HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Ashton Gate by delving into their forums.

“Yes, at last, we’re out of the relegation zone”, “The words ‘massive result’ are sometimes overused but this is a massive result”, “Three clean sheets in four league games with two wins and one draw, thank you”, “Nothing is certain of course, but I feel a lot more positive now than I did a month ago.”

Saturday’s win at Charlton pulled the Robins out of the drop zone and maintained their recent run of relatively good form. Goals have been scarce. Saturday’s 1-0 win was preceded in the league by a 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham, a 0-1 defeat at Leeds and a 1-0 victory at home to Middlesbrough.

“We seem to be steering clear of relegation”, “Well done lads on a fantastic result. I will spend the next week looking at the league table. I can’t stand seeing us in the bottom three”, “We’re not down but we could and should be making a better fist of things than this”, “We almost always believe.”

“Solid and safe is what we need for the rest of the season”, “We are now hard to beat and that is a fantastic trait to have if we get in front. I would love to see us dominate games and have the verve of last season but this is not the time and place to do this”, “We do look so much more solid.”

The January transfer window has seen the arrival on loan of defender Alex Pearce from Reading, midfielder Ben Gladwin from QPR and striker Lee Tomlin from Bournemouth and the return of left-back Scott Golbourne from Wolves, as well as the permanent signing of keeper Richard O’Donnell.

Lee Johnson

“The coach I’m on has just heard the Lee Johnson news. It has gone into meltdown. People now want to jump off the coach”, “I can’t see who he can attract player-wise that would improve us. However, we can only wait and see and get behind him, although I say this through gritted teeth.”

“He could be our version of Eddie Howe.” Johnson was appointed as head coach on February 6th having left his post at Barnsley. He played for the Robins and will work with John Pemberton, who fans have widely credited for steering the club successfully in recent weeks, as his assistant.

“Come on Lee, show us what you can do and let’s get this club back to being a force to be feared”, “My heart says I want it to work for Lee and the club. My head says it will be goodbye in 18 months or so”, “Give him a chance, if he keeps us in this division next season that’s ‘saviour’ enough for me.”

One poll on the appointment has 41 per cent “happy” against 28 per cent “unhappy” with the rest undecided. Robins’ ambivalence stems from the 34-year-old’s lack of experience managing at this level while his perceived lack of status is seen as hindering their ability to attract top players.

The board’s perceived track record of “employing yes-men” has hardly bolstered his case either. “We had a real chance to bring a top manager in but Johnson is just a puppet”, “I can’t believe he was the very best option”, “Fair point, but given the way the club is run, it’s not a huge surprise.”

A Barnsley Perspective

“Lee’s a nice guy and a good coach, but he’s still learning his trade”, “This season for the most part has been bloody awful, eye-bleedingly bad. He spent the first half of the season using tactics that all in the stands could see weren’t going to work. Our top scorer played in isolation on the wing.”

A number of Tykes came across to offer Robins some insights on their new coach and there was a consensus in their comments. “He’s a bang average manager who wasted a season playing turgid, losing football until he got lucky with the arrival of Adam Hammill from Huddersfield.”

“The guy has swallowed a 21st-century coaching manual and thinks he’s some tactical genius. He is not”, “A big thing to watch out for is what happens after half-time when other managers adapt their team to beat Lee’s style after sussing him out and he stands there clueless how to react.”

Formation

“We now look a lot more solid with the new formation and are a striker away from turning close games into three points.” The Robins have jettisoned the wing-back system which saw them storm League One in a cavalier manner but which “was relegation waiting to happen” in the Championship.

“I like the look of the new formation and it suits us well. It has certainly tightened us up as a team. We are setting up as a 4-3-3 going forward and a 4-5-1 when defending, although to me it looks more of a 4-2-3-1 with the two wide players not pushed forward quite as much as playing a 4-3-3.”

“We want to win and we don’t care if it’s ugly.” Saturday’s starting XI at the Valley (above) has been little changed since John Pemberton took temporary charge of the side. The introduction of January arrivals O’Donnell, Golbourne and Tomlin have been the only recent alterations.

Robins have commented on the improvement in the performances of Marlon Pack and especially Korey Smith in midfield. In the previous system they would frequently be pulled out wide to cover the absence of their wing-backs, leaving the back three exposed in front of the penalty area.

“With the widemen on the wrong wings it allows them to cut in on to their stronger foot and shoot or look for a pass. It also allows the full-backs to overlap, but Luke Freeman and Lee Tomlin are both decent with their weaker foot so they have options.”

“The only issue I have is the support that Jonathan Kodjia gets up front. The wide players need to push up a bit further and nobody from the centre is making a run and gambling on Kodjia winning the ball in the air. We have nobody challenging opposition centre-backs for the second ball.”

“Oh, for a striker who can finish”, “Even if Kodjia finds his early season form, we still need goals from midfield.” The French striker is seen as unsuited to leading the line and has also struggled for form lately. Many fans believe that the midfield must start contributing more goals if they are to stay up.

“Changing tactics during a game? I didn’t think that was allowed.” City switched to 4-4-2 (above) at the Valley to close out the game, using Aaron Wilbraham’s strength and Kieran Agard’s industry as substitutes to help draw pressure off the back four.

One other facet worth highlighting is the strong spirit in the squad. “We have some great guys at our club. They probably know they are not world beaters but they are grateful to be with us and they give everything for Bristol City. They are grounded, grateful and committed and give 100 percent.”

Charlton Athletic 0 - 1 Bristol City

“Was great to hear Drink Up Thee Cider reverberating around the Valley as the final whistle blew”, “A bit of a nothing game in fairness”, “It sounded like neither team could put two passes together”, “Result over performance all day long, especially in a dog fight like now.”

“That was an on odd game, next to no clear chances and we were not nearly as good as previously”, “I thought it was two poor sides today. We created very little but thankfully we look more solid at the back”, “We have beaten the worst team in the division. We need to beat Ipswich as well now.”

“This was a must-win game and a win was duly delivered.” Bournemouth loanee Lee Tomlin won and then converted a match-winning spot-kick on 21 minutes to give the Robins a vital three points. Although delighted with the victory, fans weren’t carried away by the quality of the play.

“I just hope Lee Johnson doesn’t feel the need to stamp his mark and make significant changes”, “He would be mad to do anything different. Until such time as we are more or less safe I cannot see him trying to put his own stamp on the team. That may wait until new players arrive for next season.”

Bristol City 0 - 0 Birmingham City

“Clean sheets now at home to Birmingham and Middlesbrough, we really should have won but we have said that too often this season. It was a decent point taken in isolation and signs of life”, “We played well but it is fairly obvious that we will go down unless we sign a quality striker.”

“Surely we must score soon.” Two moments of controversy in what was an evenly contested game were the yellow card given to Bournemouth loan striker Lee Tomlin for diving in first-half stoppage time and a challenge by centre-back Nathan Baker, but Robins were left bemoaning their finishing.

Leeds United 1 - 0 Bristol City

“A frustrating afternoon, we played better than them but it was clear that a winger Joe Bryan at left-back was a weak link”, “I fear that even though there are some dreadful teams in this league, we are worse because we are too naïve. We are getting done by more intelligent streetwise teams.”

“Today was the same old scene, defensive errors and the lack of finishing meaning we come away pointless again”, “The type of game which proves we are relegation fodder.” The hosts won through a Souleymane Doukara strike on 59 minutes after capitalising on a poor Luke Ayling clearance.

“Leeds were dreadful and we still couldn’t beat them.” While Robins were annoyed with Ayling, they were just as frustrated with Baker, who prompted a rejigging of City’s defence after having to be taken off following a series of reckless challenges when already cautioned.

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Richard O’Donnell makes such as difference as does having a back four.” The 27-year-old ex-Wigan keeper “applauds the players when they play well, shouts when needed, comes for crosses and he dominates his penalty box”, “He is commanding, has good distribution and he reads the game well.”

“O’Donnell looks very assured, always talking to defenders and he claims most high balls in the area and kicks well”, “He hasn’t made a single error, has an excellent kicking game and is great under a high ball”, “It’s a small point but I wouldn’t want him making a vital clearance with his right foot.”

O’Donnell was signed initially on loan to provide cover for Frank Fielding with the former Ram out injured for several weeks but the transfer was made permanent on February 1st. “It’s fantastic having two keepers competing fiercely for one spot. I would make O’Donnell number one now.”

“Mark Little was absolutely immense at Charlton. He was perfect, winning loads of 50/50’s and he making great challenges”, “Sometimes his positioning is out but he is always a handful going forward and always committed to the cause. He regularly beats left-backs by running through them.”

“Little does what is needed, getting to the byline, standing up balls and beating the opposition left-back.” The 27-year-old ex-Peterborough right-back “is a classy ballplayer and a bulldozer”, “He has lapses in concentration and uncertainty but in attack he is hard to stop when he gets going.”

“Scott Golbourne is a proper left-back who looks like he belongs here”, “At no time did he ever look like he would be beaten.” The 27-year-old ex-Wolves man “settled in well against Birmingham and certainly didn’t look like a player on his debut. He has claimed that spot for his own now.”

“Welcome back Scott”, “What a classy second debut for us, calm, constructive on the ball and always in position”, “It’s good to have a dedicated full-back who knows how to defend”, “He had a cracking game, assured, always in the right place and great positional awareness, an all-round performance.”

“Luke Ayling would be a quality central midfielder, a great all-action partner for Korey Smith.” The 24-year-old ex-Yeovil man “invariably has a tendency to get forward so you end up with an exposed centre-back”, “He needs to learn when to attack and when not to take a risk a bit better.”

“Aden Flint has adjusted to this level, a couple of mistakes and culpable at times but his distribution has markedly improved and he has scored some good goals.” The 26-year-old ex-Swindon centre-half “could do with an experienced old hand alongside him to help him with his positioning.”

“Flint is unsurprisingly struggling with the better movement at this level as much as anything”, “He’s not blessed with pace but is on a par with many defenders in this division”, “He has height, power and good ball control for someone so big”, “His attitude has got him this far and he’s not the worst.”

Nathan Baker

“Baker has more quality on the ball than Flint and more of a presence too.” The 24-year-old Villa loan signing, “is the best defender at the club. Countless times he puts his body on the line. He’s a great battler, strong in the air. He also loves a big challenge and hardly makes any mistakes.”

“I have lost count of the number of times he has made a crunching tackle and reminded me of the days when tackling was an art form”, “A solid old-fashioned crunching centre-half, just what you need in a relegation battle”, “No-nonsense and clears danger with his head 90 per cent of the time.”

“Baker gets a yellow [at Elland Road] and it was waiting to happen”, “What the hell is Baker up to?”, “He clearly has plans for next weekend that don’t involve him playing football”, “He has a hot head which he must temper because opponents will play on that weakness”, “He must control himself.”

Central Midfielders

“The number 10 position is the heartbeat of the team and Bobby Reid isn’t it.” The 23-year-old youth product “is frustrating. He has real quality, looks up and gets the ball moving quickly with dangerous balls into the box. The trouble is he also has several lapses per game. He needs to cut these out.”

“If Reid is going to make it as a midfielder he needs to get on the weights and beef up a bit. He’s too lightweight and gets knocked off the ball too easily”, “He struggles when he gets dragged back and is asked to do defensive work which is not in his make up as he isn’t a defensive midfielder.”

“Marlon Pack has looked like a new signing since Cotterill left. The new formation suits him.” The 24-year-old ex-Cheltenham man “never goes missing and is always available to receive a pass”, “Giving him the chance to roam freely now suits him. It’s almost as if he was being wasted holding back.”

“Pack dictates play, wins headers, makes a lot of tackles and interceptions with some great switches of play and a large proportion of our shots. He has been magnificent recently”, “He does the simple stuff by bringing others into play. Disrupting the opposition is a thankless task, but he does it well.”

Korey Smith

“On his day, Stewart Downing can destroy sides at this level but Korey was all over him like a rash in the Middlesbrough game”, “If he keeps on with these incredible performances I’m not sure we are going to be able to hold on to him”, “Our most consistent performer this season by some distance.”

The 25-year-old ex-Oldham man “didn’t give Downing a sniff and looks really good in front of a back four in a three-man midfield”, “Korey is a colossus, everyone worries when he goes down”, “He’s a midfield general, a real leader”, “A committed skilful player with a fantastic attitude on the pitch.”

Wide Midfielders

“Joe Bryan is getting better almost with every game since he beefed up over the summer”, “He has had a knee injury recently but he is two-footed with decent pace”, “He has the potential to become exceptional. He just needs to make a last step up and he will move on to bigger and better things.”

The 22-year-old left-sided youth product “was absolutely terrible at left-back against Leeds. Bryan wasn’t even a passenger but an active liability. His timidity and inability to recognise when he had no time to for a fancy pass or his dwelling on the ball forced Baker into making recovery tackles”.

“Wes Burns is a great impact player. He does better when coming on against tired legs.” The 21-year-old youth product “has a Weston-Super against Birmingham but that doesn’t make him a bad player”, “You have to live with the good and the bad in any young player, let them play through it.”

“I haven’t got an issue with Burns putting long balls out of play or a poor touch, but completely losing his man against Birmingham was inexcusable”, “Going forward, fine, you make mistakes but he nearly cost us goals twice, once losing the ball in the box and again when losing his runner.”

Luke Freeman

“Freeman will never flourish in the centre at Championship level. If he is to merit a place in this side it will have to be in the wide positions where he played much of his early career. He’s a runner with the ball by instinct and not a head-up orchestrator. He can inflict damage on teams out wide.”

The 23-year-old ex-Stevenage striker or winger “had his best game for a while on the right against Birmingham. He looked more confident and heavily involved”, “Had a better game down the right”, “Freeman has no killer pass ability. He’s an excellent dribbler but he doesn’t cut it in the middle.”

His finishing is an issue. “Will Freeman ever score in this league, comedy deflections and edge-of-the-box grass-cutters notwithstanding?”, “The number of times he has hit it over the bar from a good position this season is criminal”, “His goal return is embarrassing for an attacking midfielder.”

Strikers

“Another pat on the back should go to Aaron Wilbraham. At his age, it is clear that he is a fantastic asset for the last 20 minutes of games. He keeps it well, links play, is a solid target and presents a threat. We are lucky to have him and if used correctly he will play a major role closing out games.”

“Wilbraham can be a virtual statue, but he galvanises the squad.” The 36-year-old ex-Palace striker has been used extensively as a substitute. “What a difference he made. He took the game by the scruff of the neck, was a real thorn in Charlton’s side and kept everyone on their game.”

Lee Tomlin

“What a difference Tomlin has made to our team. It’s a pleasure to watch him play”, “The way he moves and carries himself reminded me of Lee Trundle a bit.” The 27-year-old ex-Peterborough man “likes to pick up the ball on the left, cut inside and shoot. He can be more fluid playing out wide”.

“Lee Tomlin brings a new threat which we didn’t have before and he will only improve when he is full match fit”, “He will be key for us. He picks up pockets, plays great balls, has a decent shot but is clearly not fit. He’s very similar to Ross McCormack”, “His current lack of pace is clearly evident.”

“Within 45 minutes Tomlin showed that he’s an absolute class above and everything we’re missing. He’s creative, skilful, has a fantastic range of passing”, “He can play a through ball into the area”, “His playing style was even more languid than JET, but a similar player and very exciting to watch.”

Jonathan Kodjia

“Let’s be blunt. Kodjia, while he is on a bad run is not to blame for our lack of goals. He scored 15 or so last season and is probably going to beat that this season in a struggling side and in a different country”, “We don’t play to his strengths. The number of balls floated over his head is painful.”

Robins have admiration and sympathy for the 26-year-old summer signing from Angers. “Kodjia is the only player that opens up defences. He makes countless runs our midfield only use as decoys”, “He is going through a dry patch but he will get greater service in time with the new formation.”

“I have no problem with Jonathan spearheading an attack but he needs good service to feet to get the best from him”, “Just give him the damn ball”, “I feel sorry for him joining this mess”, “He has looked a lot better with Tomlin on the pitch. If Tomlin plays in behind him they will get goals.”

“Kodjia has been substituted”, “At least he won’t be offside again”, “Kodjia offside? Never”, “I wish we could coach him not to keep getting caught offside. He just has to stay on the shoulder of the last defender. With his pace he does not need to move ahead of the ball being played.”

Robins’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Ipswich is now huge. Regardless of your feelings about Lee Johnson, we need to roar the team on against Ipswich because this is a massive spell in our season”, “Ipswich should be interesting. Their form is inconsistent and we managed a point at their place, a point next week would be excellent.”

“Is there a better time to play them? Gerken, Skuse, Coke, Fraser, Douglas, Bishop, McGoldrick and possibly Hyam are all out.” There are no prediction forecast threads but many City fans would be happy to pick up a point on Saturday. They did have plenty to say about two former Robins.

“Why didn’t we rate Brett Pitman when he was here? He is a natural goalscorer although not much else. We didn’t use him enough and we let him go. He is proven at this level and he scored the winner for Ipswich last week, so much for those who say he is a poacher and has no pace.”

“I'd love to see Skuse playing at down the Gate again, but the more injuries for Ipswich the better as far as I'm concerned”, “Cole Skuse was seriously underrated by loads of City fans who clearly don’t appreciate how crucial it is to protect the defence”,

“Skuse at City was almost an unsung hero although he did win the Supporters’ Player of the Year one season. That award meant a great deal to him”, “He was always a promising player for me who never quite fully blossomed and looked a bit jaded in his last two seasons at the Gate.”

“Cole did the simple things well but never really stood out in games”, “Never underestimate Cole because Mick McCarthy knows a good player when he sees one. ‘I believe Cole has all the attributes to be able to play in the Premier League’, not my words but Mick McCarthy's.”

“In the two seasons he's been there Ipswich have conceded fewer than 60 goals. In the four seasons before Skuse moved east they conceded 60-plus every year. He might have developed a bit, I don't know. McCarthy would probably be a better coach to do this than the ones Skuse had here.”

Websites

The busiest and most informed Robins’ forum is the polite and knowledgeable Bristol City Fans’ Forum.

In case you missed this earlier in the week, details of the South West Supporters’ Club pre-match get-together which is free and open to all visiting Blues can be found http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/29035/milne-at-pre-match-south-west-bran

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 12:24 - Feb 12 Cheers Harry, very informative as ever. This will be another tough one - aren't they all! Draw would not be the worst result in the world.
1

radiogaga added 12:32 - Feb 12 Despite witnessing the recent dross at Brum and QPR, part of me still wishes I was at Ashton Gate tomorrow. Will undoubtedly be a tough game against a side who are improving and becoming a lot more solid defensively. But we have to believe we can beat the team's near the bottom of the league. Nice to hear their praise for Pitman and particularly Skuse. Without doubt, Skuse' injury is a massive blow & a player we will miss hugely.

2

Premierbluez added 14:34 - Feb 12 Thanks Harry. Hopefully 3 points after seeing us at Portman Road against Bristol City.
2

Bluebell added 16:03 - Feb 12 Thanks for that Harry as always. Up until about a week ago I was confident we would win this one easily. After the injuries I am not so sure.. I think I would be happy with a draw now especially as they have a new manager. Hope to come to see you and your 'lot' before the game but not sure what time we will get there tomorrow.
3

ericclacton added 16:34 - Feb 12 Lovely notes Harry, top drawer, I think they will be all over us like a rash, Freeman and the rotund Tomlin will be a pain, with the big man up front who I think is a good target man. We will be lucky to get anything there, I hope I am completely wrong of course.
3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls