The Lads welcomed the Robins to Wearside and somehow preserved our unbeaten home record with a 93rd minute equaliser from Roberts - and, but for the save of the match seconds later to tip Ballard's looping back-header over, could have nicked a win to out-miracle the miracle of Bristanbul. You know that old football saying that a last- minute equaliser feels like a winner?
Not tonight it didn't - it felt like a draw, but it did make me happy. Probably felt like a defeat for the small but noisy band of Bristolians, though. Shame. Not.
O'Nien's illness, as suspected, kept him out as we recited the team news on the bus through and discussed the line-up at length over a bottle of Maxim in the Victory club. Also commented on was the photo of the three players celebrating our first goal at the weekend - aged 17, 18, and 19. As I'd been reminded by Mr Dunn the other day, many of us have shoes older than them. And underwear.
Patterson
Hume Ballard Mepham Alese
Neil (c) Bellingham
Mayenda Rigg Watson
Isidor
..and a bench of Moore, Cirkin, Jones, Connolly, Aouchiche, Rusyn, Aleksic, Hjelde, and Roberts.
I was a bit surprised that Roberts didn't start given his assist in Saturday, but a rest was probably a good idea. Anyway, on a night that was the polar opposite of Saturday (mild, calm, and dry) City turned out in all black, presumably because Stoke had left their identical kit on the changing room radiators to dry out.
We kicked off south, with Mayenda on the right, and Watson was quickly into things, winning a corner only two minutes in. As has become the norm, we did nowt with it and after a couple of minutes of to-ing and fro-ing City were awarded a corner that never was. Not for the first time, the crowd were justifiably upset with the ref. We got it away only for the visitors to regain possession and hit a low shot that Patto dropped on. Bristol had probably had the better of the opening five minutes, but then Alese and Watson began to link well, with the former producing a terrific overlap only to be inches from getting to the through ball. He then set up Watson to cross, and Isidor couldn't quite stretch enough. The left wing was the dominant force by the tenth minute, with the combination bringing another Watson cross, then one from Alese caused a bit of excitement when the resultant header forced a great save.
Surely the opening goal would come soon, we thought, and it looked very likely on 21 after a great challenge by Mepham at the expense of a corner. We cleared it, and a great crossfield ball by Neil set Mayenda away. His ball in caused chaos as we had a number of shots blocked, then Rigg chose to lay it to Watson instead of having a go, and the hefty challenge that stopped Tommy's shot ended his game. After lengthy treatment he was back on, but sat down immediately and made way for Roberts. Half time TV showed that the tackle was of the type that would have resulted in lengthy VAR examination, a penalty, and a red card for recklessness - but we're not the Prem so that's never going to happen because it wasn't a foul. Someone should also remind Isidor that it's not the Prem as well - the ref obviously didn't like him given the number of times the decision didn't go our way, but if you at least look like you're trying to stay on your feet... you never know. Mind, the splat on Alese as he burst into tho box looked as obvious a penalty as there could be, but for some reason the ref gave a free kick the other way. That was a foul. Unbelievable, Jeff!
Anyway, Mayenda went to the left, which I thought was a bit daft, with Roberts on the right. Rigg set Hume away and was clattered, Hume's cross was too deep, and the clatterer got the game's first yellow. Three added minutes were announced, there were another couple of lovely long balls by Neil, and it was level when Monty and Lee Howey did the half time draw. I didn't win.
Much of the chat during the break was naturally about how our impetus had gone with Watson's departure, then came more tales from half time of at least two penalties we should have had. We'll see when the highlights come on the telly.
No changes for us, two for them, and we were away again but whatever Regis had said during the break had zero effect - in fact, if anything, we looked more tired. Bellingham twisted and turned well, but we were really screaming for a quick forward pass to "split the lines". I think that's the accepted term nowadays, but we just looked a bit flat.
After fifteen minutes of us struggling to build a dangerous attack, Bristol showed us how to, although we helped them no end. A ball into our box bounced aroya ridiculous number of times, virtually screaming "hoof me away" but it ran loose and was walloped high into the net. Damn - we had more bodies in the box than a horror film, but just couldn't get it away.
Well, what do you expect if you faff about in your own box and don't clear your lines?
Half an hour to put things right? The way we were playing we'd need a lot longer than that.
So we swapped Alese for Cirkin, while we wished we had a Luke to do the shouting and organising at the back, and generally scamper around to good effect. As we passed 70 minutes, Isidor was set away with a pass through those lines I mentioned earlier, and was barged over as he bore down on goal. It might have been a foul, it might not, but he made the ref's job easier by going down like a greenhouse in a gale (long story involving a gale and my greenhouse). Issy man, you must have worked out that the ref wasn't going to give you a decision unless you were hit round the head with a baseball bat, so think on, eh?
A couple of decent runs by Roberts win us a corner but City broke down their left - and as if to emphasise our fortune, a great tackle produced a rebound to set up their second goal - but they put it way over. Dear me.
Mayenda then had a couple of powerful runs down the left, with the second producing a cutback to Jobe, who passed up the chance for a first-time shot and turned to set up Rigg - who whacked it over. That was young Chris' last action, as he made way for Aouchiche and Isidor did likewise for Connolly. We basically went for broke, with Adil on the left, Mayenda inside with Connolly, and both fullbacks living in Bristol's half. Bellingham did get a low shot through, but it was comfortable for the keeper, then a Bristol player managed to get booked for taking forever to be subbed. Seconds later another yellow went their way for time-wasting at a throw in, and we got on top. A great long one into the box was wonderfully controlled by Adil but the shot was saved - at least what was left of the crowd were given a bit of heart and the roar appeared.
With two to go Roberts swung in a free kick which was cleared but Jobe got it back in, only for it to seem to be punched away by a defender. Can't have been, although it looked so obvious from my seat.
Five added minutes were announced, which seemed a bit mean, but we were actually looking dangerous and the crowd bellowed for a goal. Really clever play on the left by Aouchiche, not for the first time, after he took a pass from Roberts, who'd carried action from the right, got him into the box on the left and his measured cutback found Paddy, who took a touch before whacking it into to roof of the net.
Wahey! A reward for those who'd stayed until the end, but it wasn't quite the end. We hoyed Ballard forward (or rather he stayed forward after yet another corner) and in a crowded box he looped a back-header goalwards from a couple of yards out - only for the keeper to get his fingertips to it. Helluva save, we couldn't put the corner away, the whistle went, and a dozen players fell to the ground exhausted.
Cracking finish, I suppose, but we'd looked so leggy in the second half. The stats show that we had the majority of possession, 21 shots - eleven of which were blocked, four were saved, five went wide, and just the one went in. Oh, and 43 touches in their box, which really should have resulted in more goals.
Anyway, the upshot is that the Gods of football results sort of smiled on us and we're still fourth and unbeaten at home. Just.
Man of the Match? There looked some tired legs out there, with Hume looking a bit below par, and we certainly missed O'Nien's boundless enthusiasm and chatter. Mepham and Ballard are fine defenders but perhaps but too similar as a pair. On the positive side, Jobe never gave up trying, plus Aouchiche brought back the spark that we'd had with Clarke, Mundle, and Watson. Roberts scored, but for me Neil was the main man tonight. Some of his passing, particularly the long stuff, was exceptional. Nice stuff, Dan.
