Forever Bristol City Podcast

QPR [H] review: bad day at the office, no cause for concern?

Probably City's worst performance of the season as they suffered a third defeat in a row when losing 1-2 to a lively QPR.

Ian, Neil & DaveP review the match action which saw City give themselves a mountain to climb by gifting two goals to the visitors inside the first 22 minutes and that was after an opening 15 minute spell when we looked to be at our best.

We talk individual performances, formations and look forward to Tuesday's home game against Coventry.

Burnley [A] review: poor goals conceded but overall OK?

Defeat at Turf Moor but once again City were their own worst enemies as a defensive lapse after just 4 minutes put them on the back foot.

Nahki scored against his former club and whilst City had some good periods in the game they looked tired and leggy at the end and no one would deny that overall Burnley were the better team.

Ian, Mark & DaveP review the game and if you click on this link you can hear the thoughts of Matt from Burnley's NoNayNever Podcast: https://voca.ro/1cvgQiDyiES3

Norwich [A] review: If not for you Kal we’d have won that

Ian, Mark, Neil and DaveP review a game which, although City lost, saw a performance that bodes well for the rest of the season and at the very least a top half finish.

Kal Naismith was guilty of two fundamental errors in the first 20 minutes which meant City were left with a mountain to climb. They were not shocked into submission by the early setbacks and played with a purpose fully deserving of another Conway goal which reduced the deficit before the break.

City dominated the early stages of the 2nd half but totally against the run of play a poorly defended goal just past the hour put the home side two goals clear. But City came back again with a goal from supersub Semenyo which had it not gone in would surely have seen referee Webb give City a penalty after Williams had been scythed down in the box.

So much good about City's play but those mistakes at the back are still there and must be eliminated starting at Burnley and that is another tough game at the weekend

 

Blackburn [A] review .... Sweet dreams are made of this

Eight games into the season, 6 undefeated in the league and City find themselves nestled in the play off zone after this convincing win against Blackburn Rovers - the one goal margin of victory not reflective of City's overall superiority throughout the game.

Nige kept the same team and was rewarded when Wells & Conway gave City a two goal cushion with goals either side of half time. Blackburn hit back with the first of their two goals which highlighted City's underlying frailties but within a minute Wells had got his 2nd to restore the advantage with technology rewarding him rather than Naismith whose finish was emphatic.

DaveP hosts Ian, Mark and Lezz who are in buoyant mood recalling the action and conversation switches to whether this start can be maintained and what decisions might have to be made if we occupy a similar position at the turn of the year

Huddersfield [H] review ..... this Beast is on fire!!

Is there no stopping Antoine Semenyo? His 3rd goal in a week of coming on as a sub and the finish this time was emphatic.

City rose to seventh in the Championship with this win that keeps the unbeaten run going before a testing yet less intensive sequence of fixtures in September.

DaveP hosts Neil, Ian and Mark whose sound problems are at last banished!!!

Blackpool [A] review .... on balance you have to take a cup half full view?

To twice come from behind and take the lead with 20 minutes remaining has to be seen as a creditable achievement on a ground that is hardly amongst City's favourites but then mistakes by King & Naismith to leave Vyner as the patsy in the last minute meant that the points were shared in this 6 goal thriller.

The closing 20 minutes was a disaster and undid the good work in a match where City could have been two up before the home side's 7th minute opener.

If sending Semenyo on with half an hour remaining was an inspired substitution [he scored with his first touch] then you have to look at the composition of the bench to ask why Wilson or Naismith didn't come on to replace Scott and where were Pring & Klose?

Ian, Mark, Lezz & DaveP talk through the match and look forward to the upcoming game against Huddersfield. 

And so the improvement continues ....

DaveP & Ian debate aspects of the game at Adams Park, which they did not see,  but which keeps City's change of fortunes on the right track.

Team selection for Saturday and beyond is problematic for all the right reasons and will there be anyone off to pastures new before 1st September

CARDIFF [H] reviewed : If this style can be maintained then the sky’s the limit?

City ran out worthy winners against their Severnside rivals in a match, like vs. Luton, that had everything and made it impossible to criticise any one player as they all gave 100%.

DaveP debates the action with Ian, Lezz & Rob Pickles as well as looking forward to the week ahead, transfers and the statistical anomaly which is the only term to describe the side never being awarded a spot kick in line with what is the norm for 91 other clubs!

LUTON [H] reviewed : what was not to like about that?!

Ian & DaveP debate the match action at Ashton Gate which was as complete a team performance as you could wish for as City secured a deserved 3 points against a disappointing Luton side.

What a difference to the pace of the game transpired with Martin's omission from the starting line up and Conway & Wells as a strike duo finished where they left off against Coventry. Surely they must start on Sunday?

Nigel made some outspoken yet justified comments about the match officials which we debate as well along with looking forward to the weekend's Severnside derby.

Unbeaten in 2 but an unwanted consistency in how we’re playing

Andi Weimann's 4th goal in four was the only bright spot in the blistering heat of the DW Stadium as City put in an all too familiar type of display as they had to settle for a point.

I find myself conflicted as before the game I would have taken a point but it was aspects of the performance that sees me take the view that we are in for a long hard season.

Why do we run out of puff with annoying regularity?

What of Alex Scott? Played better at RWB than he appears to be doing in his favoured midfield.

A fit Joe Williams but is he all that and perhaps the same applies to Kal Naismith?

JD attacking threat? don't think so.

There are some positives - Sykes looks a decent signing, Tommy Conway is doing fine and even Zak Vyner is doing OK in so far as he is no worse than those alongside him.

And what of Nigel Pearson? Easy to jump on the beating with a stick bandwagon but he doesn't help himself does he? Seems unable / unwilling to change tactics mid-game and displays an unbelievable level of loyalty to Chris Martin who was AWOL for most of the time yesterday. He took off our youngest two players yesterday but still our target man who's 34 in November does a full 90 mins and you just know he'll be selected Tuesday night vs. Luton.