Reds v Bristol City match report - part one - the game

REDS V BRISTOL CITY MATCH REPORT
It could not have been worse conditions for a teenage keeper to make his professional debut with the wind driving the rain across the Ashton Gate pitch. There were some surprises in the starting line-up, including young Joe Wildsmith in for injured Adam Davies, who has been such a key influence on the number of clean sheets we have kept. Mason Holgate missed out, meaning a more experienced back four of Cranie, M’Voto, Nyatanga and young George Smith. After kick-off it became clear that the rest of the side comprised five in midfield and one striker in Jabo Ibehre. The formation, therefore, was as follows:
Wildsmith
Cranie M’Voto Nyatanga Smith
Pearson
Scowen Hourihane
Winnall Stewart
Ibehre
It was clear from the start that the wind was going to make this a difficult day for passing any great distance with accuracy and a fair few passes found their way over the heads of players on both sides as they struggle to adapt to the direction and strength of the wind. We looked settled and organised, however, and, although we weren’t posing a threat yet, nor were Bristol either, apart from a shot from distance from the magic left foot of Luke Freeman, which looked for all the world that it had gone in the top corner, but must have landed just over the top. On 12 minutes – disaster! There really was no danger, neither in the position (far right edge of our area), nor the situation (Agard was going nowhere), but BFJ clattered through him and it looked a stone-wall penalty even from ninety yards away. No chance for Wildsmith as Pack’s firm shot found the corner.
Although the game was still quite balanced, we were not showing much of a threat in the Bristol half, apart from a splendid darting run from Winnall, beating the offside trap and being found by a superb through-ball, but his pull-back came to nothing as Scowen miscued. It did show, however, that the Bristol back three were quite leaden-footed and could be beaten by a combination of pace and a good through ball. Alas, this was not picked up again. The only shot on target up to 44th minute came from Jabo Ibehre, who was working tirelessly and effectively against at least two big defenders in Flint and Ayling. His chest trap and turn were good, but his shot was scuffed to the keeper for a routine save. Just when it looked to be 1-0 at half time, we upped the tempo for the first time, attacked the area and ended with a goal. Again, it said tons about the ability, strength and balance of Ibehre, even against the most physical of challenges and when often isolated. He controlled Cranie’s cross from the right, let the ball drop, held of the physical challenge coming in from behind and had enough balance to wallop his shot into the right-hand corner of Fielding’s goal. An unlikely goal, but just when we needed it most.
Lifted by the goal, we came out at the start of the second half and really took the game to Bristol, having them chasing shadows with some excellent, brisk and imaginative passing. This led to our having no less than four corners in the first five minutes of the half. The wind was making it difficult for Bristol to clear these, but nothing ultimately came from them. However, in the 54th minute, we scored an outstandingly good goal. It was further excellent control by Ibehre, who was almost unplayable at times to the defenders, trapping the ball on his chest after showing good movement off the ball and then again showing great strength, balance and poise to lay off a pass through the defence for Scowen to anticipate and run on to, rounding Fielding and blasting into the roof of the net from an angle which was getting tighter the longer he left it. Cut wild delirium and the game turned on its head in six minutes. We continued to play a fast, crisp passing game, dominating possession and taking the game to Bristol with most of the play being in their half. We looked as though we would need a third goal to take all the points, though, bearing in mind Bristol’s home record.
From around 75 minutes, the game seemed to turn and it was hard to tell why. I think that out players had sweat blood and guts up to this point and our play did become a little more ragged. We started to look as though we were hanging on for three points, which looked more and more the case as the last ten minutes approached. We were trying to kick the ball into the other half, but just ended up giving it back to Bristol, so that it seemed like wave upon wave of attacks coming towards our goal and with almost all possession in our half. Young Wildsmith showed what a prospect he is with one excellen save and another good one, so it was a shame for him that Bryan’s rather speculative effort slipped his grasp and ended in the net. He looked a bit down-cast, but had no reason to, as he had already saved us before this. Six minutes plus four remained and we were still getting coshed. Bailey coming on for Stewart looked a good move to get a hold in midfield. Waring came on for Winnall, seeming to send Ibehre into defence for the few remaining seconds. We had one last chance with a free-kick wide right, but it came to nothing and we had taken a share of the points and deservedly so. Good performance against the most consistent team in the division and the one eleven points clear at the top. A good point, although we played well enough up to around 75 minutes to have deserved all three

 

Thanks for that TE

 

Learn to use paragraphs

 

nobhead.

 

Thank you for taking the time to write and post that. Much appreciated, mate. Good read, too.

 

A few comments on the city forum saying we were a decent side but they couldn't work out if we played well or they played bad.

Most thought a draw was a fair result although some say they should have been 3 or 4 up in the first half before we scored.

Quite a few mentioned our diving and play acting. Is that something that is in our game now?

 

It's not something that I've really noticed, apart from Pearson. However, both Walsall & PNE recently seemed quite adept at it.

 

Good report, interesting read. I especially liked the 5th paragraph.

 

Anyone think Johnson should have used his subs earlier. We were under the cosh for the last 20 minutes and needed some fresh legs. Bailey didn't come on until the 89th minute...

 

Good report, mostly how I saw it as well. So refreshing to go to one of the top teams and try to press them high up the pitch instead of waiting to concede as we did under Danny at MK Dons and Swindon.

 

I thought the only example of that was Pearson, who went down like a sack of spuds in the second half. The Bristol fans were getting frustrated at that point, so probably saw it as an attempt to delay the play. Pearson did get booed for it, but I could not really see why and it certainly wasn't as if we were constantly delaying play.

Oh! And a new paragraph for our highly literate readers. Just to keep you happy like!