Brighton Review

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City's failings in front of goal reared up again as they played out a 0-0 scoreline with fellow play-off rivals Brighton at Ashton Gate. In the bright April sunshine the visitors came for and got the scoreline they set out to achieve without too many scares.

City dominated play and in all honesty Brighton didn't look like scoring in their infrequent attacks, most of which were competently dealt with by the defence. At the other end Peacock worked very hard in the area between the halfway line and the opposition penalty box but as in many of his games failed to produce any end product for all his effort. In contrast Louis Carey got one on target, a header from Chris Roberts' cross but it was straight at the keeper.

Rougier brought out a save from Brighton's Ben Roberts who looked as shaky as Steve Phillips on crosses, and Rougier's running at Brighton seeemd to be the mos tlikely route to a goal, so it was no surprise he was taken off 5 minutes into the second half, replaced by Murray who immediately brought out a smart stop from Roberts with a rasping drive.

Other than that City threw in a series of crosses that flashed acrss the box with nobody in the right place to finish off.

A penalty appeal for handball was turned away, thus extending City's remarkable season of not having been awarded a single penalty in the league. At the end a disappointed crowd walked away, having seen what was in all probability a fair result given City's ineptitude up front.

Phillips: 5. Not much to do but what he did in the first half was to kick out of play and flap at one cross giving the crowd a scare.

Carey: 6. Got forward, defended reasonably well.

Butler: 5. Can't pass water, he's that useless. Apart from that headed away from danger and did his defensive duties adequately. Replaced by Goodfellow late on.

Coles: 7. Best defender by a mile and desperately needs a more competent colleague alongside him.

Hill: 6. Reasonable game, kept Leon Knight quiet for most of the match.

Rougier: 7. Quality performance, was a danger to Brighton. Obviously not what Wilson wanted so he got pulled off for Murray.

Wilkshire: 5. Too lightweight, too nervous. Tried to pass around but too often sideways when a more telling forward pass was needed. Replaced by Tinnion.

Doherty: 7. Typical match, tackled hard, won the ball, distributed well, then faded in the last 20.

Bell: 6. Good game except he can't cross for toffee currently.

Roberts: 5. Never got into the game and was too quiet.

Peacock: 6. Leads the line wonderfully but yet again displays his inability to score. As our main striker this is not good enough.

subs: Murray: 6. Started brightly but faded towards the end. Not quite the Murray of old yet.

Tinnion: 5. Poor game by his standards and one wonders if time is nearly up for him?

Goodfellow: 3. Shouldn't have bothered to turn up. One cross into the crowd is the sum total of his contribution.