Football / Fan's View
‘Three points will do a world of good’
So, there it was. We won. Finally, after nine successive league games without a win, the first eight of which had ended in defeat (all by a one goal margin), City managed to get the three points fans had so desperately been craving.
Milan Djuric’s second half header gave Johnson that bit of breathing space, and although most the teams around us won too, it was a huge relief to walk away from Ashton Gate and not to be discussing a late capitulation or to overhear conversations about how the board should ‘make a change’.
The game itself was a pretty drab affair, I actually used the word turgid mid-match but on reflection have gone back to drab as my assessment. City did OK. Cotterill looked lively on his return to the Gate and we pretty much kept Rotherham at arms lengths for the entire match.
Having said that, our opponents – who lay 10 points adrift at the foot of the table – looked every bit as lacklustre as their league position would suggest.
But, most importantly, we won. The three points will do a world of good for the team, Djuric himself and hopefully our under-fire manager. I wouldn’t go as far as to say we were brilliant, as a friend of mine suggested post match, although I couldn’t say for sure how much the cider could have clouded his judgement of the proceedings.
Much has been made of the fans reaction to Johnson’s 58th minutes triple substitution during the Rotherham win. What people objected to, as far as I could tell, was the withdrawal of our talisman Tammy Abraham.
Although it is always frustrating to see a player of such ability leave the field of play, I do think fans need to remember that he is just 19. At 19, most of us couldn’t be trusted to tie our own show laces, let alone lead the line for a team fighting relegation.
It was also good to see our new-look strike partnership, and, potentially a glimpse at the future and life after Tammy. The long and the short of it though was that Johnson’s Football Manager-style triple substitution and formation change worked, so I’d prefer the condemnation to not be so forceful during the match.
City were due to play their next four matches away from Ashton Gate but thankfully the rescheduled home Fulham game now gives a much-needed game slap bang in the middle of the four tough fixtures on the road.
The first of the four games sees us take on Steve McClaren’s Derby County. The former England boss has certainly turned things round at Pride Park and City will have to hope their midweek F.A. Cup tie will give us the edge physically.
We then travel to Leeds for a midweek tie. They are another side performing very well in the league and vying for a play-off spot. I think I will speak for most City fans when I say we’d be elated to get anything from these two ties. But I won’t be holding my breath.
Read more: ‘A somewhat crazy day in South Bristol’
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