|
It would have been difficult to believe just a few weeks ago that we'd be getting better results away from home than at home, but that's the case right now. The away results have picked up remarkably whilst unfortunately we've struggled at home and were only able to pick up one point out of six from this week's Turf Moor clashes against Millwall and Coventry.
We're still nicely placed and have the best chance of any team outside the top six to break into it. Given that we still have to play all of the four teams currently occupying the play off places it all remains in our own hands from the last ten games, five of which are at home and five away.
We're currently on a run of four away wins without defeat and that's just one short of the best unbeaten run away from home this season in the Championship. This time though it is three wins and a draw whereas the five game run, from September to November, all consisted of draws.
We need to make it five again and we could really do with making it a third successive away league win. That will have got people looking back to when it last happened. It was in 2007. It started with a 1-0 win at Leicester on the day Steve Davis managed the side and was followed by wins at Watford, Charlton and Wolves, the first three away games for Owen Coyle as manager.
Interestingly, as that run of four wins came we were just starting a run of eight home games without a win.
A win today is unlikely to take us into the top six unless Nottingham Forest suffered a defeat and there was a big switch in the goal differences, but a win would almost certainly edge is that bit closer to where we want to be.
Bristol City were being tipped as a potential promotion team ahead of the season. Much of that was because of the appointment of new manager Steve Coppell who had replaced Gary Johnson.
Things didn't quite work out like that. They lost 3-0 at home to Millwall on the opening day of the season and followed that up with a Carling Cup exit at Southend three days later. That was enough for Coppell who opted out and subsequently announced his retirement from management.
City turned to Keith Millen who had twice been in caretaker charge. This time they gave him the job on a permanent basis and he signed a three year deal. They struggled initially and were bottom of the table right through October. There were calls for Millen to go but the club stuck with him and have now benefited from that decision.
They've now climbed to 14th in the table and, prior to the defeat at Norwich on Monday, have been on a good run that saw them win four successive games against Watford, Scunthorpe, Coventry and Portsmouth.
Now on 47 points they are surely free from any relegation worries and Millen will be looking for some good results to get them into a respectable position by the end of the season.
Bristol City's leading goalscorer this season is a Brett Pitman and a player Eddie Howe will know all about. The 23-year-old Channel Islander scored no less than 26 league goals last season in Bournemouth's promotion season before becoming one of Millen's first signings last August, signing off with a hat trick for Howe in a 5-1 win against Peterborough at Dean Court.
Pitman has, however, been used as a substitute recently following the return to fitness of Nicky Maynard.
Bristol City's main doubt surrounds defender Liam Fontaine. He's facing surgery next week on an ankle injury and a late decision will be made as to whether he'll play. If not his place is expected to be taken by former QPR defender Damion Stewart who will partner Steven Caulker in the centre of the defence.
City will definitely be without defenders Louis Carey and Jamie McAllister as well as midfielder Cole Skuse and striker Jon Stead.
They should line up: David James, Jordan Spence, Liam Fontaine (or Damion Stewart), Steven Caulker, Lewin Nyatanga, Albert Adomah, Marvin Elliott, Kalifa Cisse, Martyn Woolford, David Clarkson, Nicky Maynard. Subs from : Dean Gerken, Damion Stewart, Lee Johnson, Andy Keogh, Christian Ribeiro, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Joe Edwards, Brett Pitman.
How Burnley take to the field is anyone's guess with Eddie Howe having confirmed that he's considering changes. Making changes is something he's not done a lot of since arriving at Burnley and in the 13 league and cup games so far we have had 9 ever presents.
They are goalkeeper Lee Grant, the back four of Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff and Danny Fox, midfielders Jack Cork and Dean Marney along with both Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez.
Marney seems to be the most likely to lose his place but that would be because of the knee injury that forced him off just before half time against Coventry on Tuesday. He's been praised by the new management team for his performances and will definitely play if fit. If not, I would expect Marvin Bartley to come in for his first start in Burnley colours.
With Howe having re-iterated that Grant is first choice goalkeeper it does seem likely that the players most at risk of losing their places are Carlisle and Duff.
Howe will select from those on duty on Tuesday plus Brian Easton and the squad is: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Dean Marney, Ross Wallace, Chris Eagles, Jay Rodriguez, Nathan Delfouneso, Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Andre Bikey, Graham Alexander, Marvin Bartley, Wade Elliott, Chris Iwelumo and Brian Easton.
|
There was one change from the team that had beaten Southampton a week earlier. Wade Elliott was ruled out with injury and was replaced by Michael Duff who played at right back with Graham Alexander able to move into the midfield.
In that Southampton game we were 3-0 up after just 11 minutes but in this game we struggled going forward for much of the first half. The home side just about had the edge and certainly had the best chance of the half but Jamie McCombe headed wide.
It was still goalless at half time but that soon changed after the break when Stern John went down under a challenge from Clarke Carlisle and referee Russell Booth, on a signal from his assistant, pointed to the spot. Nicky Maynard, who had been struggling for goals, made no mistake with the penalty and Bristol City were 1-0 up.
Almost immediately we brought on Steven Thompson for Joey Gudjonsson and his first touch of the ball led to a goal. He played the ball down the right wing for Chris Eagles which was handled by a defender.
Eagles took the free kick and found Carlisle at the far post. The defender headed the ball back across for Martin Paterson to head home from close range. Their lead had lasted just five minutes.
The goal had come out of the blue but it was the spark we needed although we might have lost Paterson soon after when City goalkeeper Adriano Basso went down as if he'd been shot as Pato walked past him. There had been no contact whatsoever but Basso, ridiculously, got away with it.
I so wanted him to make a crucial mistake that would cost them, but when the winner came there was nothing he could do. Paterson got the ball in the box on the left hand side, beat two defenders and played it across for Thompson who scored from close range. In a season of substitutes scoring it was no surprise to see him get what turned out to be the winner.
It left us all looking forward to Christmas. We'd no idea we'd lose the next five league games but there again, we'd no idea where the season would eventually take us.
The teams were;
Bristol City: Adriano Basso, Bradley Orr (Scott Murray 81), Andy Webster, Jamie McCombe, Liam Fontaine, Gavin Williams (Lee Trundle 45), Lee Johnson (David Noble 85), Marvin Elliott, Michael McIndoe, Stern John, Nicky Maynard. Subs not used: Stephen Henderson, John Akinde.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Robbie Blake (Alan Mahon 72), Joey Gudjonsson (Steven Thompson 55), Chris McCann, Chris Eagles (Alex MacDonald 90), Martin Paterson. Subs not used: Diego Penny, Ade Akinbiyi.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1994/95 | 1 | h | 1-1 | 11,067 | Robinson |
a | 1-1 | 6,717 | Eyres | ||
1995/96 | 2 | h | 0-0 | 9,327 | |
a | 1-0 | 6,612 | Nogan | ||
1996/97 | 2 | h | 2-3 | 9,538 | Gleghorn Weller |
a | 1-2 | 10,013 | Smith | ||
1997/98 | 2 | a | 1-3 | 11,136 | Barnes |
h | 1-0 | 10,600 | Payton(pen) | ||
1999/2000 | 2 | a | 0-0 | 11,510 | |
h | 2-0 | 10,175 | Cook Cooke | ||
2007/08 | C | a | 2-2 | 14,079 | Gray Carlisle |
h | 0-1 | 12,109 | |||
2008/09 | C | a | 2-1 | 16,108 | Paterson Thompson |
h | 4-0 | 18,005 | Alexander(2 2pens) Elliott Gudjonsson | ||
2010/11 | C | h | 0-0 | 14,540 | |