Bristol City v Aston Villa post-match thread

[Nelly]

I though we played decent / well , we were busy , kept our workrate for 90mins , competed right around the pitch and played some neat and tidy stuff at times - As a LJ sceptic I have to say we looked coached / drilled last night and much more cohesive than Villa - We at least looked as if we had a style and noticeable method of play where Villa didn't

Something I read on a Bristol City forum. That last bit is my biggest criticism of Bruce, perhaps a style will emerge but he's had a long time to implement something now. Interesting that it's evident to neutrals too.

[Boz]

I think we are often too dismissI've of the opposition. I thought Bristol were energetic and organised but lacked decisiveness in the final third. Even when we were on top we had to work hard to get anything and their defence nullified our wide men to a great extent. I think they'll win a fair few at home this season. Green in particular seemed anonymous, Elmohamady was more involved but wasteful. Davis took a while to get the measure of their centre backs but once he did I though he put in another good performance although he looked knackered by the time he went off so it was the right thing to do.

The idea to try three at the back is not automatically a bad one but the players clearly didn't adapt well and it allowed Bristol to get on the front foot. to be fair Bruce saw it and changed after 25 minutes. Once the players settled into it I though we had the better of things for the rest of the game without ever completely dominating, we made half chances but seemed to lack conviction or the final ball was not quite right.

A draw was a fair result but now need to follow it up with wins.

This was one of the few away games I will be able to attend and I agree with Chris' summing up, although Davis was well monitored by Baker who was always close up behind Davis every time the ball came to him, giving him no space at all particularly in the first half. Was expecting Baker to go off injured as was his wont at B6 but not this time.

I think the two games with four goals was a blip, and we'll settle back into our normal one or two and as we don't look like being able to keep a clean sheet, will struggle to be in the top 6.

[UK Redsox]

My yokel accent got me thro a police cordon after the game and cut 10 mins or so off the walk back to my car.

Bumpkin bonus

[aj2k77]

Fair to say Bruce fucked it up again meddling with the formation. There was no need to do it, he won't learn, we will no go up this year.

[Ads]

My yokel accent got me thro a police cordon after the game and cut 10 mins or so off the walk back to my car.

Bumpkin bonus

They let us civilised folk through to as well. Heavy police presence. Doubt there's any history.

Davis came into it a lot more second half and I thought gave Nathan Lets it Bounce a bit of working over in the 50/50s.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Fair to say Bruce fucked it up again meddling with the formation.

That's unfair. Bruce managed to put out a team and formation to successfully achieve his goal; to steal a point.

[darren woolley]

At least I got the correct score right I just couldn't see anything other than a 1-1 draw.

[Steve67]

Nice little cameo from Hogan. I thought he looked sharp when he came on.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only thing last night worse than Bruce's tactics was the referee's performance. Once again in this league, absolutely shocking. Where do they find them?

[Villa75]

The only thing last night worse than Bruce's tactics was the referee's performance. Once again in this league, absolutely shocking. Where do they find them?

Agreed.

I would have been livid if we had not been given at least one of those Terry hand balls.

That corner we should have been given near the end, the Hogan one, was one of the worst decisions I have ever seen. And that's saying something!

[brontebilly]

Nice little cameo from Hogan. I thought he looked sharp when he came on.

Thought we lost all shape up top when Davis went off to be honest. Ref bizarrely didn't call a corner for Hogan in his first contribution but don't remember much of a contribution from him afterwards. Bjarnsson had more impact, and more mistakes like a very poor offside, but Green had been at fault for not tracking a run for their chance that hit the post. Bjarnsson added some much needed presence to support Taylor.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Bugger me dismissive of the opposition its not like we were playing real madrid

we are talking about a team that finished 17th last season and wont be in the top half come may. These are the games that we need to be picking 3 points at if we are going to have any notion of going up

[ChicagoLion]

Bugger me dismissive of the opposition its not like we were playing real madrid

we are talking about a team that finished 17th last season and wont be in the top half come may. These are the games that we need to be picking 3 points at if we are going to have any notion of going up

You can't expect us to go and beat the Mighty Bristol City you know.

[Matt C]

Hope that's the end of the back five, just doesn't seem to suit us.

Thought we improved immensely in the second half and deserved to win. We didn't though and September will be decisive for our promotion hopes and Bruce's future.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Bugger me dismissive of the opposition its not like we were playing real madrid

we are talking about a team that finished 17th last season and wont be in the top half come may. These are the games that we need to be picking 3 points at if we are going to have any notion of going up

You can't expect us to go and beat the Mighty Bristol City you know.

Apologies for my lunacy