Take Heart from Defeat.

Why Bristol City can take heart from disappointing Sheffield Wednesday defeat
Talking points from the defeat at Hillsborough

While Middlesbrough's loss on Easter Monday means that all is not lost, it is fast approaching do or die time.

Bristol City likely must beat Derby County on Saturday afternoon to resuscitate their fading top six hopes, with defeat against the Owls make it just one win in the last five games.

An unfortunate loss of form looks like it could make for a frustratingly close play-out for the last promotion play-offs.

The 2-0 loss punctured the Robins slowing momentum further so here are some talking points from Monday's game as the Robins went down fighting.

It was one of those days
By the end of the game at Hillsborough, it felt like no matter what the Robins were not going to score.

Cameron Dawson was in imperious form standing in for the injured Keiren Westwood - and by the end the former England U19 player and local lad had made four great saves to keep City at bay.

The pick of the bunch was an amazing reaction save to deny Josh Brownhill late in the game from just a few yards out. Max O'Leary would have been proud.

Wrong time to play Wednesday?
Since Steve Bruce's appointment the Owls have been constantly on the rise. They have only lost twice in 17 league games - a terrific upturn in form and under Bruce they pushed league champions in waiting Norwich all the way at the weekend.

City weren't outclassed by any means, but a lack of quality in the final third did tell as several good positions were wasted.

Maybe the Robins could learn from Wednesday like they might from Reading: the opposition were physical and athletic and City now need to spend some money on some quality to make the jump up.

After the game, Bruce played down that any hopes Sheffield Wednesday might still have for making the play-offs, though they are only three points off City.

"When I began here people were looking the other direction," explained Bruce, who has an interesting summer of cost-cutting at Hillsborough ahead.

Big picture still good
Three wins would see the Robins clamber into the top six and rewrite the script with every Championship observer currently predicting Derby County against Leeds United in the play-offs.

City must go for broke against the Rams on Saturday and can do so with confidence from the bigger picture: it's only five defeats in the last 25 league games and a record that shows the Robins do belong in the upper echelons of the Championship.

Now Famara Diedhiou, Andi Weimann and Josh Brownhill need to step up to the plate and turn their own form around if City are to advance further this campaign.

Jay's big day
Jay Dasilva turned 21 on Monday and was so close to capping his celebrations with his first goal for the Robins.

Forget the wayward finish, as the build-up play was excllent and we're sure if it had been at Ashton Gate it would have resulted in a goal.

Unfortunately Dasilva's luck was out regarding Lucas Joao's lob over Max O'Leary that Dasilva could not clear at the last nor a deep cross that smacked off the post and fell to safety rather than nestle in the net.

Maybe for your 22nd, Jay?

Wondrous Webster
City's best spell seemed to stem from the home side breaking the deadlock and waking up the visitors, as the impish Barry Bannan smashed in from 30 yards.

But it also coincided with the brilliant Adam Webster moving up into midfield - only retreating back into defence when Wright was withdrawn for Kasey Palmer in the second half.

The move worked and the post-game Opta stats showed that Webster completed the second most passes in the game, made the second most attacking third passes, created the most chances apart from Gary Hooper and won the equal most second balls in the game.

Oh, and just for good measure he also made the most defensive clearances in the match and the second most interceptions too after Tomas Kalas.

City have a new anchorman.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-can-take-heart-2786135