Three goals, three points, a Severnside Derby victory and a season double over the Bluebirds. It doesn’t get much better than that. It was all about the result, but it was great to see a good performance with some decent football in the mix.
Nigel Pearson recalled Chris Martin and Rob Atkinson to the starting line-up, with Jay Dasilva and Zak Vyner dropping to the bench, where they were joined by Joe Williams. Let’s hope that Joe can stay injury free for the remainder of the campaign.
It was a pretty slow start from the home side but despite having the lion's share of possession, Cardiff didn’t really threaten Max O’Leary’s goal. The Robins were forced to make two changes following injuries in the opening 30 minutes, when first Rob Atkinson (back) was replaced by Vyner, and then Andy King (hamstring) was substituted for Jay Dasilva. We wish both a speedy recovery.
Minutes after the King for Dasilva change, the Bluebirds took the lead. Han-Noah Massengo did well to defend a ball into the defensive final third but his clearance was poor and from the resultant cross, James Collins headed in.
Pearson’s players and the home crowd reacted to going behind in a positive manner and importantly were on level terms almost immediately. Andi Weimann was played in by a lovely Alex Scott pass and was arguably fouled (not for me) by former Robins favourite Aden Flint as he raced towards goal.
Nothing was given and the ball broke for Chris Martin who controlled, before firing a curling right foot effort past Alex Smithies in front of the away fans at the Atyeo End. Getting level so quickly was a big moment in the game.
The second-half started in a similar vein to the first but importantly Antoine Semenyo was starting to make life very difficult for Flint, Curtis Nelson and Mark McGuinness.
Just after the hour, Martin got his second of the game after a neat one-two with Semenyo saw him through on goal and he hit the sweetest of left-foot finishes to send the home fans wild.
The Robins were well on top with Semenyo’s power and pace a constant threat. After a good run and pass from the excellent Cam Pring, Semenyo should have got on the score sheet himself but smashed the ball into the side netting.
Scott was a growing influence in the game and Massengo had put his mistake for the Cardiff opener behind him, winning the ball in midfield time and time again, and setting his side on the front foot.
As the game entered the last 15 minutes, Semenyo used all his strength to win a ball before playing in Weimann to finish with a well-placed shot and seemingly put the game to bed.
We don’t like to make things easy for ourselves and in injury time, Max Watters made it a nervy finish, heading in a cross.
Semenyo so nearly got the goal his play deserved hitting a piledriver of a shot against the foot of the post - it’s probably still shaking now - and then watching agonisingly as the rebound was just out of reach for the onrushing Weimann.
The final whistle was blown, and Pearson’s side got an important and deserved three points. Special mention to the excellent Chris Martin, his all-round game was superb, holding the ball up and playing neat passes. His finishing was top drawer, but he was also vital in defending the bluebirds set plays. Fair play Chrissy, a deserved man of the match.
Following the game, I was disappointed to see photos of the away end toilets, showing the vandalism and the however many pounds worth of damage caused by some elements of the Cardiff fans.
I just don’t understand the moronic mindset of these individuals, in the same way as I don’t understand our own fans chucking plastic bottles onto the pitch after Cardiff’s opener. While Collins clearly provoked a reaction following his goal, there is just no need to behave like it. These fans will be identified and receive bans, what’s the point?
Figure of eight
Tyreeq Bakinson left the club last week and Pearson was pretty clear on the reasons why he’d allowed the youngster, who not long ago signed a new contract join Ipswich Town. Whilst I think it’s important for fans to understand why Tyreeq was allowed to leave, I did feel slightly uncomfortable watching the press conference.
During the week, it was also great to see the club announce a tribute to the Ashton Gate Eight. February 3, 1982 will forever be a date etched into the fabric of Bristol City Football Club.
On that morning, eight players - Jimmy Mann, Trevor Tainton, Geoff Merrick, Julian Marshall, David Rodgers, Peter Aitken, Chris Garland and Gerry Sweeney - with the club minutes away from folding tore their contracts up to save Bristol City from extinction.
It is now four decades since that selfless act and for the weekend of the Middlesbrough match on Saturday, February 19 – the closest weekend Ashton Gate fixture following the February 3 anniversary – the club will host ‘The Eight’ and their loved ones as they travel from across the UK to attend.
Fans have the chance to salute the legends with a pre-match parade 15 minutes ahead of kick-off and I would implore all to make the effort to be in their seats to say thank you and give these men the tribute that they deserve.
There will also be a period of applause in the eighth minute of the game, a giant surfer flag and hand flags, as well as a tribute on the big screen. Let’s sing “Eight men had a dream….” like its never been sung before, at the top of our voices from all around the ground.
Our 3 Peaps In a Podcast Bonus show ratings this week were Max O’Leary 6, Tomas Kalas 8, Zak Vyner 7, Cameron Pring 8, Jay Dasilva 6, Callum O’Dowda 6, Alex Scott 8, Han Noah Massengo 7, Andi Weimann 7, Antoine Semenyo 8, Chris Martin 9*MotM. A team average of 7.27 for the game.
As for Nige it was an 8. A lot of fans are talking of starting to see what he is trying to shape with the team. It was an entertaining game and he got the big calls right and it was a big derby win. The current team average for the season is 5.83 with an expected performance rating of 6.
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