‘By some miracle we still have a very decent chance of making the top-six’

Dear reader, It has been two weeks since I sat at my writing desk and picked up my quill to discuss the fortunes of our beloved team. City showed little sign of being reborn over the Easter weekend and desperately require a resurrection in their fortunes in the coming weeks.

The Barnsley draw appeared a little fortuitous after a stuttering performance, but given other results that went our way, and that they are fighting for their lives, this probably turned out to be a decent point. The Brentford game, however, was anything but decent: if truth be told, we were dreadful.

It’s certainly the worst home performance since the middle of last season and even then it is hard to remember a day when we were so off the pace. People have compared the performance to our away game at Villa earlier this year, and maybe that’s a fair comparison.

That Villa contest came 48 hours after an energy-sapping game with Wolves and was the culmination of some seven games in around a month, including the historic win over Manchester United.

It is hard to think of many positives from the Brentford game other than, despite our team’s poor form recently, we are still very much in the mix. At the time of writing, City sit seventh, just one point off the play-offs. Saturday’s opponents, Millwall, lie in eighth with the same number of points and the same goal difference, but sit one place lower due to the number of goals scored.

One obvious negative from Monday’s game was the reaction to the substitution of club Captain Bailey Wright. There were audible cheers of glee as the Aussie left the field of play. Much has been said on the matter by the player himself and Lee Johnson. I can understand people’s frustrations, but to single out an individual for such treatment is unwarranted to say the least.

He’s a good player, who has not had the best time of late. I think most City fans would agree that Baker and Flint should be our starting centre back pairing if both fit, and I would have to agree. But, to mock a player who consistently gives it his all seems bonkers to the vast majority of the supporter base.

As I was leaving Ashton Gate I overheard a fan exclaiming that, since our win over Manchester United,we’ve been in relegation form. So, being an inquisitive type, I thought I’d check their statement out.

Since that magical night in December, City have won four, drawn seven and lost seven of their 18 league games, earning themselves nineteen points along the way. So, to average roughly a point a game is indeed form that would see you sitting in and around the relegation places. Yet, by some miracle, we still have a very decent chance of making the top-six.

I am heading up to London for the Millwall game for only my second away jaunt of the season. I’ve visited the New Den a few times to watch City, with very little success, so on a personnel note I feel it’s about time I saw us win there. I doubt the Millwall players will pay much attention to wretched luck, however.

It’s hard to say what Johnson will do differently with his selection this weekend. Some have suggested a change of formation could alter our fortunes and I think playing wing-backs might be a sensible choice, given the players that are currently fit.

Up-front, I would like to see a start for Djuric. I know many have suggested that he is best used as an impact sub and I do get that argument, but if you take that theory to its full extent, does that mean that he’ll never again start a game for us? Of course not. I feel Diedhiou could also have a positive impact coming on and our starting XI needs a freshening up.

Millwall have been in blistering form recently and are no doubt the surprise package of the second-half of the Championship season. City also face a resurgent Birmingham City side on Tuesday night under the stewardship of Gary Monk. Two wins would most likely see us shoot into the top-six; two losses and we could almost wave out chances of promotion goodbye.

My guess is that we’ll pick up three points from the two games and will still be in the position of limbo next week when we face Middlesbrough away, but who knows. I think it’s important to reiterate that what ever happens in these last six games, City have had a great season and one that has shown real improvement.