‘City extend their unbeaten run to an impressive ten games’

Another week, another couple of positive results for the red side of the city. I spoke last week of how City were a team likely to both score and concede: well, these past two games against Norwich and then Bolton proved my prophecy wrong as we kept successive clean sheets for the first time this season.

The Norwich game was a tight affair, characterised by good defending from both teams. It’s fair to say each side somewhat nullified the others’ attacking prowess, but one can’t really grumble with a point away to a team packed with such quality players – although some on social media still managed to find lots of negatives. More of that to come.

The Bolton game was somewhat different. Bolton were a poor side that came to the Gate looking to disrupt and frustrate City, who, on another day, could have succumbed to those tactics and not come away with the win. I would describe our performance as patient and disciplined: two great traits to be taking into the rest of the season.

The Bolton game also saw a heart-warming reception for the return of two of City’s all conquering 2014/15 side. Mark Little received a warm round of applause pre-kick off, and Aaron Wilbraham got a standing ovation when he came on as a second-half substitute.

Wilbraham later wrote on Twitter, via Aden Flint, that he had been truly moved by the reception he had received and that it had given him goosebumps to hear his name being sung. I found this moment pretty moving myself. I love my football team, don’t get me wrong, but like any team in the country we have our less desirable fans and sometimes the minority can get more press than majority. Especially in the weird world of social media.

The reception given to two guys that had given everything to our club and had bought us great success reassured me that the vast majority of those who watch football are nice, decent folk that not only support their team loyally but can also show gratitude to others, even if they happen to be on the opposing team.

City have now extended their unbeaten run to an impressive ten games. Of those ten, five have been wins and five have been draws. Two of those wins have come courtesy of the Caraboa Cup. So, it’s fair to say that although we are not tearing up the league with win after win, we are grinding out results and picking up points where, last season, we most likely would have not.

City face Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich side this weekend, who are yet to draw a game this season. For Mick’s men, it’s been all or nothing so far. They have, however, made Portman Road something of a fortress: winning all but one of their home ties so far this season.

The game sees City in the last of their gruelling seven matches in 22 days, prior to next weeks international break. This batch of fixtures has already undoubtedly been a success and any kind of result in Norfolk this weekend would just put the cherry on top of our figurative cake.

A lot has been made of the fact that City also started the season very well last year, and that we were in the top six around mid-October. So, one year on, can City fans be hopeful of not repeating last years calamitous collapse? In a word, yes.

The Bristol City squad amassed by Johnson and co. have a lot more about them than last year. There is a lot more strength in depth with genuine competition for every place on the pitch. Certain negative influences have been removed from the dressing room, and, as mentioned before, team morale appears to be at an all time high.