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Bristol City report - Time for Change?	Posted by David Snowball at Sunday, September 03, 2006
An Albion team with four changes (Kuipers, El Abd, Loft, Frutos) started nervously against Bristol City on Saturday, and when Phil Jevons hit our post in the first two minutes, thoughts turned to desperation that this could be another heavy defeat like last week against Crewe. However, once we settled down, we managed to keep the ball for periods and made occasional forays into the City half although we never looked dangerous or likely to score. It was an even match between two average teams but one small piece of clever footwork brought the only goal midway through the first half. Their No 26, Jennison Myrie-Williams, was making his debut in place of the imprisoned Steve Brooker, and he got into our area on our right. Although he had two Albion defenders around him an effort likely to get him on "Showboat" on next week's Soccer AM got him clear and he pulled the ball back to Jevons, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Kuipers but Brown put away the rebound. This wasn't like last week's game where Henderson pushed the ball out for the forward to score, this was a fantastic save by Kuipers and just getting a hand on it was unexpected, pushing it out to the onrushing forward was just plain unlucky. Kuipers was to show his class later in the half when a shot from the edge of the area was curling into his top left hand corner but somehow he flew across the goal and palmed the ball out. A standing ovation was never more deserved! Albion's most incisive moves came from long diagonal balls from Joel Lynch, normally out to Frutos on the right but, once again, there was little penetration up front where Alex Revell, for all of his industry, showed that he doesn't have the class to be a target man at this level. Lynch was playing very well but was fouled late in the half and his injury forced him out of the game at half time to be replaced by Sam Rents for his debut. The second half continued in much the same way as the first but two fine saves from their keeper kept out a long shot from Chippy and an effort when Jake (on as a sub) got free and should have done better. Doug Loft had been ineffective after a good appearance as sub against Crewe and was replaced, as was Frutos who certainly had the better game of the two wide men. Stokes was the other oncoming sub but he never got in the game and almost looked disinterested. So, we never looked likely to score and the usual problems arose. We had occasions where lack of concentration at the back let their forwards have chances they didn't deserve. The midfield kept the ball at times but never penetrated and the forwards won little in the air and didn't get good enough service or weren't clever enough to make chances to score. Kuipers was great in goal, and if his distribution is the only reason for him not being in the team, then he had just one wayward kick but looked in charge of his area and was very unlucky to be beaten. The crowd was disgruntled at the end and the "McGhee OUT" chants rang out from the away end. The players looked despondent but still applauded the away the support. I didn't see McGhee's reaction but reports of his post match interview suggested that he was as depressed as the rest of us. Player Ratings Kuipers - 8 - must start next week Reid - 6 - usual steady game - would a start in midfield change our fortunes there? Lynch - 7 - good game until injured apart from one error Santos - 5 - just a big lump - doesn't impress El Abd - 6 - did his best - better in the middle of the back four after half time Cox - 6 - Ran around a lot without producing much - the chant of "We've got tiny Cox" raised a laugh Carpenter - 6 - one good effort in the second half Hammond - 5 - never got in the game Loft - 4 - never beat their full back once Revell - 5 - Not a target man Frutos - 6 - Unlucky to be taken off - best of the forwards Subs Rents - 6 - looked nervous but did the simple things Robinson - 6 - should have scored Stokes - 5 - never got in the game Labels: Bristol City, David Snowball, League One
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