SOD Says..

There are a few games in this league you play away, and think "we should really be looking to take all 3 points here". Tranmere is DEFINITELY one of those games, and we come back with a solitary, unsatisfactory point. Ho Hum, this is going to be the story of our season. Near misses, and almosts, which could eventually mean another drop under an incapable manager.

 

No no no i will take a point away as long as we win at home,unbeaten in how long,nice to see the wrot has stopped.

Sheff utd next at home,big away following onward and upwards.

 

We will see! IMO we will not get relegated, two home games coming up.

 

There are no easy away games - look at League 2 where today the bottom side beat the leaders

All points away from home are points gained

 

It is never easy to get points at Tranmere. Well done team BCFC.

 

The comments around the City fans around where I was sitting is that in the first half 'Tranmere were there for the taking'. it somehow summed up City's dominance. There were many occasions when City moved the ball around well and to purpose- they found their men and made good decisions. It was a display from a side playing with confidence and epitomised by Sam Baldock's unerring strike. Defensively Parrish had nothing to do and any threats Tranmere made were comfortably dealt with by the defence. The Tranmere goal was their only shot on target.

Gradually but perceptably City's performance deteriorated in the second half. Too often were they second to the ball. Too often from a promising build the ball was lumped to either Baldock or JET who had one of those days he was unable to win or even compete with any high balls, and seemingly made very little contribution. Parrish's distribution was so predictable that all 20 of the outfielders knew where the ball was going to land, and every time Tranmere won the ball. Why can the defence not stay back and build an attack, rather than lumping it to the same place... sorry it is one of my pet criticisms.

As the second half went on it was Tranmere who were causing the most problems and looked the more likely winners.

Yes it is one point away, but with more guile and ingenuity we could have come away with all 3.

I'd be interested to find out if any other City fans had a similar take on the match.

I must congratulate the City fans for their singing and support throughout- probably wouldn't take my grandson- it wasn't always what he is used to in "Songs and rymes" but we certainly outsang Tranmere.

 

I would have taken a point before the game. We've a pretty poor record on the Wirral and some bad memories from a 6-0 thrashing there a few years ago

 

It's a decent point - need to keep the momentum going by getting at least 4 points from our back to back home games next week

 

Someone else's view taken from OTIB pretty much a longer version of yours Manx

Well where do I start?
For the most of the first half I expected to be writing about a 3 point trip ala Carlisle but today's it's a point.

So a point in Birkenhead where we saw what City can do (positively) and what City can do (In a frustrating way).
They say football is two halves, well we got that.

Lovely ground, fantastic view for away support, friendly pub opposite the away turnstile in the Prenton Park where I had a chat to some locals - they don't think much of their side lately(doesn't everyone?).

Ok so Tranmere?
They are poor. In fact I'll stick my neck out and say we will not play a worse side than Tranmere Rovers.
We complain about some long balls at Ashton Gate, let me tell you until you see a Ronnie Moore side play, you don't really appreciate what classic hoofball is!!

Tranmere were classic Ronnie Moore. Boot it long, boot it high - we lost 2 balls over the top of the Johnny King stand and managed to hit the roof of a 2 block stand - leave your foot in and it's just horrible football.

So how did we do?
Jekyll and Hyde (again).
First half we set out with Jet partnering Baldock with Shorey pushed up on the left in front of Cunningham.
We started with confidence, back to back wins saw us with a new found belief to play the ball to feet, to players finding space and Tranmere looked ordinary.
Their sparse crowd made no noise and we didn't look troubled until it was no surprise to see us take the lead.

Baldock was marked differently than what we've seen before. It helped too. Moore's sides tend to be big and mark zonally, so before where we've seen Sam lose the ball from close marking he got away several times today.
Ball was played over the top behind the centre half, Sam lost him took it into the penalty area wide on the left and struck a bullet into the far corner in front of the Tranmere end.

Something I've been waiting to see from Baldock for a while.

Then the next 20 mins saw a pattern of City playing it on the deck, Reid trying to spread it wide to the left and right using Gillett to keep it and whenever Tranmere got it they just booted it forward or out. I couldn't see how they'd score .

Then I did see it. One of the few occasions they broke and there was a ball played across, silly buggers played but we had men in the box, I couldn't fault them. Then there was a drilled well struck shot either heading out or Parrish would have handled.
It took a nasty deflection and we were 1-1.

Only shot they had taken and completely undeserved.
We then had a spell of pressure but in reality their pressure was hoiking it into our box and trying to fling a body in it.
In fact there was almost a goal but it came from us.

The anonymous JET struck a decent free kick edge of their box tipped around the post by Goliath in goal. Then from the resulting corner Gillett was unlucky to not get a goal.

When the ref blew for half time it was not disconsolate. We'd been sucker punched they didn't deserve it but we had 45 mins where our football should address it.

Unfortunately step forward the frustrating no-confidence Bristol City.
Whether the goal, the crowd, I don't know what but we decided we no longer wanted to play it on the floor and engaged in a battle of hoofball.
Playing long ball with a Ronnie Moore side is a pointless task. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you. Flint and Moloney was heading it high and anywhere, volleying high (Flint booted one out the stand) and we noticeably backed off.

So we invited pressure. While at the time it seemed like we were under pressure there wasn't one real chance I recall them having.
All we ended up doing by sitting back was invite Tranmere to come forward, whip their crowd up and rule ourselves out from going back ahead.

One moment we did play some nice football was when Pack found himself through on the left side inside the penalty area.
Instead of crossing it into the six yard box or shooting , he attempted a ridiculously fancy Johann Cruyff back heel which went straight to them. We were all out of position, Tranmere ran it the length of the pitch put a cross over for Parrish to tip it over to huge Tranmere noise.
Idiocy.
We didn't really attempt to play football again after that.

We did come close near the end JET pulled clear and put it across 6 yard box which best the keeper only for it to be put out last gasp preventing what would have been a certain Bobby Reid goal.

For all their pressure second half it was who had the two best chances with a good save from Baldock by the keeper.

Final whistle was pretty disappointing because everyone could see how poor Tranmere were.
We beat ourselves that second half by not sticking to what we did well first half and sitting back.

The fact Tranmere still didn't really create much other than hustle and bustle corners probably says it most.

The players came over and clapped, we clapped them (not without the odd shout to JET about how lazy he had been).
Good turnout again.

Did we deserve a point or all 3?
Hmmmm, I don't think our second half warranted us leaving here with all but goodness me we should have.....

 

I dont agree IBS
I am beginning to get back onside with The Sod. I believe he could slowly begin to work a miracle here in BS3, in one of the most difficult periods in our history.
My evidence ?
Witness the wonderful show by our Under 18s against Newport. Not the result so much as the football played. If that is taste of the future, there will come a time when it will be a matter of pride to announce to a room that you are a Bristol City supporter, and hear the murmurs of ascent in reply.

Also, he seems to have stopped the rot as far as our first team results. All from the mess that he inherited.
No IBS. As far as I'm concerned he can continue the work he has begun, and I watch with interest another Bristol City phoenix rising from the ashes.

 

Didn't see it much differently, if at all to the review.

Don't like Prenton Park, third trip and it always has a friendly feel to it, no edge.

City were Jekyll and Hyde [again]. It would have been preferable if it had been halves the other way round. Second half the team for whatever reason forgot to do what they are good at, yes good, moving the ball and maintaining possession. They did again look like a team that was well drilled and co-ordinated without the ball.

A thought raised. If that second half was at Ashton Gate they would have been slated for it instead of looking at it in a pragmatic manner. First half = wins. Second half = going backwards. Some fans prefer the "get it up there" approach, when what is required is slow down, put the foot on it etc.

Didn't like the starting XI, and expected a defeat. A point gained. City now no longer in freefall [I think!].

 

It's worth remembering that Tranmere might have been 'poor' and 'there for the taking' but they had only lost 1 in their lost 6 (to table-topping Leyton Orient) and had beaten MKDons (we didn't) and Bradford (same). Just because they don't play pretty doesn't mean they are easy to beat. I also go for a positive feel - an away point is a good point. Onwards to Sheffield United and the manager that some feel we should have swopped SOD for....

 

Thought Paul Hartley's ball to Maynard was brilliant.
Oh - it was young Reid and Baldock.

'I am beginning to get back onside with The Sod.
Also, he seems to have stopped the rot as far as our first team results. All from the mess that he inherited'.

Rickster what are you like ?

I gave SOD last season. This season he played the 2mph possession game until 5 games a go.
He's ditched that for Wimbledon Madrid - That's why were picking up points FFS.
As for watching the cr*p that's another story.
It's dire.

 

5 games unbeaten, and if it aint broke dont fix it
Sod is working with what he has, his tactics dictated by the players he has. Some he signed himself and some he inherited. Thankfully the inherited ones are beginning to get pensioned off.
Also maybe its a case of that is the way to get results in div1, not pretty but effective.
I know its uncool to support the manager RP, but isnt it about time we had some continuity and steadiness of the reins.

 

'Sod is working with what he has, his tactics dictated by the players he has' and
'maybe its a case of that is the way to get results in div1'

So why did it take the daft sod a dozen games to realise his stupid 2mph game didn't work.
Don't make excuses and write a story to fit what's happened.

'uncool to support the manager' - No Rickster, it's bloody stupid not to criticise something that's bloody stupid.