The Swan and Cemetery

Just now, Numero Uno said:

"Struggling" Preston who are a point behind us and never give us an easy game. That struggling Preston? Go and have a lie down or a glass of water to calm yourself down or something.........

And had won their last 3 games, 2 in the league, probably not the dictionary definition of struggling. 

What adds to the general enjoyment is the BCTV crew consistently commentating/reflecting on the game they want to watch, rather than the one they actually are watching. 

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Goal not good....two players could've come across to help Vyner, we had 4 marking two in the box, plus James who could've done better to support Vyner (show Jones inside).

But Vyner could still have done more to show him inside? James wasn’t so far away that showing inside wasn’t clearly a better option. Other could definitely have done better, but very poor from Vyner. 

8 minutes ago, BCFC Grim said:

Last decent right back anyone? 

Brian Mitchell.

In the attacking third always seems like those without the ball don’t know what to do, runs to make etc. Dasilva left with no option but to shoot through 18 defenders, as those with him not giving him a decent option. 

With Martin up front on his own, thought he played well, ideally at least one of the three behind him is a reasonably natural goal scorer. Scott may turn out to be, but Palmer, Weimann and O’Dowda aren’t. Sorting a loan, playing Bell left, or how to get Wells/Conway on the pitch, feels critical. 
 

But much better than last season and too soon for rampant pessimism (or optimism). 

Think what we can all learn from this, is what’s most important, in the whole widest of wide worlds, is being right. 

Actually from my seat to the left of you, 5,100 looked spot on. Our stadium is deceiving. The top tier is smaller than the bottom and each block holds nearly 900.

I was in the MK end as well and didn't think there looked to be that much space vs. Wolves, but you maybe right. Based on other comments, guess it may depend on whether they counted tickets sold (which should be correct) or tickets scanned (which may understate). 

Think he was suggesting that it looked like more than the 5.1k announced - not believing that an extra 4k Wolves fans were in that pic compared to yesterday.

I could be wrong though. It's been known to happen.

Yep, I was saying that if that was Wolves with 9k, we had more than 5k, as there weren't enough gaps (vs. the Wolves support) to squeeze another 4k in. 

Yeah, see why you like it.....yourre closer timewise to London than us...and better service too...get trains to London from Tring

Yeah, being able to hop on the Virgin trains is handy. Looking forward to joining the Warsaw massive on their way to their big day out on 22nd March. Assuming they'll be turning up in their David Kelly/Limahl wigs, I'll riposte with "We're Bristol City, we don't do highlights (apart from Scott McGarvey)".

You live near the centre? Blimey hell of a place to have a place...we live Aylesbury way, but obviously MK is better for just about everything but chavscum...

Live in the Hub. Really like MK. Have only lived in Bristol, Edinburgh and MK and despite the obvious charms of the other two, MK isn't 3rd by much (30 mins into the centre of London helps). 

sorry bout that Ifigured as much after I read your post again *ahem*

 

I guess you live in thse parts then?

No probs. Yep, in MK (the centre).

I was at the edge of the City support and only heard your lot twice of three times, neither loud, nor effective.....I expected more from your lot in a pivotal game of the season....seen us at your place several times and its not improved although the stupid Womble army has desisted.....seen more noisy support at Lu'on, Watford, Wycombe & Brentford.....indeed Ive heard Aylesbury Utd make more noise...

Fair enough and wasn't claiming the MK support next to the City fans were raising the decibels, more that the home end did a decent job. Just for clarity, my lot is Bristol City, I was just in the home section today. 

Yeah, the ones I encountered didn't know what they were doing and seemed to crumble under the pressure of a large away attendance... 

 

Also, if they counted the away attendance based on number of tickets entered into the turnstiles, then there will have actually been a fair few more than the 5100 that's been stated

Not convinced by the 5k number. This is Wolves taking 9k. Whilst some gaps today vs. this (notably bottom tier left of the goal posts (looking at them)), struggle to believe another 4k could have squeezed in. 

To be fair it was hard to hear much as you say being amongst 5000+ loud city fans! Just seemed a lack of noise or enthusiasm when they won a corner for example.

Yep, I was quite impressed. They had a couple of chants that they kept going with reasonably incessantly and generally got behind their team. Have heard many more funereal home crowds, just that City were mobbed up and made a very big racket. Not many home crowds in league 1 would have been heard above that. Not sure if attempts were made, but Tom Thumb's 'Dooby dooby doo' wasn't heard at the other end of the ground. Terribly upsetting...

Genuine question, is your home support usually as poor as it appeared to be today?

If you mean noise, not sure it was as bad as it appeared. I was down the MK end and it seemed okay and pretty consistent singing. City fans being mobbed up, making a load of noise themselves (and the miracle of physics meaning people 150 yards away don't sound as loud as those next to you) will have made it sound worse than it was. If you mean attendance, again, no worse than most teams in this league (including some of those pushing for promotion). We turned up with 5k and made a right old racket - think that was the unusual event for league 1. 

I agree with most of what you say. However, I reserve the right to take whatever Robinson (or any other disgruntled manager for that matter) has to say with a pinch of salt.

Am surprised that the referee apologised. The only reason he could have not given it, was if he thought it hit Ayling somewhere that wasn't handball. Why he'd have changed that opinion by the end of the game isn't clear. It wasn't a ball to hand/hand to ball debate, as Ayling produced his finest impression of 'Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Keith Waugh in his pomp'. 

Just back (MK resident and watched from MK end). Overall thought a very fair result. First half felt their midfield was overrunning us a bit, but not creating much. We seemed slow to get numbers forward and Freeman often lacking options. Second half their powerful midfield runners seemed to go off the boil and Elliott and JET who hadn't done much in the the first half, improved significantly. Thought we dominated and unlucky not to grab a winner. That said, their penalty shout looked nailed on (I was sat in that corner and Ayling went at it like Gordon Banks. Might have struck his chest, but I wouldn't have complained if he'd given it). 

Overall, two good teams, although think we looked slightly better (pace up front and I think would could have secured the win, albeit glad their striker rotation meant it was Grigg's turn (hard working but in Flint's pocket), rather than Cole, whose pace could have caused more trouble). 

Most of the team played really well - special mentions to all 3 centre backs (really like how Williams and Ayling bring the ball out of defence, whilst Flint wins every header), Bryan (destined for bigger things), Freeman and my m-o-m Korey Smith. 

One (very minor) complaint - given our aerial ability, don't think we get enough reward from our set pieces. 

City fans were very loud when going for it, but a bit intermittent. Suspect MK fans were barely audible from the away end, but actually kept going reasonably well, inc a drummer who wasn't entirely annoying. 

Hope you all enjoyed a nice bite to eat at Nando's and picked up a few bits and bobs at Next before heading back west...