'We're matching style with strength' – McAllister Wednesday, December 12th 2018 Bristol City have shown a different side to their game which has aided their recent run of good form, says Jamie McAllister. The assistant head coach believes City to be more physical, echoing Lee Johnson’s view that the side were gladiatorial in last weekend’s win at Birmingham City. The Robins have notched up seven points from their last three games, with a draw against Millwall and a win away at Ipswich Town included. McAllister said: “We’ve been playing well but most pleasing is how we have dealt with two physical and direct teams. “We weren’t great at that at times last year but we’ve really matched their physical threats, won the first contacts, won the second balls and played good football off the back of that. “We have good footballers in this team who can do both and they have shown they can handle that in the last few games. “The boys have been digging in, doing the basics well, been organised and hard to beat, hard to break down.” Reflecting on City’s last run out against Birmingham City, McAllister added: “It was really dogged but off the back of that we played good football so that gives you the foundation to play good football. We’ve dominated the last couple of games possession wise too and that’s pleasing.” City host table-toppers Norwich City on Saturday (December 15th, 5.30pm), in front of the Sky Sports cameras. https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/were-matching-style-with-strength-mcallister/
Grinding results would be a better description, but it’s stopped the rot and points we so desperately needed. Norwich will be a different test and any points from that game will be a bonus..
In the past we've often dropped points in games where we've played the more stylish football but conceded soft goals and been criticised for 'naivety', so there's something to be happy about in being able to grind out results when required. People can say that Ipswich and Birmingham in particularly played poorly, but the question is whether we took advantage of that, or did City's influence play a part in them appearing poor? Maybe we decided the conditions had a factor in our style? 7 points from a possible 9 is good, though after the run of four defeats in a row, it still only seems something of a salvage job, rather than something to be excited about. Beat Norwich though, and people might start to think about the playoffs again...
No chance of that in the next year or so OS, although you will have 2 close derbies next season with us and the Jacks.....
