Bristol City 2 Derby County 0 - Matador

Christian Ribeiro and I had a brief chat after the game on Saturday and he admitted that City were fortunate to have kept eleven men on the field after David James had cut down Kris Commons – but pointed out that they had also had their fair share of bad luck.

Wales defender Ribeiro, 20, gave an honest assessment and said:

“As David rushed out I was thinking ‘don’t take him out’ as I was sprinting back to cover, but to be frank I don’t think I would have made it. We were lucky David was only shown a yellow card, but decisions were going against us earlier in the season and so I guess it shows that our luck has changed.”

There is no doubt about that, but you often make your own luck in life and City have worked hard to change their fortunes and are reaping the rewards having lost only one of the last nine. The problem is that the division is so tight; they need to maintain this form to stay away from the scrap at the bottom.

Looking at the situation from a ‘glass half full‘ perspective though; if they do manage to continue this form, the play-off places are within their grasp as well.

If they are to keep the momentum going they also need the whole squad to pull in the same direction and in Jamaica central defender Damion Stewart they have men with the right attitude. Stewart was signed from QPR by former boss Steve Coppell in the summer and two weeks later saw the former Reading boss quit.

After City’s dodgy start to the season Stewart was dropped but said:

“Keith Millen is the gaffer. He’s the boss and I told him from day one that he had my full support even when I wasn’t in the side. I was used to playing every week at QPR and so it was a new experience having to wait for the opportunity to get back in. I kept my head down and worked hard and now that I’m back in the team, hopefully I can continue to show what I can do.”

Brett Pitman scored a brace to take his tally to five goals in three games to show why the Robins paid £800k to Bournemouth for his services, but the stand-out player for me was former Barnet winger Albert Adomah who – like Pitman – was signed from the lower divisions and showed he too has what it takes by setting up both goals.

Pitman was fully appreciative of Adomah’s contribution, but preferred to spread the praise about and said: “He played in a couple of great balls, but everyone is working hard, running hard and filling in for each other. We work a lot on shape in training and while the players don’t like it and find it boring, it certainly pays off during the games.”

Nigel Clough was understandably furious with the decision not to send off James, but – unlike some managers – didn’t lash out at the officials. He said: “At the start of the season we have to attend a meeting with the referees where they show us videos of incidents from around the world to explain how decisions are made. If we don’t turn up we’re fined. If we complain about the referee we’re fined.”

I spotted Clough going into the referee’s room for a chat once the obligatory thirty minute cooling off period had expired and he was in there for a good fifteen minutes while his players crowded around a laptop in the corridor outside studying a DVD.

Watching it with them, it was obvious that Ribeiro was right and James was the last man and James should have walked. Commons had knocked the ball away from goal though in an effort to get past the keeper and I suspect that this was the referee’s defence. However, to suggest that a player of Commons caliber couldn’t have reached it and knocked the ball into the net is also daft. The rules definitely need clarifying here.

I also wondered whether the referee felt a little intimidated by the fact that it was the former England number one he faced red carding and reluctant to do so and be accused of trying to make a name for himself. We’ll probably never know, but Ribeiro was right, Bristol City rode their luck with that incident. Then again, maybe it was time they had it on their side.

The highlight of the day in the Press Box was when one of the radio commentators described midfielder Alberto Bueno – on loan from Valladolid – as gesticulating in Spanish. I’m still trying to work that one out. Maybe I missed him doing an impression of an angry matador!

My clippings from this morning's copy of The Sun

The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football

Bristol City 0 Norwich City 3 - Pressure

Paul Lambert was obviously chuffed with his side’s performance at Ashton Gate, but then oddly accused the assembled media of getting the fans excited.


The Norwich boss was understandably trying to dampen expectations given that we are still only ten games into the season, but I would suggest that berating the local press, radio and TV guys isn’t the way to go about it. He’d be better off popping in to the city centre pubs and talking directly to the fans because whether he likes it or not, that’s where the optimism is at its greatest.

Or alternatively, try and sneak a few one-nil wins without some of the exceptional and entertaining football his team played on Saturday.

No Paul, I’m afraid that the media isn’t your problem. Things are going well, you have put together a good side and you and your coaching team are employing the right tactics. I’m afraid that if you want to dampen expectations, you’d be better off asking Bristol City boss Keith Millen to do a job swap!

Millen is an honest guy in a horrible position. His team sit rooted at the foot of the table, he’s inherited a team that hadn’t gelled after former boss Steve Coppell bolted before a ball had barely been kicked and now they are losing confidence as each minute of the game ticks by.

And to top it all off, he’s been a Bristol City man for twelve years and would give his right arm for the opportunity to dampen expectations!

My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun

The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football

I spoke to one of his players in the car park after the game and as it wasn’t really on the record I won’t mention his name. However, the player in question dispelled any theories that Millen had lost the confidence of the team. He said:

“After Coppell’s resignation Keith was left to pick up the pieces. He inherited new players, Coppell had sold some that Keith knew well and of course we’re without Nicky (Maynard) until December at the earliest and he’s the type of player who can help build the confidence with one of his spectacular goals.

At the moment we’re going one goal down and you can see heads drop. It’s even tougher at home because the level of expectation is so great. What we need to do is get that first goal to help build our confidence. “

Millen himself is determined to see it through, although his position depends on how long the board can hold their nerve. My guess would be two more games and they’re probably weighing up future managerial options anyway. Millen said:

“All I can do as a manager is work hard on the training field, talk to the players and do everything I can to get the results right.

I don’t mind taking the pressure if it means I’m taking it off the players then so be it, because they’re the ones that have to go out and perform.

It is tough, but they’re a good group and I’m close to them. I know there’s some good quality in there and that’s why the frustration’s so hard to take, but they’re working hard and while you’ve got a group who are willing to work hard you’ve got a chance.

I’ve never walked away from a battle and I never will. I’ll keep working as hard as I can and I can’t work any harder than I am. I’ll keep fighting until someone takes that decision away from me.”

Oh, how Millen would love to have to pressure of smiling faces, pats on the back and expectations of Premier League football.