AFCB 0 v 0 Bristol City
27 July 2013 Pre-season friendly
Attendance 1760 (342 Bristol City fans)
The rain held off for a while when most were expecting heavy thunderstorms from the start of this game. Before the second half, the only down poor was the soaking reporters were soon giving media channels about Matt Tubbs' departure, on loan, to Rotherham from AFCB. The on/off move was finally sorted today while AFCB supporters were pondering who would line up in attack for the Cherries.
The team was quickly announced with Wes Thomas leading the line, but no mention of Lewis Grabban, while Steve Cook was also not named at the back. With Pitman and Grabban out, you would wonder how AFCB will look when they take to the pitch next Saturday, especially if anyone else was to get injured today.
Here are the main AFCB Official tweet of the match
In the first minute Bobby Reid hit the side netting for the visitors with a curled free-kick from 20 yards. That could have been a fabulous start for Bristol City!
AFCB finally get into the match and on 21 minutes Marc Pugh sees his shot deflected just wide, after good work down the left from Charlie Daniels. Just before the half hour mark, Mohamed Coulibaly turned well on the ball before unleashing a 30-yard drive that Frank Fielding could only parry in the Robins' goal. Still the score remained 0-0.
An unlikely goalscorer for the Cherries popped up with a good chance on 38 minutes. Elliott Ward volleyed over as Frank Fielding's punch fell at the defender's feet, following a Cherries' corner. Perhaps it could have been different had the ball fallen for a forward.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Sam Baldock and Scott Wagstaff were replaced Ryan Taylor, Bobby Reid and Albert Adomah for Bristol City on 53 minutes. AFCB also made a change with Francis coming on for Danny Butterfield.
Sam Baldock then beat Ryan Allsop to the ball, on the edge of the box, after 58 minutes, but Elliott Ward's vital block kept the ball out. Four minutes later Richard Hughes came off for Ryan Fraser to come on. A bit more of an attacking set-up for the Cherries for the last quarter of the match it seemed, as Eddie Howe looked to get a victory over his former mentor.
Ian Harte was also replaced by Charlie Daniels on 63 minutes. Neil Kelly then made way for Jordan Wynter of Bristol City.
There was a great chance for Sam Baldock to put the visitors ahead on 68 minutes when he was played through early, one-on-one, but he shot wide much to the relief of the Cherries' fans. Neither team have their shooting boots on today!
Wes Thomas pulled back a good pass for Pugh on 76 minutes, who shot from the edge of the area but his effort was comfortably saved. Ryan Fraser then got on the end of a Marc Pugh cross a minute later, but goalkeeper Frank Fielding directed it out for an AFCB corner.
The last comment saw Donal McDermott replace Mohamed Coulibaly on 79 minutes.
The final score was 0:0
AFCB Subs: Flahavan, Francis, Fraser, Harte, Matthews, Stockley, Addison.
Bristol City starting XI: Fielding, Moloney, Flint, Williams, Cunningham, Adomah, Kilkenny, Pack, Bryan, Reid, Taylor.
Bristol City Subs: Parish, Carey, Fontaine, Wynter, Wagstaff, Brundle, Emmanuel-Thomas, Harewood, Ajala, Baldock.
My first comment, is, towards the end, you say Fraser got on the end of a Pugh cross, is Ryan's height in the penalty area what we are to except now, seeing as tall strikers appear to be out of favour, or maybe, I'm being cynical here. Seriously, I honestly see scoring goals a massive problem at the moment. It's all very well saying we were top scorers last season, Grabban had a purple patch, but dried up for an even longer period, and he is my main concern. Surely we don't have to wait and see what happens, before we act. Coulibally isn't a striker if I'm right, Brett is all we have, Wes?? Jayden?????? we NEED to sign TWO quality strikers, and quick. We really do need to be hitting the ground running, as it stands I don't see it happening. All that said, I have every faith in Eddie, it's been a pig of a close season for him, with all these injuries, and I think he's missed out on more players then we are likely to know. Perhaps "Big Name" players, still only see us as a small club with large aspirations, but prefer to go elsewhere. All I know is, we are now less than a week from the season starting, and yet, we look a long way from being the finished article, but can't wait til Saturday!!! UTC
ReplyDeleteThe forward line is a concern and I do wonder if we will be painting over cracks next Saturday hoping that Grabban and Pitman can last at least 60 minutes with us 3:0 up by then. We have not been pulling up trees in the goal scoring department, but we have a week to get the team firing. We can also get players in up to the end of August I believe. Keep the faith! UTCIAD.
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