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Bristol City 2-0 Town
Bristol City 2-0 Town
Wednesday, 5th Dec 2007 00:34

Town's away woe continued with a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City. Marvin Elliott lashed in a stunning early strike, then Alex Bruce conceded a penalty for handball, which was converted by Bradley Orr. The result flattered the home side with the Blues spurning chance after chance in the second half.

Boss Jim Magilton made three changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Barnsley at the weekend, with Owen Garvan, Sylvain Legwinski and Gary Roberts coming into the midfield and Billy Clarke, Tommy Miller and Pablo Couñago dropping out. Jon Walters joined Alan Lee up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

Town created a chance within the first minute, Gary Roberts crossing from the right after a quick break from a Robins set piece but a defender got in ahead of Alan Lee to head clear inside the area.

The home side went ahead with their first shot of the game. Marvin Elliott was given time and space 30 yards out and hit a low, unstoppable shot into the corner of Neil Alexander's net.

It was just the start the Blues didn't need given their nervousness on the road at present and Town found it hard to find their feet in the early stages.

On 14 Ivan Sproule and Gary Roberts both received yellow cards after a clash deep in the Town half, the Town midfielder reacting to a late challenge from the former Hearts player.

Town were having a fair bit of possession by this stage but there was a lack of quality about the crosses going into the box, while any loose balls always seemed to fall to Bristol City players.

Alex Bruce made an important block on a Sproule shot from the edge of the area on 17, but chances continued to be rarities at either end.

On the half hour the home side were awarded a penalty. A wayward ball into the box bounced off the wet surface and on to Alex Bruce's hand with the defender under no pressure. Referee Andy Hall had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, which Bradley Orr, red-carded in the 6-0 at Portman Road, despatched confidently.


While the ball did appear to hit Alex Bruce's hand, to deem the action deliberate was more than a touch harsh.

Town came close to pulling a goal back in the 32nd minute. First Jon Walters's shot was blocked, then Gary Roberts's strike was deflected over when goal-bound. From the corner, Alan Lee claimed a defender had used a hand, but the referee was unimpressed on this occasion.

As the half came to a close, Sylvain Legwinski shot straight at Adriano Basso, before Elliott hit an effort across the face of the Town goal.

The Blues hadn't been at their best during the first half, but the scoreline didn't really reflect a tight game of few chances at either end. Elliott's goal was a fine strike, while there was a touch of fortune about the penalty, even though it clearly struck Bruce's hand.

Town began the second half dominating the possession but without creating any chances. In the 54th minute Pablo Couñago replaced Sylvain Legwinski and Jon Walters switched back into midfield.

Gavin Williams shot wide, then Alan Lee was sent away on goal by Owen Garvan, but Basso made a fine save. The Brazilian blocked Couñago's rebound and Garvan's subsequent shot looped off a defender into the keeper's arms.

The Blues were now keeping the home side pushed back inside their own half and on the hour mark Lee and Couñago exchanged passes, but the Irishman shot wide.

Two minutes later Couñago had two attempts cleared off the line from a Garvan cross after a short corner on the left. Town were well on top and at times played some lovely football, but a goal just wouldn't seem to come with Basso or a defender always getting in the way.

The game was being played largely in the Bristol City half but the home side made the occasional burst forward. In the 68th minute Alexander saved Elliott's 25-yard strike to his left, then soon after, Lee Johnson shot over from the edge of the area.

Ivan Sproule made an impressive break in the 73rd minute after a Town corner, but screwed his shot wide. Alex Bruce pulled up with a groin injury as he chased Sproule into the Town half and was replaced by Fabian Wilnis.

Gavin Williams was yellow-carded for a foul on 75, perhaps a harsh caution given that several Bristol City players had escaped censure for innumerable fouls around their penalty area throughout the second half.

Couñago saw two shots blocked from a Roberts cross from the left as the Blues continued to look for a goal, then the former Accrington man wasted a 20-yard freekick by sending it well over the bar. Danny Haynes replaced him for the final 12 minutes.

Basso saved well from Garvan and Couñago hammered the rebound miles over the bar, prior to the Robins' Brazilian keeper making another fine save, this time from Williams.

Fabian Wilnis shot over on 84 after an Owen Garvan freekick had deflected out to him on the edge of the area.

Town were throwing men forward and on occasion were getting caught on the break. Sub Lee Trundle hit the outside of the post with a shot from a tight angle on the right, prior to Darren Byfield chasing a long ball, taking it past the on-rushing Neil Alexander but slipping and allowing Fabian Wilnis to clear the danger.

Alexander made a fine save from Michael McIndoe down to his left with two minutes remaining before Basso had little trouble with Lee's low 20-yarder. Couñago's last ditch deflected shot wide was the game's final goalmouth action.

Town's run of away games without a win moves on to 14. This was by no means the worst performance in that run, but the Blues only really started to play to their potential once they were already two goals down, and even then couldn't take their chances.

At home, Town have been clinical in front of goal, away there has been a hesitancy and a lack of confidence in and around the penalty area which was all too evident again. The Blues had more than enough chances to grab a draw, if not a win and for spells after the break they dominated the game in the manner they have so often at home, but once again to no avail.

The next opportunity to end the unenviable away record comes on Saturday when Town travel to the Valley to take on Charlton.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce (Wilnis 75), Garvan, Legwinski (Couñago 54), Williams, Roberts (Haynes 79), Lee, Walters. Unused: Supple, Trotter. Att: 14,062.


Photo: Action Images



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