Bristol City 1-0 BFC, Saturday 18th January 2020

‘He had his very own Tampax moment.  Time stood still.’

Welcome to ....the view from our taxi.

Of all the defeats this season, this one sticks in the craw more than most.  Yes, yes, we were up against that ‘orrible little ‘c’ word Little Lee, but it wasn’t that.  I can handle that we outplayed them and still lost.  I’m used to that this season.  No, it was the lack of professionalism that led to the only goal.  After a sound defensive performance, all we had to do to see out the game and take a point was to take out their man on the halfway line.  Instead, Thomas bottled it, their winger rounded Williams with ease and pulled the ball back for a deflected shot to wrong-foot Collins in goal.  Goddammit.  Would any of these top Prem sides have stepped aside to allow their star winger a free run on goal?

The sides come out.

‘twas a pity.  We’d overcome left back Odour’s injury in the warm up, and the absences to Radlinger and Diaby (salacious gossip abounding; has Diaby failed a drug test?  Do I hope he has?  Do I think he’s even capable of snorting coke, such is his haplessness?  Time will tell…)  Without said three, we…looked a hell of a lot more solid.  Halme dropped back into defence, where he should be playing.  Dougal played defensive mid, where he should be playing, while Ben Williams came back in at left back, where….he’s been outstanding all season (even if, deep down, I don’t rate him).  And since I rate Collins higher than Radlinger, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that we were an improvement in defence.

Outside the away end.

We survived an early scare, when a ball hit our bar.  Later TV footage showed it was actually Jacob Brown.  WTF?  They had another header hit the bar too, while they missed a sitter with a header, Ben Williams’ presence perhaps putting their player off.  But we had our moments too, notably when the new Austrian bloke (Ritzmaier?  Summat like that.) delayed his shot and chipped it towards the top corner.  Off the bar.  Balls.  Chaplin had a spectacular effort hit a defender’s head rather than the net.  Coupled with a Thomas effort which came too quick to him to divert it on target, as well as at least 3 Mowatt efforts, and it was a game we coulda…shoulda…et bloody cetera. 

We came, we saw…we lost.  He’s a jammy little sod.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Dougal.  Nailed it right there in the 1^st half when he cleared 3 consecutive corners.  Even our centre halves can’t do that.  ESPECIALLY our centre halves. 

** Brown.  Supreme movement and spacial awareness.  Doesn’t simply run for running’s sake.

* Halme.  I don’t remember him making a mistake.  Probably cos he didn’t.

Londontykes' MOTM:  1. Dougal 2. Brown 3. Chaplin

I don't think I've ever seen fans in that upper tier.  Must be a special offer on.

Despatches:I don’t know how I managed to get so sozzled this week, I think I only had 3 pints all day.  I guess it was all those 2/3 of a pint I had at that craft pub in King St.  Good to see Reedy jnr. in there too.  Even better that he couldn’t drink cos he had revision for exams.  Good luck!

The players?  Collins made one save all day, a weak effort in the second half.  Jordan Williams…got skinned for their goal.  Anderson did well this week.  Is Halme the ‘experience’ (ie, half decent) centre half partner he needs to play with?  Thomas was excellent throughout, running at them.  Shame about the goal.  Chaplin had that one decent hit, but didn’t feature too much, while Mowatt should definitely have done better with all the shots he had.  Quantity not quality.  And I liked the look of Ritzmaier…even if that’s not his name.  Is it?  Isn’t it?  Who knows?

Busy on this side too.

Drink du jour: Leffe, Citrus IPA, wheat beer…and whatever we had on the train.  Crap lager?

Away: Dunno.  600?  It was a decent sized home crowd too – and no wonder, there was a special offer on (not extended to the away fans).  I hate Bristol City.

The Damage:

£38 train

£27 ent

= £65

The Tunes:
Summer Special (Euros Childs)
Summer 08 (Metronomy)
Spirit of Eden (Talk Talk)

Fall asleep on bus on way home?  Of course.  Ended up in New Cross.  Could’ve been worse.

Ashton Gate panorama.

I really liked the tap in the pub...

Arriving at Ashton Gate.

A statue of...actually, I've no idea.  John Atyeo?

Back of the Main Stand.

New meets new.

Collins prepares to launch it.

Greta Thunberg knows she's made it when...