Bristol City 2 City 0
This match summed up the frustration of watching Leicester City! In the first half we dominated proceedings to such an extent (I would guess we had about 80% possession) that we should have been out of sight by half-time. At the time James’s penalty save from Howard did not seem that important, but how crucial it proved to be.
From the kick-off City went on the attack; they were usually first to the ball and won it back if they lost it. Unfortunately most of the action was at the opposite end from the City supporters so it was difficult to see what was happening at times. As I was sitting right behind the goal, Chris Weale often blocked my view of the game! City were so dominant, but yet again did not turn this superiority into goals, and how they were made to pay for it.
James brought King down in the area for what looked like a nailed-on penalty, although a Bristol City fan I sat next to on the bus back to the station had a different view! Howard put it straight down the middle and James saved it with his legs. Despite his age (40 apparently) he is still a cracking keeper and Bristol are lucky to have him. No problem, we thought, it is only a matter of time before they score and in the second half we will have all the action this end…..
Not for the first time this season, we were wrong. A different Bristol team came out in the second half – or perhaps City didn’t bother to turn up? They lacked their previous rhythm and fluidity and, in sharp contrast with the first half, could not seem to win or keep the ball.
Again, as has happened in previous games, you could have written the script; Bristol’s first serious attack led to a goal, although there was some doubt as to whether it had crossed the line. We had so many corners but, as City fans will know, have failed to score from one this season. I don’t know if the penalty miss knocked the stuffing out of them but certainly once Bristol had scored you could sense that there was no way back.
The second goal was one of those things and nine times of our ten would have sailed harmlessly wide of the target. Weale threw the ball out and as luck would have it it came to a Bristol player who punted it hopefully forward. I can’t believe he was trying to score, but it made the score line unbelievable given City’s earlier dominance.
Mr Eriksson needs to find an answer to the players’ inability to score, by bringing in another striker if necessary. They played some attractive football again, but seem to prefer to make another pass to having a shot on goal. Why? Lack of confidence? In the final third there was very little penetration, despite having so much of the play, and pretty passing does not score goals!
So far as individuals go, the weakest players for me were Gallagher and Vassell, although both ran their socks off. Everyone else played reasonably well and Abe gets better with each game.
The substitutions made little impact. Dyer came on for Vassell, Waghorn for King (who seems to have a hamstring injury) and Fryatt for Howard. The last was clearly unhappy to be substituted, and he had a point, he was far more effective than Gallagher.
I would have liked Fryatt to have been given more time as the last time he played a substantial part (Norwich away) he looked back to his old self until a stupid and unnecessary sending off.
So, back to the drawing board. Realistically, QPR and Cardiff will take the automatic places, so all we will have left is the play-offs and if we continue to dominate without winning, we can forget them. Maybe this is the year I achieve my dream, of winning the FA Cup!
City: Weale, Naughton, Davies, Hobbs, Cunningham King (Waghorn 71), Wellens, Abe, Vassell (Dyer 62), Howard (Fryatt 80), Gallagher. Subs (not used): Morrison, Oakley, Logan, Berner
Bookings: Cunningham
Bristol City: James, Ribeiro, Caulker, Fontaine, McAllister, Skuse, Elliott, Johnson, Adomah, Stead, Rose. Subs: Stewart, Clarkson, Haynes, Gerken, Campbell-Ryce, Cisse, Pitman
Attendance: 14,517 Referee: C Pawson
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation