| At the cemetry gates 22:58 - Mar 17 with 5238 views | Mullet |
Shivering in the gloom of the Saturday after Hull, light sleet fell down the spine of England as if the whole island was now shaking its head slowly. A cold wind razored in our faces all day, blowing whilst most were trumpeting the fact there is no way back. The South West branch are a welcoming and united bunch and in the pub; mixed company, mixed views of all aspects, meant Town fans from across the country bonded and held a symposium on the state our club is in.
Even in the belly of Ashton Gate little grumbling took place before the game. Mick may have changed the side, Bart had the back five this time of Spence, CCV, Webster, Chambers and Knudsen protecting him. Skuse returning to home soil as the elder partner alongside Connolly. Ward the right sided central midfielder that didn’t play as a winger, but he didn’t sit centrally long enough to be the enganche layering play behind Waghorn and Sears.
The change which was more pronounced was the fans repeating talk of Milne’s pre-match leak that “change was going to come” this summer. While some may be talking of boycotts and more affirmative action, the only place the bus was going before kick off was over McCarthy, it seemed.
There was a funeral atmosphere long before the inevitable departure, long before the battling, long before the siege, as seemingly the dead-man-walking stood in his technical area to watch a 45 minute tactical masterclass of defend, defend, defy. To out 11 o’clock a banner proclaiming “love the game, hate the business” posed far more questions than it should have done before being folded and stuffed away by fans currently enjoying the fruits of Landsdowne’s labour.
The stats will show the lively and sly Reid had a shot on target after 4 minutes of territorial pissing about from either side, but it was a pea-roller. The wind stirred more in the few seconds it took Bart to stand up and kick it out than the home fans did all day.
Up the other end the ball fell to Connolly who angled a cross-shot with the inswinging right foot. It went past the post, and every attacking head but it looked to catch Fielding cold.
Bristol had a much changed and fragile back line, which was in stark contrast to the control and poise of ours. Town would take possession from left to right and back to Bart with rarely any trouble, it took 25 minutes to see them press down on him and hurry a kick.
At the other end their young and deputising left back Kelly would become the focus. Webster, Waghorn and Carter-Vickers all tried to play balls in to him that allowed Sears to get into his shadow and force him to play the ball out for us. It would be our most successful tactic. All after Magnusson tried to trap a clearance on his thigh and it spilled to his junior colleague who was far too casual in the opening stages of a game so tightly packed.
To say the ref was poor would be wrong, lenient would be diplomatic. He wanted to the game to flow, but when Waghorn was chopped twice by centre back Bailey Wright in two quick exchanges consecutively, you knew the lack of cards that were coming out would shape the way both sides defended.
Waghorn had already seen a freekick in a similar position to his Wednesday winner bounce off the wall in oppositional fashion. When Skuse worked a short exchange to Connolly this time, the different side and different player produced a similar result that allowed Bristol to counter.
The home side had been ferocious in the middle with Pack and former Canary Korey Smith a good match up for a clearly motivated Cole who trotted with a quicker step today to close down play. Paterson was a nominal left winger who dropped off, in and anywhere he could to try and draw one of centre backs into isolation or tactical ill-discipline. It didn’t work.
Brownhill who is quietly impressive in my opinion, provided a good foil as a central midfielder playing out wide and both widemen allowed their respective full backs the change to gambol forward. Pisano was put in one decent cross which was forced away, and Chambers left Skuse hanging with a weak clearance on the edge of the area.
It was really Reid rather than the bigger Diedhou who looked to be the home side’s main threat. The mop-haired #14 grew increasingly agitated as the half went on, and it was fitting he would throw himself to the floor so much in the hope of sweeping defenders attentions aside, whilst catching the ref’s.
After half an hour or so a low hum of disgruntlement came form the home fans, as it was clear that the 1000 or so Blues were in far more supportive voice and mood. It was really the persistence of Town which impressed across the pitch, whereas the Robins had an air of entitlement to the lead, Spence headed over with one of many crosses finding him out stretched, and Sears again had to chase the ball out when he might have put it in from close range as it fell to him in the area with too much to do.
If the flurry that whipped across the South West dissipated, the pattern of the game didn’t in the second half. After barely a couple of minutes a frustrated Reid went right through the back of Ward who had nimbly turned and looked up to find little movement ahead of him. Again, no card came and so all tacklers become emboldened.
Lee Johnson switched his front line with the realisation that the weather and the immovable obstacle of Ipswich’s back line was keeping out his more mobile strikers put on Bosnian targetman Djuric. Within minutes he would be holding his head in his hands, a free shot at goal saw him dink the ball over the bar with Bart face down on the turf. The Pole parrying from Pack who hit the ball from distance. Swirling low and bouncing late, the keeper got his forearms to the shot and kept it out as far as the onrushing Bosnian.
It was a warning and a rare direct threat that would be realised in the next major move. Kelly who had looked much better going forward than defending was allowed a little bit too much time and space. Crossing from out wide again the Bosnian Djuric would lose his marker and leave Webster behind as he dived low to power his header past Bart in the bottom corner. The goal was less inevitable but not too surprising.
Town had often had good build up play but when a cross came whether from Ward, Knudsen or Waghorn there seemed to be enough done to put them off balance and send their delivery too close to Fielding, or too far from a waiting header to level the match.
It was a corner that saw the Bristol keeper improvise with a scrambled kick away, in one of dozens of nearly moves where Town pressed Bristol back but had nowhere near enough artistry to make a draw likely.
Bristol perhaps felt a single goal was enough and saw out nearly a third of the game by repeatedly playing for time, with ballboy and crowd booting the ball away periodically especially as the 90 minute mark approached. However, the 6 minutes of injury time came from a much earlier combination of tragedy and comedy. Chasing Ward down Magnusson hit the turf and clearly did some damage to himself. The slowest and most inept stretcher bearers possible let him hobble off the pitch after a lengthy time down. A few uncharitable and frustrated shouts suggesting he pleasures himself, rose up from a Town support clearly enraged he was down as were our team.
Before Mick threw Celina on nearly a quarter of an hour later, Johnson had made the second of three subs replacing Magnusson, and then the third when he mixed his midfield. Paterson who had disappeared so often from his position, was swapped for a defending O’Neil to see out the game.
Town who had so much of the late push, soon saw Sears pulled down cynically for the games first yellow from a former one. Moments later Knudsen would be a victim of their Italian’s job to even up the card count. A slight coming together, meant Pisano’s scream was disgracefully heard before the impact of the Dane nudged him in the aerial duel.
Sears’ last action with 10 minutes left was to hook a ball out from six yards with his back to goal when it just needed cushioning to a waiting Waghorn. It’s not that he played badly, far from it, but when Celina came on for Ward moments before, you could feel the senses of everyone lift a little.
Standing off the red shirts now pouring back into the box, the Kosovan looking for our bit of Balkans based joy had great fun strafing from one angle to another. His best ball picked out Knudsen who wouldn’t quite control it enough. But as with Ward, the quick feet and ability to turn the man and the ball onto the front foot without touching either gave Town new life.
With tensions growing Morris replaced Sears but it was hard to judge what impact he could have in injury time as he, Waghorn and Webster played up front to take knockdowns and scrambles in a game where Town deserved a point but never got it. A lack of options, a lack of style, a lack of points.
“Ipswich til I die” became a haunting ten minute encore as a few stayed to applaud back at the players who dared come close enough to the away.
[Post edited 18 Mar 2018 18:53]
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| At the cemetery gates on 23:10 - Mar 17 with 5152 views | Radlett_blue |
Sounds like a scrappy game which was likely to be decided by a single goal.
Theoretically, we should have tried to put Bristol's back line under more pressure, but football isn't as simple as that, is it? |  |
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| At the cemetery gates on 06:51 - Mar 18 with 5007 views | brogansnose |
You wouldn't want medical team if it was a real emergency, the Keystone Cop stretcher bearers.
That game was made for Garner yesterday with that ref.
Nice to see you. |  | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:01 - Mar 18 with 4913 views | Guthrum |
| At the cemetery gates on 06:51 - Mar 18 by brogansnose |
You wouldn't want medical team if it was a real emergency, the Keystone Cop stretcher bearers.
That game was made for Garner yesterday with that ref.
Nice to see you. |
As with Rommy, I kept an eye out, but didn't spot you. Very decent size away crowd yesterday. |  |
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| At the cemetery gates on 09:25 - Mar 18 with 4878 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 23:10 - Mar 17 by Radlett_blue |
Sounds like a scrappy game which was likely to be decided by a single goal.
Theoretically, we should have tried to put Bristol's back line under more pressure, but football isn't as simple as that, is it? |
Quite possibly, it was the best Celina we've seen for a while. He was far better at looking up but had ten behind the ball such was their negativity when they realised they were lucky to be ahead. We just didn't have that final ball for 90 mins to make it count.
It was a good goal, but Bristol didn't deserve a win, despite a few of their fans walking out lamenting they should have had 3 or 4 (I dunno if numbers are different in the South West). Two actually asked Harry if Skuse was playing because they thought he was too old now to be Championship.
I also had a group with young kids try and follow me to the ground and got lost, then I noticed the Dad had a Man United hat on. Odd lot in all it seems more and more each year. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 09:26 - Mar 18 with 4871 views | m14_blue |
Great report, as always. |  | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:28 - Mar 18 with 4868 views | nshearman1 |
Good report, nice to meet you Mullet. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:29 - Mar 18 with 4867 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 06:51 - Mar 18 by brogansnose |
You wouldn't want medical team if it was a real emergency, the Keystone Cop stretcher bearers.
That game was made for Garner yesterday with that ref.
Nice to see you. |
And as always same to you mate, it's been too long. The social element was the best thing about the day, although my opinion of Milne has dropped as low as the temperatures. Thought it was really brave to show up with the fans in the pub again this year, to then sell the manager out to curry favour tells me they definitely had a bust up after Sheff United now.
Totally agree about Joey too, their CB's were weak enough to be completely undone by him, compare that to the depth City have. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 09:35 - Mar 18 with 4844 views | brogansnose |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:01 - Mar 18 by Guthrum |
As with Rommy, I kept an eye out, but didn't spot you. Very decent size away crowd yesterday. |
Shame, I was really hoping to bump into you yesterday, perhaps at Brentford ? I thought that was a good turnout and positive too. I enjoyed that much more than the recent PR matches. | | | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 09:36 - Mar 18 with 4841 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:28 - Mar 18 by nshearman1 |
Good report, nice to meet you Mullet. |
And you mate, a shame it was another duff result there though. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 10:11 - Mar 18 with 4801 views | nshearman1 |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:25 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
Quite possibly, it was the best Celina we've seen for a while. He was far better at looking up but had ten behind the ball such was their negativity when they realised they were lucky to be ahead. We just didn't have that final ball for 90 mins to make it count.
It was a good goal, but Bristol didn't deserve a win, despite a few of their fans walking out lamenting they should have had 3 or 4 (I dunno if numbers are different in the South West). Two actually asked Harry if Skuse was playing because they thought he was too old now to be Championship.
I also had a group with young kids try and follow me to the ground and got lost, then I noticed the Dad had a Man United hat on. Odd lot in all it seems more and more each year. |
I have to say, the team I used to play for are all ardent City fans, I always meet up with them before this game, and they are absolutely great guys. They are generally alright, City fans. Loved the Business banner at the far end.
Really think against that defence Celina should have been brought on a lot earlier, probably soon after their goal. For me, substitutions swung a tight game where we should have had a point. But, to be fair, they spent proper money on two strikers. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 10:27 - Mar 18 with 4777 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 10:11 - Mar 18 by nshearman1 |
I have to say, the team I used to play for are all ardent City fans, I always meet up with them before this game, and they are absolutely great guys. They are generally alright, City fans. Loved the Business banner at the far end.
Really think against that defence Celina should have been brought on a lot earlier, probably soon after their goal. For me, substitutions swung a tight game where we should have had a point. But, to be fair, they spent proper money on two strikers. |
I didn't really get the banner to be honest, this is a team spending multi millions every season regardless and redeveloping what is a project there. They've been shouting about how great their owner is for a long time now.
In my opinion Lee Johnson and Alex Neil are very similar at two very different clubs. We've seen a purple patch from both this season but their wider careers don't bear out greater success. It'll be really interesting to see if they've improved as managers.
I'm sure the proper fans are just that, but the "likes of Ipswich" mentality and those examples I saw/heard yesterday baffled me to put it politely. Clear they forgot where they were a year or so ago, but I don't see them going up based on yesterday and other sides I've been to thus far. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 10:29 - Mar 18 with 4758 views | marchy |
| At the cemetery gates on 10:11 - Mar 18 by nshearman1 |
I have to say, the team I used to play for are all ardent City fans, I always meet up with them before this game, and they are absolutely great guys. They are generally alright, City fans. Loved the Business banner at the far end.
Really think against that defence Celina should have been brought on a lot earlier, probably soon after their goal. For me, substitutions swung a tight game where we should have had a point. But, to be fair, they spent proper money on two strikers. |
I'm sure it's been said with a wink, but MM's "They’ve put the big fella on that cost £1.25 million or something, so he’s got a bit of a pedigree" is just utterly grim. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 11:36 - Mar 18 with 4674 views | nshearman1 |
| At the cemetery gates on 10:27 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
I didn't really get the banner to be honest, this is a team spending multi millions every season regardless and redeveloping what is a project there. They've been shouting about how great their owner is for a long time now.
In my opinion Lee Johnson and Alex Neil are very similar at two very different clubs. We've seen a purple patch from both this season but their wider careers don't bear out greater success. It'll be really interesting to see if they've improved as managers.
I'm sure the proper fans are just that, but the "likes of Ipswich" mentality and those examples I saw/heard yesterday baffled me to put it politely. Clear they forgot where they were a year or so ago, but I don't see them going up based on yesterday and other sides I've been to thus far. |
I suppose as an old bloke I just hate the business of football these days. My mate tells me that a small group have kicked off about ST prices there, even though they've been frozen, because there is less availability for the low kids' prices seats. So I guess not what I thought.
In my view, actually the owner has been pretty great. But then, I know him.
I think in general younger managers will improve if they get the right experience, they need to be given time before their careers can be assessed properly. Older ones, less so perhaps...
I doubt they'll go up though, not quite there. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 14:04 - Mar 18 with 4580 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 10:29 - Mar 18 by marchy |
I'm sure it's been said with a wink, but MM's "They’ve put the big fella on that cost £1.25 million or something, so he’s got a bit of a pedigree" is just utterly grim. |
Have to confess I thought they spent way more on him, but might have been thinking of Diedhou.
None of their strikers looked that great which makes it all the more irritating. However, you could see the goal was likely when he knocked one over the bar before.
Waghorn aside it's hard to see where our striking options are going to get us. Even then he can't do it all on his own. Drinan was being called for more and more yesterday, which makes me wonder if he and Morris will fight for the Keiffer Moore style use of last season.
I wonder if anyone would truly tolerate a slump but those two starting games with other youngsters and squad players. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 18:42 - Mar 18 with 4471 views | Renegade_Statman |
Great read and it was good to meet you Saturday Mullet. Hope to catch up with you at another game, remember I'll be the one in a Morrissey t-shirt.
*Cemetry :) |  |
| When you sleep I will creep into your thoughts,
like a bad debt that you can't pay |
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| At the cemetery gates on 18:59 - Mar 18 with 4443 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 18:42 - Mar 18 by Renegade_Statman |
Great read and it was good to meet you Saturday Mullet. Hope to catch up with you at another game, remember I'll be the one in a Morrissey t-shirt.
*Cemetry :) |
Typo and title amended! I can only blame the long drive in the snow or the spellchecker for the accidental Pantera reference.
Likewise, and a strong showing from you podcast lot, the pub was great wasn't it? Sounds like a few people want to do similar all over judging by the response. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 19:07 - Mar 18 with 4417 views | longtimefan |
| At the cemetery gates on 09:25 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
Quite possibly, it was the best Celina we've seen for a while. He was far better at looking up but had ten behind the ball such was their negativity when they realised they were lucky to be ahead. We just didn't have that final ball for 90 mins to make it count.
It was a good goal, but Bristol didn't deserve a win, despite a few of their fans walking out lamenting they should have had 3 or 4 (I dunno if numbers are different in the South West). Two actually asked Harry if Skuse was playing because they thought he was too old now to be Championship.
I also had a group with young kids try and follow me to the ground and got lost, then I noticed the Dad had a Man United hat on. Odd lot in all it seems more and more each year. |
Good report but I think you’re being a bit generous about the goal. Webster should never have been out-muscled like he was, hopefully he’ll learn from it. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:14 - Mar 18 with 4393 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:07 - Mar 18 by longtimefan |
Good report but I think you’re being a bit generous about the goal. Webster should never have been out-muscled like he was, hopefully he’ll learn from it. |
I agree, although it was more a fact he was late to close the space down having not seen it again that allowed Djuric to shrug him off.
I really like Webster but I'm glad not to come across like some. There was some clown behind us doing a one man comedy/commentary routine all game slating everything even when it didn't happen e.g. "he'll give it away here" "HOOF!" and then in the last ten minutes "get it forward.
Makes me wonder why people travel, it really does. Especially so far, couldn't see him but it was nice when the fans did get going a few times to have him drowned out. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 19:24 - Mar 18 with 4377 views | longtimefan |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:14 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
I agree, although it was more a fact he was late to close the space down having not seen it again that allowed Djuric to shrug him off.
I really like Webster but I'm glad not to come across like some. There was some clown behind us doing a one man comedy/commentary routine all game slating everything even when it didn't happen e.g. "he'll give it away here" "HOOF!" and then in the last ten minutes "get it forward.
Makes me wonder why people travel, it really does. Especially so far, couldn't see him but it was nice when the fans did get going a few times to have him drowned out. |
It happens near me at home games every week unfortunately. One minute it’s “Hoof” and then the same people complaing “why are they playing it short - play it long”. It’s comical and I ought to laugh it off but it’s getting depressing that people behave this way. | | | |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:48 - Mar 18 with 4345 views | marchy |
| At the cemetery gates on 14:04 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
Have to confess I thought they spent way more on him, but might have been thinking of Diedhou.
None of their strikers looked that great which makes it all the more irritating. However, you could see the goal was likely when he knocked one over the bar before.
Waghorn aside it's hard to see where our striking options are going to get us. Even then he can't do it all on his own. Drinan was being called for more and more yesterday, which makes me wonder if he and Morris will fight for the Keiffer Moore style use of last season.
I wonder if anyone would truly tolerate a slump but those two starting games with other youngsters and squad players. |
Tricky one - I think I would, because we're far enough adrift now that there doesn't seem anywhere to go and, since we didn't seem particularly inclined to go for broke when we were somewhat within range, it does read like a bit of an uninspiring set of dead rubbers from here on out...so it would keep things interesting to see some of the yoof bedded in a bit ready to really step up next season, but then with MM all but gone that might all be for nothing anyway... [Post edited 18 Mar 2018 19:50]
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| At the cemetery gates on 19:51 - Mar 18 with 4331 views | Renegade_Statman |
| At the cemetery gates on 18:59 - Mar 18 by Mullet |
Typo and title amended! I can only blame the long drive in the snow or the spellchecker for the accidental Pantera reference.
Likewise, and a strong showing from you podcast lot, the pub was great wasn't it? Sounds like a few people want to do similar all over judging by the response. |
The pub was great and I wished that we could have all headed back into Bristol for a few more pints and footy discussion after the game.
We're looking to arrange something similar for a Town home game. | |
| When you sleep I will creep into your thoughts,
like a bad debt that you can't pay |
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| At the cemetery gates on 17:13 - Mar 19 with 4142 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:24 - Mar 18 by longtimefan |
It happens near me at home games every week unfortunately. One minute it’s “Hoof” and then the same people complaing “why are they playing it short - play it long”. It’s comical and I ought to laugh it off but it’s getting depressing that people behave this way. |
I don't get it personally. Going all that way especially, to do and think like that just seems so weird. A bit like last season where some young lad got a load of verbals from older blokes in front of him for being positive when we were losing, it seems there's a mindset that establishes itself when things aren't easy.
You can see how it plays into Mick's Nydam misdirection too, and helps cause fractious groups as it plays out over 90 mins let alone a season. A bit like here though it was telling he didn't wind it in when wrong, just moved on and moaned about something else it seems. | |
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| At the cemetery gates on 17:20 - Mar 19 with 4133 views | Mullet |
| At the cemetery gates on 19:48 - Mar 18 by marchy |
Tricky one - I think I would, because we're far enough adrift now that there doesn't seem anywhere to go and, since we didn't seem particularly inclined to go for broke when we were somewhat within range, it does read like a bit of an uninspiring set of dead rubbers from here on out...so it would keep things interesting to see some of the yoof bedded in a bit ready to really step up next season, but then with MM all but gone that might all be for nothing anyway... [Post edited 18 Mar 2018 19:50]
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Drinan seems to be the focus of a lot of ire. With Garner gone and the "Murph" nickname I think there's an assumption he's a natural fit. He looked quite small warming up though, comparatively speaking.
I'd really like to see Nydam given a run now, however there's a sense we will probably still only see peripheral youths and squad players in bits and bobs. I'm not sure we have the depth to just stick one in for 90 mins just yet regardless.
The "get rid of the loans" idea would be great if that didn't decimate the matchday squad further. | |
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