RedM

The talk here is never a pen and we played Reading and the Ref. We had pretty much all the 2nd half but as ever too little to late.Reading knew all the tricks, time wasting etc.

I'd say we have about half the team playing and the rest looking she'll shocked. little constantly out of position, Joe yards behind, lots of headless chickens. can't see where a goal is coming from at the mo. We played well at Brum and got nothing, we not playing well at all here. Tammy looking increasingly isolated.our fans getting a bit restless, a few boos at HT and the team can't argue with that.

Live from Reading!

Was just going to make the same comment. We were matching or bettering them for much if the game. Very harsh not to have at least a share of the points, we deserved something from the game. I said when walking back into Birmingham afterwards they will wonder how they got all the points, and we will wonder how we came away with nothing. A really good all round performance, can fault the effort and they looked gutted when the final whistle blew, a reaction more often seen after a cup exit type of thing. On the showing yesterday I don't think there is much wrong, if anything Tammy was off his game. A mixture of international duty, teams sussing him out and him having the main responsibility of getting the goals. Get him some proper help and we will hand out a few thrashing so I'm sure. I believe this will need a change in formation though so who misses out? Saying that I though Paterson looked like he might know where the goal is and Reid was certainly positive yesterday.

Don't forget I'm only seeing this through my fairly uneducated eyes, but Woodward made a huge, huge, difference tonight. Scored one try and involved in another and had a hand in everything else. Bristol were so up for it, more physical and determined. Certainly playing like they had a point to prove. Varndell also had a very good game, missed his running whilst he was injured recently. One Bristol player (Hawkins ?) lost his head and did a late shoulder charge as we scored a try late in the first half, he was binned for that and his part in the brawl which followed. I expected a Bristol collapse but they just grew stronger! Strings came on quite late in the game. He got a bloodied head and have to have it bandaged. He came on much too late to turn the game round of course, but whenever he had the ball he did the right thing. 'In the form of his life' the commentators said, wish we had him in our team. Obviously this was 'only' a cup game, Bath away will be a different matter. But it was a huge confidence and moral boost. Shame the crowd wasn't bigger to see it, it looked so sparce. Gutted I missed it too.

I must be the jinx, Bristol doing so much better without me there. Looking so much stronger, Tovey just scored a lovely try too. But Sale have just put Stringer on

I know someone who booked to go on their version of CATS (is it RATS?) to this match, the club phoned him last week and asked him to come in a get a refund as only 8 people had booked and they were therefore cancelling travel. So yes, as much as we rip the pish out of them they were at least doing the right thing and boycotting

Does seem very odd. Makes me think he was being led down the 'mutual consent' route but perhaps he wasn't having any of it? Mutual consent, a financial agreement and all parties save a bit of face. Sacking maybe means all his contract paid up and bad feeling between all involved, and less attractive to incoming people?

Breaking news. Officially sacked now. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37894094

Yes that's him. Media such as the Telegraph reporting he is favourite to take over too now. So what do we know about him, right choice. Ambitious choice, cheap option, something totally different or more of the same? I genuinely do not have a clue about rugby management. It's really brought it home to me how when I hear a football managers name linked with a club I can almost immediately answer those questions, but have a lot to learn about rugby which gets do much less publicity.

Local TV are saying a South African, didn't catch his name, is rumoured to be taking over soon. MrRedM heard this a few days ago from a workmate who is a rugby fan, he was also accurate about Robinson so this might be true.

No idea. I'm guessing it's a bit like gardening leave from football. They are either redefining his role, bringing in help for him for example which he might not be keen on, or most likely working out severance pay which could be a long drawn out process? But whatever it is they want him 'hands off' as soon as possible.

Mark Tainton appointed acting head coach http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/tainton-appointed-as-acting-head-coach/ yes, I will move it to the non footie forum in a while, but it is Bristol Sport related if nothing else. I just thought more people would like to hear the news first on here as they might not see it on non footie.

Yes he personally fell out with Robinson. Bristol's loss for sure.

They will be alright when the other 4 blocks are built, so it curves around the corners to join onto the other stands. What, that's it? The finished article? It always looks half built to me, I thought it was on ongoing project, redeveloping around matches, like what we did.

Damn. Well I said I didn't know much but at still the time I thought he might have been an option.

Ok, I'm not saying there weren't boos. It's just when I first started going it confused the hell out of me too when 'boos' were heard during the game. Actually I'm very surprised the rugby crowd are so patient with the situation, if Robinson were a football manager I would dread to think the abuse he would be getting, but no way would he have lasted that long I suppose. I like many others much more knowledgeable than myself was hugely surprised he got his contract renewed, big gamble and even bigger mistake. I think we should have gone for Mike Ford as he was available at the time, not sure what he is doing now or if he is an option?

I never heard any boos against the team, it's what they do when they have a maul. Its encouraging them to push!

Agreed. It was by far the worse match for both things I have witnessed, sadly.

Absolutely, smacked of desperation. I have been slaughtered by some on here for saying the same about Downsey, but this was just as bad if not worse as today's announcer was enouraging the crowd to 'make some noise Bristol' at almost every gap in play in the 2nd half. I attended every home match bar one this season, and every match bar one last season, and until today never heard him do this. Also today I had the first real accepting that Bristol are doomed. I haven't seen them play so bad in a long time. A very poor game for any neutral or football fan taking a free ticket. We seemed to have no leaders, Henson went off injured again very early. We held Sale at bay but it really was only a question of time, we never looked like we got a grip on the game, never mind getting on top. i don't know many players but always liked Peter Stringer when it was at Bath. He offered Sale so much more of an outlet today, even in his advancing years, more than anything our players could muster. Experience paid off today. Like we had to do last year for our football team, bring in experience at all costs, the rugby club have to do the same. But I gather it's not as easy as no transfer window etc, and who can we get to play in a relegation fight we look like we've lost already. Shocking to think Bristol are throwing away all the hard work of past seasons.

Yes, is this the first time everybody starting has been fit and available to play? Looks good on paper as you say. We can bring on Joe and Patterson to run at a tired defence if needed, think this might suit Joe better at the moment and give him a bit of confidence. In fact there are plenty of options we can use from the bench. It might go horribly wrong but at last it seems we have the right players to do the job. We look much more balanced.

And me. Don't remember much about the place though, except it's grim op north

Well flipping heck, I'm not the most observant, I never even realised there was a match day archive, never mind move anything there! You learn something every day. So if nothing else @havanatopiayou've made me aware, yes sack me now.

@havanatopia please accept my deepest condolences. Emotionally you must be all over the place, it's always a shock to suddenly have the realisation that a loved one has gone. Look after yourself and it's OK to cry and laugh, feel angry, sad, or just be numb and feel not much at all. I'm sure he will be in a better place looking down and sat amongst friends and fellow reds during matches. Take care. M x