Junior Bent must rank among the most irrepressibly cheerful players ever to have worn a Bristol City shirt. The diminutive attacker was the ‘go to’ for journalists like myself after a defeat because he could still be counted upon for a smile and some positive quotes.
Scott Murray filled a similar role during his time as a player. Maybe there is something about little wingers that keeps their chins up when those of team-mates are on their chests.
But even Bent’s bubbling enthusiasm must have been running short when this weekend’s opponents West Bromwich Albion visited Ashton Gate for a First Division game on April 17 1995.
City were deeply embroiled in what was to prove an unsuccessful relegation battle towards the end of a campaign that had seen Russell Osman sacked as manager and replaced by the returning Joe Jordan.
The turnover of players had been immense. Among the 17 signed in the space of eight months were Scott Paterson, David Seal, Jim Brennan, Vegard Hansen, Richard Dryden, Gary Owers and Martin Kuhl.
Through the exit door in the same period went, among others, Gary Shelton, Andy Llewellyn, Liam Robinson, Martin Scott and Dave Martin.
Osman, who had led City to FA Cup glory against Liverpool the previous season, was gone by the following November and Jordan had been unable to turn the tide of poor results.
By the time Albion arrived for the Easter Monday fixture, most City fans were resigned to a return to the third tier of English football.
With only four games to go, the cause was looking hopeless. But a win would give Jordan’s men at least a mathematical chance of avoiding the drop.
The Scot, whose previous spell in charge had brought promotion from the old Third Division, was not the sort of character to throw in the towel.
He set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation, with a back-line of Hansen, Mark Shail, Dryden and Stuart Munro in front of goalkeeper Keith Welch.
Mark Flatts, a right-winger signed on loan from Arsenal, made his third start, alongside Owers, Kuhl and Rob Edwards in midfield, with Bent pushed forward from his normal wide role to partner Wayne Allison up front.
The visitors had Stuart Naylor, later to play for City and coach at Bristol Rovers, in goal. Their attack was led by a certain Bob Taylor, sold by City for £300,000 in January 1992 and on course to become an idol with Albion fans.
The weather matched the mood among City supporters, a grey, drizzly afternoon, braved by a crowd of 8,777.
By half time, most wished they had stayed at home or gone shopping. Edwards headed wide from a Hansen cross, but the most notable moment was an injury to Albion defender Paul Raven, which saw him substituted after just seven minutes.
Allison was booked for the challenge and it was virtually his only contribution as City struggled to mount any meaningful attacks.
Albion, themselves having a poor season, which would see them finish 19th under manager Alan Buckley, were barely more inventive.
Their most dangerous moment came from a Kevin Donovan cross, which Shail did well to clear with Taylor lurking behind him in the six-yard box.
City stepped up their game after the break, with Bent and Allison denied by last-ditch blocks, while Naylor saved well from substitute Scott Partridge.
But at the other end Welch had to produce the save of the match, diving to push away Andy Hunt’s volley.
Dryden went close with a header from Kuhl’s corner before his side finally gave their long-suffering fans something to cheer ten minutes from time.
It was a goal in keeping with the match. Bent challenged with Albion defender Paul Agnew for a Partridge cross to the near post and the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net.
No one was quite sure which player it had come off. But, asked about it afterwards, Agnew responded with a terse “no comment”, leaving Bent free to claim a rare strike.
“I’ll certainly be claiming it,” he said, with a trademark broad grin. “It will have me down as the scorer in the Evening Post and that’s good enough for me."
Junior was honest enough to add that he would reach for the off button if the goal was shown on television, in case it showed he didn’t get a touch.
Six minutes from time Kuhl was substituted by Jordan as he went to take a corner. Instead of making the journey around the pitch to the dug-out, the midfielder provided a little light relief by taking a seat in the nearest stand until ordered to move by a policeman.
Albion came close to a late equaliser when Daryl Burgess blasted over, but City held on to win 1-0 and keep survival hopes flickering.
Even Bent couldn’t put a gloss on the match. “There are 46 games to a season. Not every one of them is going to be filled with quality and this wasn’t.” he admitted.
“The points are more important now and these give us a bit of a lifeline. While you’re still in it, there is always hope.”
Not for long, in this case. City took only a point from their last three games, losing to Watford and Reading and ending the season just one off the bottom of the table.
The other relegated clubs were Notts County, Burnley and Swindon Town, while Sunderland narrowly avoided the drop in 20th position.
Bent, a bargain £30,000 signing from Huddersfield Town in 1990, made over 200 City appearances, scoring 23 goals.
Bristol City: Welch; Hansen, Shail, Dryden, Munro; Flatts, Owers, Kuhl (Martin 84 mins), Edwards (Partridge 60 mins); Bent, Allison.
Sub not used: Kite.
West Bromwich Albion: Naylor; Burgess; O’Regan, Raven (Smith 7 mins, Rees 83 mins), Strodder, Agnew; Donovan, Coldicott, Hamilton; Taylor, Hunt.
Sub not used: Lange.
Referee: David Orr (Buckinghamshire)
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