Pedro Pereira and Han-Noah Massengo looked like rabbits caught in the headlights at times, statuesque as Darragh Lenihan, Lewis Travis and Elliott Bennett flew in like missiles at their ankles.

It was good old aggression and pressing from the home side, and City could not respond as Rovers dominated after the break.

Too many of City's players were way off the standard expected, many had slipped below what they produced before lockdown at Millwall and home against Fulham, and in the last win against Derby. Some time ago.

Before the game, Lee Johnson explained that he had been working on building partnerships and cohesion, but we saw nothing of that in Lancashire.

With five defeats in the last eight games - just one win in that time - the season is close to grinding to a halt, and the role of Johnson must be looked at in that, given the array of talent at his disposal that had Steve Lansdown explaining on the radio before the game that he is nervous because this squad is capable of going places.

Not capable of going to Ewood Park and impressing currently though. "We've had three and a half fantastic weeks of work, but we crossed the line and didn't produce," admitted Johnson afterwards.

Positives are few
This is but one tough game of the final nine however. A result at home to Sheffield Wednesday is a must and Johnson himself will admit that the pressure is on.

Few players did themselves justice as football resumed and it should be remembered that Blackburn have the fourth best home record in the division, while it has been three months without competitive games for most.

Tommy Rowe did well going forward and while conceding too many free-kicks he did grab an assist and defend well aerially. And Niclas Eliasson looked real top class at times too.

Beyond individuals, Blackburn Rovers looked well organised and tough to break down - much of what City are not. But they didn't look too far away from the rabble from the south west, who wilted after the break.

And on Johnson? If the head coach has shown anything in his time at the helm at the Robins, it's that slowly he can find a way to be effective and turn things around. He needs time, as well as questioning. When his key players are fit he must get results.

But the biggest plus was...

Benik Afobe returns
And he looked the part on the pitch too, during the last 18 minutes that he got, scampering down the right flank and almost drawing a foul in the box.

There were inevitably a couple of off-moments too, as the City No40 tried to do a little too much. But things will come over the games ahead.

A partnership with other players must be struck up again, and it was worrying to see a look of exasperation from Afobe when Nahki Wells found space but didn't find his team-mate instead squandering possession.

Still, at some point, that strikeforce of Diedhiou, Wells, Afobe and Weimann is going to come good. Let's hope it's Cardiff.

Back to the drawing board
Little went City's way on Saturday but the Robins deserved little. Blackburn's snap was greater than the visitors and too many individual duels were lost by the visitors.

Bentley must be dropped after unconvincing performances yesterday, at Southampton, at Huddersfield and at home against West Brom. Niki Maenpaa - who was outstanding against Fulham and for large parts of last season deserves a recall.

Beyond that few players are putting their hands up to be picked, not the inconsistent Tomas Kalas or centre-back partner and dancing pal Nathan Baker, nor captain Korey Smith or even the elusive Jamie Paterson who snuck in his fourth league goal of the season for City.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-verdict-benik-afobes-4248739

 

A very critical report about us from a normally supportive reporter ~

'Unlikely promotion, rusty,as if playing in just socks, looked like rabbits caught in the headlights at times, statuesque, role of Johnson must be looked at, rabble from the south west, who wilted after the break, the Robins must go back to basics, may only have been fool's gold.'

Severe criticism, all words printed in the press, LJ ought to take note and stop blaming his players, it's his team, his tactics, his selections, his coaching, his team spirit, his failure.