BRISTOL CITY 2-1 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
Team
Marshall,Osbourne (Ward 46),Borrowdale,De Zeeuw,M.Hughes,Simpson (Tabb 60),Doyle,Adebola,Best,Mifsud (Thornton 71) SNU Davis,Simmonds
Bristol City
Basso,Orr,McCoombe,Vasko,McAllister,Wilson,Johnson,Elliott,Sproule (Fontaine 87),Noble (Showumni 78),Byfield (Trundle 78)
HT BCFC 1-0 CCFC FT BCFC 2-1 CCFC ATT 15,899
Goals Darren Byfield (4),Marvin Elliott (66), Dele Adebola (71)
Ref P.Taylor Booked M.Hughes,Vasko
Man Of The Match Dele Adebola and Kevin Thornton shared the votes.
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STARTING FORMATION
Iain Dowie made three changes from the side which had beaten Ipswich on Saturday. The biggest surprise was that Robbie Simpson started after missing nearly three months through a hamstring injury. Stephen Hughes had a dead leg and was replaced by Michael Hughes. Jay Tabb went on the bench with Leon Best returning.
Best Adebola
Mifsud Doyle M.Hughes Simpson
Borrowdale Turner De Zeeuw Osbourne
Marshall
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WEATHER
A cloudy day,not too cold.
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GROUND
Bristol City are another club looking to move. Whilst facilities in the away end are basic with no backs to the seats and pillars blocking the view,at least Ashton Gate has character and holds in the atmosphere.
Two big stands down the side and two smaller ones behind the goals. Dressing rooms behind the goals.
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CITY SUPPORT
City supporters from Northern Ireland,Germany, Mallorca and Norway joined the 830 strong throng in the away end.
The support was pretty muted more due to having nothing to much to sing about rather than massive hang-overs.
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"Nothing Changes On New Years Day" sang U2's Bono and it was another poor performance that saw City go down to a 2-1 defeat at Bristol City.
On the anniversary of City's first away win in the Football League (Grimsby),and with a record of only four away wins on New Year's Day,we set off for Ashton Gate. One easy trip from Cov later, which saw us take in the sights of Bristol including the SS Great Britain, we arrived in plenty of time.
The arrival of a City team which included three changes, was greeted with fireworks but with less than five minutes on the clock and after an immaculately observed minute silence for former Sky Blue Trialist Phil O'Donnell,it was the Sky Blues defence who needed a rocket.
A ball over the top caught the City defence static. It was knocked over to Darren Byfield who thumped the ball home from fourteen yards.
The goal left the Bristol fans to our right jubilant. As they launched into songs, stereotypical of someone from the West Country - greatest hits from The Wurzels and songs about Cider, we sat looking miserable, watching the Sky Blues ripped apart down the flanks.
Michael Hughes was one of the few players who looked bothered admist rumours of Iain Dowie threatening to quit if Ray Ranson was to bring in a Director Of Football and the fact that City's staff had at the time of writing not been paid. In an ineffective midfield, he was forced to chase round and in the 17th minute, one challenge saw him go into the book of referee P.Taylor.
Gary Johnson's side continued to cause problems. A Turner header across his own penalty area fell for Byfield to hit a shot deflected for a corner, whilst former Millwall team mates Marvin Elliott and Darren Byfield combined to get in a shot which Osbourne cleared for a corner.
The one set piece, City got in the opening thirty minutes. was a free kick from Michael Doyle. Unfortunately, the kick sailed harmlessly into the arms of the keeper and was met by groans and jeers from a City support getting more disgruntled with every passing minute.
In the 32nd minute, Michael Mifsud managed City's first shot on goal and forced Basso to push away for a corner. A second shot on target came thirteen minutes later from Leon Best as City were booed off at the break.
Alan Dicks, who was at both clubs and played his part in that legendary game when both sides contrived to escape relegation and send Sunderland down. got a few cheers from the City support who welcomed Elliott Ward onto the pitch when he replaced Isaac Osbourne at the break.
The former West Ham man for whom City are still paying installments on, took over at centre half, Gary Borrowdale swapped flanks and Ben Turner went to left back.
Whatever was said at the break worked as the Sky Blues were a lot better at the start of the second half. Mifsud went on a run in the 48th minute and got in a shot from an acute angle which Basso got down to save.
Adebola had chances with a shot and a header before Leon Best went up with the keeper but Tamas Vasko was back to clear. Best was involved once more in the 58th minute when he turned inside the area and looked for a gap in a crowded six yard box. Nothing was doing so he hit the ball off a defender for a corner.
Robbie Simpson who was clearly not match-fit was replaced by Tabb on the hour mark of a game which the home side were always capable of getting a second goal.
This came in the 66th minute when Andy Marshall came out for a punch,missed the ball allowing Marvin Elliott to head into the net.
Kevin Thornton had been cheered everytime he warmed up and he came on for Michael Mifsud in the 71st minute to great applause. A minute later, and the Irishman was joining in the celebrations as the Sky Blues pulled one back.
It was a simple goal and came from Jay Tabb on the right playing the ball inside for Dele Adebola who took one touch before banging it into the net.
We urged City to get another and in the 82nd minute,it almost came when Tabb found Leon Best some thirteen yards out. Now, the player for whom City still owe Southampton,due to Mr Ranson being more bothered about shares rather than the day to day running of the club , only had the keeper to beat. This,Best did, but he stroked the ball onto the far post before it was cleared for a corner.
With that, any hope of getting a result ebbed away and we filed out of the ground unhappy with yet another defeat.