Bristol City 2-2 Barnsley, Saturday 28th March 2015

‘Gi’ us 3 points, tha dunt need ‘em’

Welcome to Ashton Gate

I love Bristol. Good pubs (when they’re open – ie, not before midday), pleasant city centre, the deep gorge of the river, Clifton.  Honestly, I’d almost consider living there.  Lucky them, I’m not budging.

On my tod, I decided against paying British Rail’s exorbitant fees and instead travelled in style – the Megabus. Still, Victoria’s easier to get to than Paddington.  As I kept reminding myself for the two and three quarter hours I was crushed up while trying to do some work.  I must get myself some standards.

'This way, sir'.

Met Phil 11ish.  Time for a pint.  Or time to look for a pint as I tried 5 or 6 pub doors.  Of course, when I let Phil try one, it magically opened.  Mind, we had diverted just outside the centre, close enough that we headed to Temple Meads for a taxi, which we timed just nice. A huge queue developed just after we got there, including none other than Reds director and FA bigwig Barry Taylor (and daughter?), resplendent in his FA badged suitcase.  ‘Wanna lift Bazza?’ we never asked.  (I’m still f.angry at the Colchester home debacle, a home game switched to Friday nite to allow folk to watch England on the Satdy.  Which folk, I wonder?)  Anyway, he saw Phil staring at him and quickly hid his BFC tie and tried to look nonchalant.  Who was it in the Bible denied Jesus 3 times?  Anyway, that’s who it reminded me of. (Peter?)

So, off to the Tobacco Factory where we met a newly driven in Selwood.  The rest you know: nice ales, quality food, friendly atmosphere.  Shame they’re getting promoted.  Still, to assuage ourselves, their fanzine has tipped us to win the play-offs. Which is generous of ‘em.

Naturally, when you have an away sellout, ‘you can sit where you like’.  Luckily, we find 3 together – only Phil’s disappeared. Hicksy turns up out of nowhere though and later bans me for saying anything unless asked a question.  I get round this by answering a different question to what he’s asked.  ‘What do you think of Scowen today?’  ‘I notice we look a lot more mobile up front without…err…whatshisname?’

M’Voto is back.  A fact few fail to realise as he steamrollers in late to give a needless early penalty away.  Sometimes, just sometimes, you have to be aware of your lack of speed and hold back, lad.  Pen is despatched.  The new keeper has yet to even show himself.

Finally!  The old away end (old old home end) is being replaced.

Then, little happens for the half.  We imagine league leaders City will press on and cane us, but it never happens. Then, the ball bobbles around their box and Jabo hits a snapshot. One-all.  You beauty.  I am forbidden to utter the ‘W’ name (Waring, dropped for Jabo), though Dave lets me cuddle him and THAT coat as we dance, sorry, jump around in the aisle. 

Second half – WOW.  For 25 minutes it is the best we’ve played all season.  We absolutely murder them, tearing forward at pace, switching play from wing to wing, they can barely get hold of it. Early doors we have 4 successive corners (George woulda bagged a hattrick!) but there’s no worry, we’ll score.  Then Jabo breaks free wide left, plays in Scowen who finishes as cool as you like.  What's going on?

A blustery day for the flags

Of course, you can’t rip into the league leaders away from home without them making an appearance at some point, and so it is.  Wildsmith makes a couple of great saves before finally succumbing with 10 mins left.  Could he have done better with it? Not sure, but it came through a few players. 

Overall, a decent result. If only we’d played against everyone as we’ve done against the champions-elect (home and away).  I can cede that we’re not in Swindon or Franchise’s class, but howthehell are Bristol 11 points clear???  

City's disabled 'stand' (and test railseats behind)

*** Ben Pearson of Manchester United.  He’s the clock which makes our team tick.  Makes tackles and interceptions and always makes time on the ball to pass to his own teammates.

** Jabo Ibehre of Colchester United.  His movement up front allowed us to attack with pace.  Imagine.  Scored a snap shot and set up the other. Imagine.

* Josh Scowen of Barnsley FC.  Ground himself into the ground with another full-blooded performance.  And his family were sat in our row (according to Hicksy, who appears to be on talking terms with granddad).  Great finish for his goal.

Londontykes top 3:
1. Ibehre
2. Pearson
3. Scowen

Despatches:
M’Voto came in for Holgate (Crainie switching to right back) and was solid apart from the pen.  Mind, a throughball completely did Crainie and Jean-Yves 2^nd half.  Thank goodness for Wildsmith in goal.  I can’t say we missed Davies, which is saying something.  Smith played well on the left (why’ve we signed that Cardiff bloke?) while the new winger (Stewart?) was anonymous. New midfielder Winnall was everywhere, including helping out in defence. He’ll never score from our own penalty area though.  Hourihane was playing.  Apparently. I guess he got lost in the pace of it all.

The old away end.  Not sadly missed.

Drink du jour: Started on ye olde cider, before discovering the Tobacco Factory had a wheat beer, brewed down the road.  Got a lift back with Dave. Never thought to get a 4-pack in to drink while he drove.  He wouldn’t have minded…would he?

Away: 510 (capacity!)   City are rebuilding the old away end, so the capacity’s a bit limited.  But I can tell you that the view and seats are a lot better at the other end, from the sh*thole that we used to be given, backless (bucket?) seats and all. 

The Damage:
15 Megabus
4 taxi to ground (my share)
20 ent
1.20 fanzine
3 prog

The tunes:
Tomorrow’s Harvest (Boards of Canada)
Geodaddi (Boards of Canada)

I had work to do, needed some ambient nonsense.

Nice to see a busy stand

And all that I knew was, that a hole in my shoe stand was ....

For years I've never known the time in the away end.  Now I know why.