Wes Burns's late, late goal ended a miserable week on a high as City stunned Boro to notch up a rare win.
Bobby Reid's 95th minute corner was nodded towards goal by central defender Aden Flint and Robins winger Burns claimed his first goal of the season when the ball skimmed off his head to complete the double over the Championship leaders.
City ditched manager Steve Cotterill on Thursday following a two year spell in which he rescued the club from relegation to League Two, led them to the League One title and won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
But Cotterill's young squad struggled to adapt to life at the higher level and he was sacked following a run of seven games without a win that left them in the drop zone.
Assistant manager John Pemberton and Under-21s manager Wade Elliott have been placed in temporary charge, but Pemberton revealed Cotterill was in his thoughts. He said:
"I'm a bit gutted for him. He loved the lads and they liked him and so I'm sure that deep down he'll be delighted. The lads were more than a bit down when they heard he'd gone. They were obviously shocked and I got a lot of phone calls.
"They've been knocked back this season and kept coming back for more and so it was nice for them to get this win."
It was the first goal conceded by Boro in ten league outings and boss Aitor Karanka said:
"It's difficult when your more important players don't perform. I think it was a poor performance. The goal could have happened five minutes before or ten minutes before because we couldn't leave our area."
Both teams had chances to break the deadlock in normal time.
In the sixteenth minute Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos needed to be sharp to claim Burn's close range cheeky back heel he had raced into the box to meet a left flank cross from fellow winger Joe Bryan.
Five minutes later Boro launched a carbon copy attack, but striker Kike failed to connect with a dangerous ball from central defender Daniel Ayala three yards out with the goal begging.
Less than sixty seconds later midfielder Cristhian Stuani cut into the City area from the right and Wigan loanee keeper Richard O'Donnell did well to get down to save his low shot.
In the 23rd minute left back Derrick Williams lifted the ball over the defence and Burns raced into the box before seeing his goal bound shot clawed away to safety by Konstantopoulos.
On the half hour skipper George Friend's run into area was blocked by Flint who appeared to handle the ball, but appeals for a penalty by Boro's players were waved away by the referee.
Eight minutes before half time City came close when a deep ball from midfielder Reid skimmed the head of team mate Nathan Baker and flew inches wide of the upright.
And the chances kept coming in the second period.
Central defender Luke Ayling teed up Korey Smith 25 yards out in the 72nd minute, but the City skipper fired over the bar.
Boro then pressed for the winner and former City winger Albert Adomah came close in the 81st minute.
O'Donnell came to collect a high ball, but Baker headed the ball out of his grasp and straight to Adomah who lifted the ball over the bar from the edge of the bar.
In the 89th minute Flint nodded a Bryan free kick against the bar from two yards out and City must have thought their chance of a shock win had gone until Burns's last gasp winner.
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
Sunday 17 January 2016
Bristol Rovers 2 Luton Town 0 - Archive
Rory Gaffney's second brace in consecutive games could seal a deal with promotion chasing Rovers.
Striker Gaffney netted a pair against Orient on Tuesday and has now scored five goals during a one month loan deal from Cambridge.
He grabbed his first on the hour following a corner from skipper Lee Mansell.
Central defender Tom Lockyer saw his header cleared off the line by full back Jake Howells, but Gaffney blasted in the loose ball from twelve yards.
Hot shot Gaffney added his second twelve minutes later.
Mansell fed Lee Brown on the wing and the left back picked out Gaffney who saw his scuffed twelve yard shot spilled by keeper Mark Tyler, but quickly pounced to bury the rebound.
Rovers boss Darrell Clarke hopes to sign Gaffney in the coming days, but joked:
"He's struggled for us so I'm not interested in a permanent. It boils down to money and I haven't got any.
"It's a no brainier from my side that we want to bring him in. I'd like to think it's positive - we'll see.
"It was a good win, a great effort from my boys and good to start the year with a win."
Rovers could have won by a bigger margin, but midfielders Ollie Clarke and Stuart Sinclair both had first half efforts controversially ruled offside.
And five minutes before the break, Hatters keeper Mark Tyler kept the scores level with a brilliant save when he turned Mansell's ten yard blast over the bar.
Former England goalkeeper David James has been linked with the vacancy for the Luton hot seat following the dismissal of John Still, but caretaker manager Andy Awford said:
"There's a two week gap before our next game and so it would seem a good time to appoint a new manager, but I honestly don't know anything."
Striker Gaffney netted a pair against Orient on Tuesday and has now scored five goals during a one month loan deal from Cambridge.
He grabbed his first on the hour following a corner from skipper Lee Mansell.
Central defender Tom Lockyer saw his header cleared off the line by full back Jake Howells, but Gaffney blasted in the loose ball from twelve yards.
Hot shot Gaffney added his second twelve minutes later.
Mansell fed Lee Brown on the wing and the left back picked out Gaffney who saw his scuffed twelve yard shot spilled by keeper Mark Tyler, but quickly pounced to bury the rebound.
Rovers boss Darrell Clarke hopes to sign Gaffney in the coming days, but joked:
"He's struggled for us so I'm not interested in a permanent. It boils down to money and I haven't got any.
"It's a no brainier from my side that we want to bring him in. I'd like to think it's positive - we'll see.
"It was a good win, a great effort from my boys and good to start the year with a win."
Rovers could have won by a bigger margin, but midfielders Ollie Clarke and Stuart Sinclair both had first half efforts controversially ruled offside.
And five minutes before the break, Hatters keeper Mark Tyler kept the scores level with a brilliant save when he turned Mansell's ten yard blast over the bar.
Former England goalkeeper David James has been linked with the vacancy for the Luton hot seat following the dismissal of John Still, but caretaker manager Andy Awford said:
"There's a two week gap before our next game and so it would seem a good time to appoint a new manager, but I honestly don't know anything."
Bristol Rovers 2 Leyton Orient 1 - Archive
Rory Gaffney's brace kept Rovers in the promotion hunt and dented Orient's play-off hopes.
Striker Gaffney opened the scoring in the 31st minute with his second goal since joining Rovers on a one month loan from Cambridge.
Gaffney was fed by central defender Tom Parkes before tip-toeing his way past three defenders and blasting the ball past helpless keeper Alex Cisak from seven yards as Rovers dominated play.
But Orient hot shot Jay Simpson stunned the home faithful seconds before the break when he tapped in a low cross from winger Blair Turgott for his eighteenth goal of the season.
Gaffney grabbed a classy winner in the 53rd minute.
Full back Lee Brown fed the ball into the area and Gaffney hit a superb low first time shot from just inside the box to leave Cisak with no chance and claim his fifth goal of the campaign for both clubs.
Gaffney is due to return to the Abbey Stadium next Sunday, but Rovers boss Darrell Clarke revealed he has spoken to Cambridge about keeping him. He said:
"I know he's enjoying his football and we want him to stay, but we'll have to see what happens in January. We've had initial talks."
Rovers nearly took the lead in only the third minute, but Cisak did well to turn striker Jermaine Easter's fourteen yard shot from an acute angle over his bar.
And Gaffney could have claimed a hat trick in the 68th minute, but for once Cisak got the better of him and saved an angled shot with his feet.
Orient manager Ian Hendon said:
"For the first goal three of our defenders dived in, sold themselves and made the lad look like Lionel Messi.
"I thought there were two evenly matched teams and only a great finish separated them."
Striker Gaffney opened the scoring in the 31st minute with his second goal since joining Rovers on a one month loan from Cambridge.
Gaffney was fed by central defender Tom Parkes before tip-toeing his way past three defenders and blasting the ball past helpless keeper Alex Cisak from seven yards as Rovers dominated play.
But Orient hot shot Jay Simpson stunned the home faithful seconds before the break when he tapped in a low cross from winger Blair Turgott for his eighteenth goal of the season.
Gaffney grabbed a classy winner in the 53rd minute.
Full back Lee Brown fed the ball into the area and Gaffney hit a superb low first time shot from just inside the box to leave Cisak with no chance and claim his fifth goal of the campaign for both clubs.
Gaffney is due to return to the Abbey Stadium next Sunday, but Rovers boss Darrell Clarke revealed he has spoken to Cambridge about keeping him. He said:
"I know he's enjoying his football and we want him to stay, but we'll have to see what happens in January. We've had initial talks."
Rovers nearly took the lead in only the third minute, but Cisak did well to turn striker Jermaine Easter's fourteen yard shot from an acute angle over his bar.
And Gaffney could have claimed a hat trick in the 68th minute, but for once Cisak got the better of him and saved an angled shot with his feet.
Orient manager Ian Hendon said:
"For the first goal three of our defenders dived in, sold themselves and made the lad look like Lionel Messi.
"I thought there were two evenly matched teams and only a great finish separated them."
Bristol City 1 Charlton Athletic 1 - Archive
Johnnie Jackson has not ruled out giving another rousing speech to his team mates before this afternoon's game against Wolves.
Skipper Jackson, 33, took centre stage in the dressing room after Saturday's draw at Bristol City to motivate a relegation threatened Addicks squad who have won only once at The Valley since August. He explained:
"I wouldn't be so aloof as to say it was a Churchillian, Battle of Britain speech, but I had something on my mind and so I just asked them for a minute. I felt that we had mentally turned the corner with that point.
"It's part of the captain's role, but I don't say things for the sake of it and don't do it before or after every game because it would lose its effect.
"The fans expect us to dig in and fight. That's the least they deserve, but it can't be for one game, it's got to be the attitude every single week now starting against Wolves. We're desperate for the three points, but I don't want to label it as a 'must win' because there are a lot of games left and a lot of points to play for."
And Jackson is hoping to hear a more vocal dressing room from now on. He said:
"I'm not sure whether I'll say anything before we play them, I'll mull it over, but it's important that there are a lot of voices heard and not just one or they'll start to think 'Oh, here he goes again'."
Manager Karel Fraeye will be without experienced midfielder Alou Diarra, 34, who limped off in the first half against the Robins, but confirmed that Iceland winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson, 25, has shrugged off an ankle injury and is likely to be back in contention this afternoon.
Skipper Jackson, 33, took centre stage in the dressing room after Saturday's draw at Bristol City to motivate a relegation threatened Addicks squad who have won only once at The Valley since August. He explained:
"I wouldn't be so aloof as to say it was a Churchillian, Battle of Britain speech, but I had something on my mind and so I just asked them for a minute. I felt that we had mentally turned the corner with that point.
"It's part of the captain's role, but I don't say things for the sake of it and don't do it before or after every game because it would lose its effect.
"The fans expect us to dig in and fight. That's the least they deserve, but it can't be for one game, it's got to be the attitude every single week now starting against Wolves. We're desperate for the three points, but I don't want to label it as a 'must win' because there are a lot of games left and a lot of points to play for."
And Jackson is hoping to hear a more vocal dressing room from now on. He said:
"I'm not sure whether I'll say anything before we play them, I'll mull it over, but it's important that there are a lot of voices heard and not just one or they'll start to think 'Oh, here he goes again'."
Manager Karel Fraeye will be without experienced midfielder Alou Diarra, 34, who limped off in the first half against the Robins, but confirmed that Iceland winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson, 25, has shrugged off an ankle injury and is likely to be back in contention this afternoon.
Bristol City 1 QPR 1 - Archive
Luke Freeman believes City's Lost Boys are close to finding their way in the Championship with the help of Peter Pan.
Midfielder Freeman, 23, helped craft City's late equaliser for 36 year old striker Aaron Wilbraham before praising his skipper. He said:
"In his head he still thinks he's Peter Pan, I'm sure he does. He's key though.
"He brings everything. He's always bringing the boys together and making sure everyone's involved and he's probably one of the main reasons why the team is so close. He's the best captain I've played under and I think the majority of the lads would say that.
"He always has input at team meetings and tells us what's good for us and what's not. The boys listen because with us being younger boys and him having been there and done it, we know he's massively important for us."
And Freeman insists that there is no need for pixie dust at relegation threatened City after they learned valuable lessons in the first half of the season. He said:
"Apart from Charlton who we play next week, we've played every team and pretty much every game we've played - apart from one or two who you can see will go up - we've thought we were better than them or as good as them.
"A lot of us haven't had any Championship experience, so as younger players we're learning how to to manage games better."
Robins manager Steve Cotterill was delighted to see his team receive a standing ovation and said:
"The fans know how we're going to play and I think they enjoy that. We always take the positives from every game. Sometimes they're harder to find than others, but today I thought the boys were magnificent.
"I'm thrilled for Aaron Wilbraham because I think he gets through so much hard work."
Winger Junior Hoilett, 25, scored the opening goal for QPR and his form is impressing skipper Nedum Onuoha, 29, who said:
"I have played against him so many times in the past and he’s always made it very difficult for me, so to finally see him do well is great because I like to see good people doing well and long may that continue.
"He’s on form, playing week-in, week-out and he’s allowed to try things. When you’re given licence to try things that perhaps you wouldn’t have been previously, it fills you with confidence.
"What is there to worry about when that happens? It’s not like being a defender where you can’t try anything and you have to do the simple things over and over again. With Junior, if he wants to do 25 stepovers then he can try 25 stepovers, which is a good thing for him.
"He could be key to getting us into the play-off places but as the manager will say, everything has to be done together because there is a massive team ethic and if you don’t work for the team you don’t get into the side."
New QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink chalked up a third successive draw since he took over from Neil Warnock and was also pleased with Hoilett. He said:
"He's getting back to where he needs to be. He's a confidence player who needs someone to believe in him and we certainly do. We definitely like him. He’s one who can create and score goals."
Leading marksman Charlie Austin missed the game with a hamstring "tweak" and is tipped to leave in January, but with or without him Rangers will need to add bodies if they are going to push for the play-offs. Hasselbaink said:
"You always want to strengthen, but I'm very happy with the squad that I have and I want to keep everyone here as much as possible."
Midfielder Freeman, 23, helped craft City's late equaliser for 36 year old striker Aaron Wilbraham before praising his skipper. He said:
"In his head he still thinks he's Peter Pan, I'm sure he does. He's key though.
"He brings everything. He's always bringing the boys together and making sure everyone's involved and he's probably one of the main reasons why the team is so close. He's the best captain I've played under and I think the majority of the lads would say that.
"He always has input at team meetings and tells us what's good for us and what's not. The boys listen because with us being younger boys and him having been there and done it, we know he's massively important for us."
And Freeman insists that there is no need for pixie dust at relegation threatened City after they learned valuable lessons in the first half of the season. He said:
"Apart from Charlton who we play next week, we've played every team and pretty much every game we've played - apart from one or two who you can see will go up - we've thought we were better than them or as good as them.
"A lot of us haven't had any Championship experience, so as younger players we're learning how to to manage games better."
Robins manager Steve Cotterill was delighted to see his team receive a standing ovation and said:
"The fans know how we're going to play and I think they enjoy that. We always take the positives from every game. Sometimes they're harder to find than others, but today I thought the boys were magnificent.
"I'm thrilled for Aaron Wilbraham because I think he gets through so much hard work."
Winger Junior Hoilett, 25, scored the opening goal for QPR and his form is impressing skipper Nedum Onuoha, 29, who said:
"I have played against him so many times in the past and he’s always made it very difficult for me, so to finally see him do well is great because I like to see good people doing well and long may that continue.
"He’s on form, playing week-in, week-out and he’s allowed to try things. When you’re given licence to try things that perhaps you wouldn’t have been previously, it fills you with confidence.
"What is there to worry about when that happens? It’s not like being a defender where you can’t try anything and you have to do the simple things over and over again. With Junior, if he wants to do 25 stepovers then he can try 25 stepovers, which is a good thing for him.
"He could be key to getting us into the play-off places but as the manager will say, everything has to be done together because there is a massive team ethic and if you don’t work for the team you don’t get into the side."
New QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink chalked up a third successive draw since he took over from Neil Warnock and was also pleased with Hoilett. He said:
"He's getting back to where he needs to be. He's a confidence player who needs someone to believe in him and we certainly do. We definitely like him. He’s one who can create and score goals."
Leading marksman Charlie Austin missed the game with a hamstring "tweak" and is tipped to leave in January, but with or without him Rangers will need to add bodies if they are going to push for the play-offs. Hasselbaink said:
"You always want to strengthen, but I'm very happy with the squad that I have and I want to keep everyone here as much as possible."
Oxford United 1 Carlisle United 1 - Archive
Charlie Wyke helped Carlisle to a useful draw, but his thoughts quickly returned to the city's flood victims.
Striker Wyke, 23, was involved the bizarre own goal by Oxford defender Che Dunkley that kept the Cumbrians in the promotion hunt before saying:
"I was about to shoot when one of their defenders kicked it in off the face of another defender - I'll still try and claim it though. That's the first bit of luck anyone connected with Carlisle has had all week."
Wyke and his team mates witnessed the damage done by flood waters first hand as they gave their own time to help out. He revealed:
"It wasn't nice to see, but it was good to be able to do something even if it was for just a few hours.
"The water was up to our shoulders as we moved carpets and stripped kitchens in people's homes. And it's not getting any easier for them with no heating or electric just before Christmas."
Oxford boss Michael Appleton said:
"I take my hat off to Carlisle for what they've done in the community this week, and that probably had a galvanising effect on them."
Winger Alex MacDonald, 25, opened the scoring and could have claimed a penalty, but said:
"I was probably thinking more about scoring than falling on the floor. I was touched a little, but not enough to make a big hop-hah out of it and I like to think I'm an honest player who wouldn't go looking for anything they didn't deserve.
"Carlisle are a good team, but you could see their togetherness and they did well after what they've seen this week."
Carlisle manager Keith Curle said:
"Last season I remember coming to Oxford and saying afterwards that we were weak. I've told the players it's very pleasing that a year later I can come here and say that I've got a group with real hunger who are strong."
Striker Wyke, 23, was involved the bizarre own goal by Oxford defender Che Dunkley that kept the Cumbrians in the promotion hunt before saying:
"I was about to shoot when one of their defenders kicked it in off the face of another defender - I'll still try and claim it though. That's the first bit of luck anyone connected with Carlisle has had all week."
Wyke and his team mates witnessed the damage done by flood waters first hand as they gave their own time to help out. He revealed:
"It wasn't nice to see, but it was good to be able to do something even if it was for just a few hours.
"The water was up to our shoulders as we moved carpets and stripped kitchens in people's homes. And it's not getting any easier for them with no heating or electric just before Christmas."
Oxford boss Michael Appleton said:
"I take my hat off to Carlisle for what they've done in the community this week, and that probably had a galvanising effect on them."
Winger Alex MacDonald, 25, opened the scoring and could have claimed a penalty, but said:
"I was probably thinking more about scoring than falling on the floor. I was touched a little, but not enough to make a big hop-hah out of it and I like to think I'm an honest player who wouldn't go looking for anything they didn't deserve.
"Carlisle are a good team, but you could see their togetherness and they did well after what they've seen this week."
Carlisle manager Keith Curle said:
"Last season I remember coming to Oxford and saying afterwards that we were weak. I've told the players it's very pleasing that a year later I can come here and say that I've got a group with real hunger who are strong."
Bristol City 0 Blackburn Rovers 2 - Archive
Grant Hanley still has an eye on end-of-season glory despite Blackburn's off-field problems.
Rovers have been operating under a transfer embargo for most of the year after breaking the Football League's Financial Fair Play rules and replaced manager Gary Bowyer with Paul Lambert in mid-November.
But skipper Hanley, 24, opened the scoring against City to take Rovers within five points of the play-offs before claiming the players have never lost their focus. He said:
"It's our mindset since day one. We haven't had the results we feel we've deserved, we've had changes of manager and things like that, but the lads are fully focussed and the play-offs are our main goal.
"We aren't getting ahead ourselves though because football's quick to slap you in the face."
And Hanley called on his teammates to continue chipping in with goals to support super-striker Jordan Rhodes who has netted nine times this season. He said:
"Jordan's a goal scorer and he's brilliant for us, but we can't always rely on him to score them. He's a massive, massive player for us, but it's important that the other lads including me pop up and get their fair share."
Lambert has seen his side take seven points from three games since replacing Bowyer and the former Aston Villa boss said:
"Do I think we need more players in January? Absolutely. We need to be stronger, but we can't go crazy.
"The problem we have is tempering expectation levels. It is a great football club and the good news during the week that the embargo has been lifted gave everyone a lift.
"There is a really good feeling at the club at the moment and we'll do all we can to keep creeping up the table."
Veteran City striker Aaron Wilbraham, 32, has enjoyed promotions with MK Dons, Norwich, Crystal Palace and the Robins as League One champions last season, but the club skipper said:
"I've also been in this position before. We were second favourites at Palace to get relegated, but ended up getting promoted to the Premier League after winning the Play-Off Final because we had a good team spirit and pulled together.
"I think this side has the same feel about it, but probably more talent. We don't look like a relegation team and we're definitely not playing like one.
"I spend time talking to the other players and try to pass on my experience and we're a close-knit group who spend a lot of time with each other chatting about the situation over coffee or in hotel lobbies at away games."
City manager Steve Cotterill was seething with whistler Geoff Eltringham for not giving a penalty to his team and then awarding one to Rovers that was converted by Ben Marshall. He fumed:
"We've decided we don't get penalties and the opposition do after this. It was 100 per cent not a penalty.
"I've watched both incidents again and it's a foul on Kieran Agard – he's all over him – and their penalty is not one. What can we do? We deserved a good refereeing performance and we deserved more than the zero points we got.
"I don't think their first goal should have counted either. Hanley has both his hands on Liam Moore's shoulders and it's a foul."
But Cotterill accepted the decision to dismiss Villa loanee defender Nathan Baker for picking up two yellow cards before Blackburn scored. He admitted:
"The sending-off is our fault and I am not defending Nathan Baker over it. We just want the rub of the green occasionally with decisions."
Rovers have been operating under a transfer embargo for most of the year after breaking the Football League's Financial Fair Play rules and replaced manager Gary Bowyer with Paul Lambert in mid-November.
But skipper Hanley, 24, opened the scoring against City to take Rovers within five points of the play-offs before claiming the players have never lost their focus. He said:
"It's our mindset since day one. We haven't had the results we feel we've deserved, we've had changes of manager and things like that, but the lads are fully focussed and the play-offs are our main goal.
"We aren't getting ahead ourselves though because football's quick to slap you in the face."
And Hanley called on his teammates to continue chipping in with goals to support super-striker Jordan Rhodes who has netted nine times this season. He said:
"Jordan's a goal scorer and he's brilliant for us, but we can't always rely on him to score them. He's a massive, massive player for us, but it's important that the other lads including me pop up and get their fair share."
Lambert has seen his side take seven points from three games since replacing Bowyer and the former Aston Villa boss said:
"Do I think we need more players in January? Absolutely. We need to be stronger, but we can't go crazy.
"The problem we have is tempering expectation levels. It is a great football club and the good news during the week that the embargo has been lifted gave everyone a lift.
"There is a really good feeling at the club at the moment and we'll do all we can to keep creeping up the table."
Veteran City striker Aaron Wilbraham, 32, has enjoyed promotions with MK Dons, Norwich, Crystal Palace and the Robins as League One champions last season, but the club skipper said:
"I've also been in this position before. We were second favourites at Palace to get relegated, but ended up getting promoted to the Premier League after winning the Play-Off Final because we had a good team spirit and pulled together.
"I think this side has the same feel about it, but probably more talent. We don't look like a relegation team and we're definitely not playing like one.
"I spend time talking to the other players and try to pass on my experience and we're a close-knit group who spend a lot of time with each other chatting about the situation over coffee or in hotel lobbies at away games."
City manager Steve Cotterill was seething with whistler Geoff Eltringham for not giving a penalty to his team and then awarding one to Rovers that was converted by Ben Marshall. He fumed:
"We've decided we don't get penalties and the opposition do after this. It was 100 per cent not a penalty.
"I've watched both incidents again and it's a foul on Kieran Agard – he's all over him – and their penalty is not one. What can we do? We deserved a good refereeing performance and we deserved more than the zero points we got.
"I don't think their first goal should have counted either. Hanley has both his hands on Liam Moore's shoulders and it's a foul."
But Cotterill accepted the decision to dismiss Villa loanee defender Nathan Baker for picking up two yellow cards before Blackburn scored. He admitted:
"The sending-off is our fault and I am not defending Nathan Baker over it. We just want the rub of the green occasionally with decisions."
Bristol Rovers 3 Wycombe Wanderers 0 - Archive
Matty Taylor scored a quick fire hat trick to give Rovers that winning feeling again.
Rovers had only managed one draw in their last three outings, but striker Taylor turned up the Gas to roast fellow play-off chasers Wycombe in the space of twelve minutes.
In the 60th minute substitute Billy Bodin dummied a free kick from skipper Lee Mansell and Taylor drilled the ball in from a central position on he edge of the box.
Two minutes later Bodin won a free kick twenty yards out and midfielder Stuart Sinclair picked out Taylor with a quick free kick and he blasted home from the same position.
Winger Daniel Leadbitter then found Taylor with a pass into the area and the striker outmuscled central defender Anthony Stewart before turning and firing home his twelfth league goal in fifteen starts from eight yards.
Wycombe keeper Matt Ingram produced a superb save in the first minute when he was forced to acrobatically tip over a 25 yard goal bound belter from Mansell and seven minutes later he claimed a fourteen yard effort from Taylor after the striker had wriggled past three defenders to get into the box.
Wycombe midfielder Sam Wood was left holding his head in his hands in the fifteenth minute when he rattled the wrong side of the near post with a shot from the left of the area.
Taylor came close to opening the scoring in the 36th minute, but dragged his fourteen yard shot wide with Ingram beaten.
Rovers had only managed one draw in their last three outings, but striker Taylor turned up the Gas to roast fellow play-off chasers Wycombe in the space of twelve minutes.
In the 60th minute substitute Billy Bodin dummied a free kick from skipper Lee Mansell and Taylor drilled the ball in from a central position on he edge of the box.
Two minutes later Bodin won a free kick twenty yards out and midfielder Stuart Sinclair picked out Taylor with a quick free kick and he blasted home from the same position.
Winger Daniel Leadbitter then found Taylor with a pass into the area and the striker outmuscled central defender Anthony Stewart before turning and firing home his twelfth league goal in fifteen starts from eight yards.
Wycombe keeper Matt Ingram produced a superb save in the first minute when he was forced to acrobatically tip over a 25 yard goal bound belter from Mansell and seven minutes later he claimed a fourteen yard effort from Taylor after the striker had wriggled past three defenders to get into the box.
Wycombe midfielder Sam Wood was left holding his head in his hands in the fifteenth minute when he rattled the wrong side of the near post with a shot from the left of the area.
Taylor came close to opening the scoring in the 36th minute, but dragged his fourteen yard shot wide with Ingram beaten.
Walsall 2 Bradford City 1 - Archive
Milan Lalkovic regrets listening to advice that lured him away from fans who treat him like a San Siro legend.
Winger Lalkovic, 22, netted his fifth goal of the season before joking:
"I like scoring in front of our fans and when they shout 'Milan, Milan' it's nice. It's like watching one of my favourite teams, AC Milan, because that's what they shout as well."
Slovak Lalkovic spent one season on loan with the Saddlers when he was with Chelsea, but opted for a move to Barnsley when he was released by the Premier League outfit. He admitted:
"I listened to some voices I maybe shouldn't have. Fortunately I kept in touch with the gaffer and so when I had the chance to return in the summer, I was happy to take it."
Hot shot striker Tom Bradshaw, 23, opened the scoring and is hoping to add to his twelve goal haul this season against former club Shrewsbury tomorrow (Tuesday). He said:
"I backed myself after five games without a goal that I was going to get back n the scoresheet and I have done. Someone told me that if we win 4-0, we go top. It's nice going into the game with some form. Hopefully I'll be able to score at least one."
Walsall boss Dean Smith was delighted with his side and especially Bradshaw and Lalkovic. He said:
"Tom took his really well. For Milan’s goal it was a great ball, a great touch and a great slot as well."
Manager Phil Parkinson saw midfielder Lee Evans pull City level, but refused to be downbeat after watching an unbeaten run of ten games end. He said:
"It's horrible to lose. The lads are disappointed, but we've we've had a great run and the league is very tight."
Winger Lalkovic, 22, netted his fifth goal of the season before joking:
"I like scoring in front of our fans and when they shout 'Milan, Milan' it's nice. It's like watching one of my favourite teams, AC Milan, because that's what they shout as well."
Slovak Lalkovic spent one season on loan with the Saddlers when he was with Chelsea, but opted for a move to Barnsley when he was released by the Premier League outfit. He admitted:
"I listened to some voices I maybe shouldn't have. Fortunately I kept in touch with the gaffer and so when I had the chance to return in the summer, I was happy to take it."
Hot shot striker Tom Bradshaw, 23, opened the scoring and is hoping to add to his twelve goal haul this season against former club Shrewsbury tomorrow (Tuesday). He said:
"I backed myself after five games without a goal that I was going to get back n the scoresheet and I have done. Someone told me that if we win 4-0, we go top. It's nice going into the game with some form. Hopefully I'll be able to score at least one."
Walsall boss Dean Smith was delighted with his side and especially Bradshaw and Lalkovic. He said:
"Tom took his really well. For Milan’s goal it was a great ball, a great touch and a great slot as well."
Manager Phil Parkinson saw midfielder Lee Evans pull City level, but refused to be downbeat after watching an unbeaten run of ten games end. He said:
"It's horrible to lose. The lads are disappointed, but we've we've had a great run and the league is very tight."
Bristol City 1 Hull City 1 - Archive
Kieran Agard and the Robins' players can expect trouble and strife at home if they become City slackers.
Striker Agard, 26, opened the slammed in the opener in the 39th minute to help the Robins edge further from the drop zone and stretch their unbeaten run to three games before revealing:
"We had a great team spirit last season when we won the title in League One. That's carried over to this season when things haven't quite gone our way.
"The players all get on well, meet up for coffee after training and banter with each other on WhatsApp, but our wives and girlfriends are also good friends too and so we spend time at in each other's houses chilling out, having meals and playing FIFA. If any of us stops working hard we're more likely to get it in the ear at home than on the pitch."
Agard scored fourteen goals in City's title winning campaign, but has been used sparingly by boss Steve Cotterill this term after picking up a bad knee injury and undergoing surgery BEFORE pre-season training had even started.
And the former Everton trainee revealed City's close knit group kept him going during the first three months of the campaign. He said:
"I was just trying to make sure I was fit and ready for pre-season and was running on grass when it went. It's been frustrating, but everyone has supported me - the players, family, friends and the staff here."
Substitute Shaun Maloney equalised for the Tigers in the second half, but has also been dogged by injury and restricted to a handful of starts himself since joining the club from US outfit Chicago Fire in the summer.
Former Wigan, Celtic and Aston Villa striker Maloney, 32, damaged a hamstring while on Scotland duty in September, but said:
"The team has been excellent and so if I'm not playing I have to have a positive effect on them. The harmony of the squad is more important than any one individual and you have to respect your team mates, particularly me as I didn't have a pre-season with them.
"There's no doubt that it's been difficult. There's a pretty big difference in the intensity of training here compared to my previous club, but I knew that would be the case before I arrived."
And Maloney is backing Hull to make it back to the top flight. He said:
"This is a club trying to get back into the Premier League and the quality of the squad is of that standard so we really need to keep it together in January. We're in a tough league though and three or four other teams have won consistently like we have, so we'll have to continue the form we're in."
But Hull boss Steve Bruce is looking forward to having rested leading marksman Abel Hernandez leading the line again when his side take on promotion rivals Derby next Friday. He explained:
"We left him out to get a bit of sun on his back. It's been the third time in two months that he's been back and forward to Uruguay and it's a sixteen hour flight so we decided to freshen him up. We hope that it works and he'll be fit and lively for Derby."
Cotterill has been impressed with the job Bruce has done following relegation from the Premier League last term and said:
"Steve has some made some changes and I think they are probably a better side than they were last season. They have a good spirit about them, they have good legs and they have very good footballers.
"I think they will be up there at the end of the season and I think they will be promoted."
- ends -
Bristol City: Fielding 6, Ayling 6, Flint 6, Baker 6, Williams 6, Bennett 6 (Little 83, 5), Smith 7, Pack 7, Freeman 7, Agard 7, Kodjia 5 (Wilbraham 79, 5).
Subs not used: O'Leary, Cox, Reid, Moore, Bryan.
Entertainment value: 3
Hull City: McGregor 6, Odubajo 5 (Aluko 83, 5), Dawson 5 (Davies 35, 6), Maguire 6, Robertson 6, Elmohamady 5, Livermore 6, Huddlestone 6, Clucas 6, Akpom 5 (Maloney 62, 7), Diame 6.
Subs not used: Jakupovic, Bruce, Taylor, Haydn.
Entertainment value: 3
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire) 5
Sun star man: Korey Smith (Bristol City) Battled tirelessly for the cause in midfield.
Striker Agard, 26, opened the slammed in the opener in the 39th minute to help the Robins edge further from the drop zone and stretch their unbeaten run to three games before revealing:
"We had a great team spirit last season when we won the title in League One. That's carried over to this season when things haven't quite gone our way.
"The players all get on well, meet up for coffee after training and banter with each other on WhatsApp, but our wives and girlfriends are also good friends too and so we spend time at in each other's houses chilling out, having meals and playing FIFA. If any of us stops working hard we're more likely to get it in the ear at home than on the pitch."
Agard scored fourteen goals in City's title winning campaign, but has been used sparingly by boss Steve Cotterill this term after picking up a bad knee injury and undergoing surgery BEFORE pre-season training had even started.
And the former Everton trainee revealed City's close knit group kept him going during the first three months of the campaign. He said:
"I was just trying to make sure I was fit and ready for pre-season and was running on grass when it went. It's been frustrating, but everyone has supported me - the players, family, friends and the staff here."
Substitute Shaun Maloney equalised for the Tigers in the second half, but has also been dogged by injury and restricted to a handful of starts himself since joining the club from US outfit Chicago Fire in the summer.
Former Wigan, Celtic and Aston Villa striker Maloney, 32, damaged a hamstring while on Scotland duty in September, but said:
"The team has been excellent and so if I'm not playing I have to have a positive effect on them. The harmony of the squad is more important than any one individual and you have to respect your team mates, particularly me as I didn't have a pre-season with them.
"There's no doubt that it's been difficult. There's a pretty big difference in the intensity of training here compared to my previous club, but I knew that would be the case before I arrived."
And Maloney is backing Hull to make it back to the top flight. He said:
"This is a club trying to get back into the Premier League and the quality of the squad is of that standard so we really need to keep it together in January. We're in a tough league though and three or four other teams have won consistently like we have, so we'll have to continue the form we're in."
But Hull boss Steve Bruce is looking forward to having rested leading marksman Abel Hernandez leading the line again when his side take on promotion rivals Derby next Friday. He explained:
"We left him out to get a bit of sun on his back. It's been the third time in two months that he's been back and forward to Uruguay and it's a sixteen hour flight so we decided to freshen him up. We hope that it works and he'll be fit and lively for Derby."
Cotterill has been impressed with the job Bruce has done following relegation from the Premier League last term and said:
"Steve has some made some changes and I think they are probably a better side than they were last season. They have a good spirit about them, they have good legs and they have very good footballers.
"I think they will be up there at the end of the season and I think they will be promoted."
- ends -
Bristol City: Fielding 6, Ayling 6, Flint 6, Baker 6, Williams 6, Bennett 6 (Little 83, 5), Smith 7, Pack 7, Freeman 7, Agard 7, Kodjia 5 (Wilbraham 79, 5).
Subs not used: O'Leary, Cox, Reid, Moore, Bryan.
Entertainment value: 3
Hull City: McGregor 6, Odubajo 5 (Aluko 83, 5), Dawson 5 (Davies 35, 6), Maguire 6, Robertson 6, Elmohamady 5, Livermore 6, Huddlestone 6, Clucas 6, Akpom 5 (Maloney 62, 7), Diame 6.
Subs not used: Jakupovic, Bruce, Taylor, Haydn.
Entertainment value: 3
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire) 5
Sun star man: Korey Smith (Bristol City) Battled tirelessly for the cause in midfield.
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