‘The best game of football I’ve seen this season’

Being a football fan is often like buying a ticket for the most volatile roller-coaster, week after week after week. And, for us City fans the 2017/18 season will go down as one of the more exciting, and, of course, nerve-racking, for some time. Every game seems so important, and on a knife edge.

We have drawn our last three games but the emotions surrounding each point gained (or two lost) couldn’t be more contrasting. The first of these three games was the 3-3 draw with relegation-threatened Sunderland. The misery of that capitulation was summed up eloquently last week by Joe and Stan and needless to say, I echoed their sentiments.

The second game was last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Leeds United. This game saw us throw away another decent lead and ultimately we were hanging on for the draw. Although the game was frustrating I don’t think an away draw at Elland Road can ever be seen as a terrible result, so don’t think a point was too bad.

And so to the mid-week draw to Fulham. I exclaimed to my friends at the final whistle that it was the best game of football I’ve seen this season, a statement I stand by. Fulham arrived to Ashton Gate as the in-form team of the Championship, boasting a ten-game unbeaten run.

Fulham play an attractive, passing, possession-based brand of football, which, in the early stages of Wednesday’s game, looked as if it might outfox Lee Johnson’s side. However, City managed to mix up our own style and fought back brilliantly after going a goal down to go in level at half time.

Our second-half performance was as determined, energetic and passionate a display as I’ve seen for some time. Our press and ability to spoil Fulham’s counter attacks was at times breathtaking. Smith and Brownhill were superb in the middle of the park and the continually impressive Bobby Reid once again showed his immense quality.

City were also obviously buoyed by the return of Nathan Baker, who once again proved his importance to the side with a strong performance. I liked the fact the Magnusson was recalled to the starting line-up, with the back four that did so well for us in December reunited.

Playing four centre-backs also gives City an added bonus at set pieces, and Magnusson’s throw-ins further boost his claims for a starting line-up against Cardiff this weekend. Given the strength of our display, and the fact we expect a physical contest against Warnock’s side, I imagine Johnson will go with the same starting line-up as Wednesday for the Severnside derby.

Johnson again seemed a little slow to make substitutions, although given we were mostly on top in the second-half I can forgive him for this. When the subs did come, they made sense – which can’t be said of the Leeds game. I personally wanted to see Diony come on for Diedhiou a lot earlier.

I am a Diedhiou fan but in certain fixtures I think he seems a little sluggish, especially later on in matches. I would like to see Diony start up-front with Bobby Reid in the not-too-distant future, although I’d go with Diedhiou for his physical presence in the Cardiff game.

I have to admit that I am loving this season, although I fear some City fans have forgotten how far we have come in such a short space of time. I don’t believe anyone truly believed a play-off place was possible at the start of the season, and, despite a rocky few weeks, we are still clinging on to sixth place.

City have five games to play before the mid-March international break. I would suggest a return of nine or so points would keep us in the mix for the play-offs, and I have a funny feeling we might just start that run with three this weekend.