Bristol City’s cup exploits keep dreams alive

In recent times, cup competitions have played a large part in injecting an element of hope and optimism into an otherwise unspectacular Bristol City season. Happily then, questioning this week in the build-up to an FA Cup first round trip to Gillingham was of how this beacon could currently be more of a distracting light.

“I don’t see it as a distraction because it’s something that has always been there,” City manager Steve Cotterill told the club’s official website prior to Saturday’s game. 

“The romance of the FA Cup comes when someone becomes a giant killer and both ourselves and Gillingham will want to get to the third round and land a big glamour tie.”

Thanks to a Gregg Cunningham back-post header and Jay Emmanuel Thomas’ pinpoint curled finish it is City who will continue to dream of the third round draw.

Tricky tie negotiated

Making five changes from the side who reinforced their grip at the top of the League One table last weekend, the City boss will be thrilled with the manner in which his juggled charges controlled a tricky tie against opponents from the same division. 

Were it not for a late and inexplicable Aden Flint handball gifting the home side a penalty, back-to-back clean sheets would have been the icing on a possession-baked cake.

Whether table topping or bogged in obscurity, cup competitions play a pivotal role in providing much needed income for lower league outfits. Few would choose cup over league success. Yet Cotterill could be forgiven for reiterating a league focus having been faced with consecutive cup fixtures, with a trio of tough league ties pending. The reality, however, is much different.

“It has been really difficult to get everything right and I spent a long time thinking about it and working through the various permutations before nailing down what I was going to do,” he said.

With teams having been comfortably pre-selected, bar injury, for both Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area quarter final visit on Tuesday night, an onus is being placed on maintaining a winning mentality.

We want to win

“We want to do well in the FA Cup and win the game; we always want to win,” Cotterill said.

More changes look likely for Tuesday; Wes Burns, who netted at Cheltenham in the previous round should start if fit. While Jay Emmanuel Thomas, unlikely to be offered a starting berth at Swindon when the league campaign resumes on Saturday could be asked to start two games in four days. Team selection aside, it is abundantly clear that while Cotterill is more than happy to utilise the depths of his squad, he will not do so at the expense of jeopardising the momentum of an unbeaten run. 

Eight changes contributed to a disjointed League Cup exit versus Oxford United, City’s only defeat this season to date, it would be a surprise to see the absence of a familiar spine on Tuesday in spite of their opposition’s modest League Two performances to date.

Fringe players are likely to remain as such for the first whistle at Swindon, but with a successful league campaign in motion, cup success would make an impression all of its own.