That’s right lads and ladies, we’ll fetch the suitcase from the van. Off to Bristol City for our third festive fixture and who wouldn’t be charmed by the knowledge that the unsuspecting block of flats behind Ashton Gate served as Nelson Mandela House from 1989 onwards. If you’re interested in such things, you may want a photo – just bring the memory of Del Boy and his rendition of “one voice, singing in the darkness”…
On the field, we have a fine chance to put right the wretched result and/or performance at Colchester United on Boxing Day. Let’s put this straight first – we are not four goals worse than them and the fact is that two uncharacteristic blunders from Chris Day gifted them a couple of goals to get them started. But that is behind us now – no point dwelling on a bad day at the office, otherwise we’d think about nothing else!
Ch-ch-changes, just gonna have to be a different man – would you make some changes to the starting eleven at Ashton Gate? We’d be inclined to do so and are flirting madly with a 5-3-1-1 arrangement that puts Hartley back in with Jon and Chorley; Deano into midfield with Doughty and Hessie; and Lucas in behind Francois up top. It looks the biz and it’ll do the biz. Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na WING BACKS!
Bristol City have won the fewest number of games in the division. That’s a fact. We’re after a first win in five games. That’s a fact. In these cases, something usually has to give and we have already done the charitable act at Christmas – we’re not doing it again. For every time we turn up like we did at Colchester, there is a time we turn up like we did at Peterborough – see how this works yet? *We’re not actually sure that’s how it does work…
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Jeremy Simpson is the man in the middle at Ashton Gate and, after a busy start to the year with the cards, he’s now calmed down – all of his red cards coming before September’s end. From what we can tell, we’ve only had the pleasure of Mr Simpson’s company as referee on just one occasion before – the 2008/9 FA Trophy Final, in which we defeated York City 2-0 at Wembley. We hope that makes him a lucky charm for us!
This season for Jeremy Simpson:
Games: 17 — Yellow: 40 (2.4pg), Red: 5
Our record under Jeremy Simpson:
P1 W1 D0 L0 F2 A0 — Yellow: 3, Red: 0[/expand]
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Boro’ Line-Up:
Day; Chorley, Ashton, Hartley; Smith, Doughty, Heslop, Parrett, Freeman; Akins; Zoko
If football games were controlled by circles, squares and triangles, we’d probably be top of the league. Yep, that’s right – with the fate of Bristol City v Stevenage in our own hands, we have another win to tell you about. And it will make you feel all warm inside. Our selection for the game had a bit of an attacking edge to it – so gather round children, here’s what our fingers and thumbs had to report back to you this time.
A pretty comfortable first half was shattered in after 45′ when poor defending let our hosts take the lead. Grumble grumble. But Michael Doughty – just minutes after being clattered – restored parity on 45+2′ after we ripped open their defence. That gave us heart and within three second half minutes, Zoko and Akins added their name to the scoresheet. Mind you, Bristol City did have a goal disallowed at 1-1…
FT: Bristol City 1-3 Stevenage (Doughty 45+2′, Zoko 71, Akins 73) Goals:
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Roll up, roll up – Titan Bet still want to give you a risk-free £10 bet if you sign up with their service today! If you do, you’ll be finding the away win at 10/3 and a cheeky 1-2 victory for the Boro’ at 14/1. Both teams to find the back of the net? 7/10 says it happens and 21/20 says it won’t! Over 2.5? Under 2.5? No matter – both are priced at 17/20 and this is all at a time of our research. Of course, other outlets are available…
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