Bristol City manager Derek McInnes steps up search for another defender

“City have got into the habit of conceding important late goals for several seasons past and it obviously hasn't ended yet.

I've lost count of the number of times the opposition has scored a very late winner or equaliser in matches during the past 3-4 seasons.

The team, whatever the personnel or manager, too often loses concentration in those last few vital minutes.

It was certainly an exciting game on Saturday and many fans would rather lose 3-5 than 0-2 though I'm not sure managers would.

When last season ended a lot of City fans said that Bikey was a must for this season. Did he not really fancy it here or was the board not prepared to meet his wage demands or didn't the manager rate him?”

“I have been saying for a few seasons now that the defence needed an overhaul and nothing has changed. I also questioned why someone as inept as Fontaine gets the armband when he so obviously cant eve look after himself let alone a whole side. He was very poor again on Saturday and a liabiity at this level. Carey's days are numbered, and he knows it! He will be a City legend though, top man!


We need two quality centre backs asap. Then, and only then will we be capable of mounting any sort of challenge. Its even more frustrating now because its clear that the forwards and midfield and capable of going toe to toe with the best and creating and scoring plenty but you dont consistently win games with a weak defence.

We are so close to having the making of a side capable of challenging for promotion but we still lack steel in defence and have done for a while now.”

“It was a priority position in the summer....saturday just highlighted that problem further. At this level, you cannot play a 36 year old game after game. Legs are gone and cannot play out from the back Louis. Sorry, great servant and all but thats fact. Fontaine, always been a liability for me.

Why Amougou was left to walk away I don't know.

Give James Wilson a chance ! Do not understand the theory of letting him go out on loan when our two CB are so weak. On the positives, Baldock continues to impress, Albert looking lively, Davies has got a nice touch and pass to his game and Cunningham looks a quality addition.

Note to the Board - Baldock - premiership signing, quality and came at a price. Do the saem at the back, be prepared to pay a bit more and we'll do OK. Cannot continue to ship the goals we have regardless of how many we score.

Woolford back to his worst saturday, did nothing to influence the game. He may have started well but he will not be able to keep that level up all season, just not capable.

DMAC has made some good summer signings but now needs that final push to establish us as a mid table team this year.

Blackburn were not two goals better than us on the day...jbut they were sharper all over the pitch...but you would expect that having 15+ years or so in the prem.

Positives from the weekend game, but the negatives need urgent attention otherwise it's another scrap again this year.”

“DM needs to sacrifice some creativity in midfield, for a more defensive option.

Clearly, Woolford would be the player to go and push Pearson wide, this would allow Elliott, to play in the middle with Skuse and offer the defence, some protection.

Come on Del, you know it makes sense!”

“Saturdays game was immense. I know i'll get hammered for this but i actually dont care that we lost, i left ashton gate with a smile on my face. Thats 3 games at the gate this season with goals, goals, goals and lets face it, Blackburn with their quality and budget were never a home banker!

Our defending was shocking, lthough more so Fonts than carey who although is on his last legs, is just about holding his own. Stead as always grafted an alber terrorised, they didnt have a clue what to do when he changed gear!!

A CB is a priority and i do wonder about Bikey.... prehaps we could put a cheeky loan bid in for caulker... hes got no chance at spurs.

Delboy your doing a grand job, so depsite conceding five at home alls not so bad, meanwhile over at the mem.....”

“Agree dayofthedog but the shoestring budget is not true!”

“To be honest Blackburn were (man for man) a better team than us.

I'd have been chuffed with a 3-3 draw and a hard earned point.

We do need a decent CB, both Pederson and Gomez are very good, gifted forwards and gave our defenders trouble every time they were in our half.

It's ironic that last season we struggled to score (especially at home) and now we are scoring for fun, but conceding a lot of easy goals.

I think DM deserves huge credit for his work so far...we are a competitive, free scoring side and not far from being a very decent NPC team. All on a shoestring budget.”

“Defending starts from the front, not the back. While it's easy for people to suggest we need a new CB after shipping five goals at home, questions need to be asked of the players in front of our back four first. Of course every goal is preventable if you analyse it to death. But no team is perfect and there hasn't been a team yet who have gone a whole season without conceding a goal!”

“As Del said, you shouldn't need to score six to win a game home or away.

His main problems are:

How To keep the good bits (Goals)without bring wide open at the back.
How to ensure our midfield defends properly with three attacking players in it
How to set up and pick up points away.

Simple really!”

“There isn't much wrong with City at the moment. We were well worthy of a point against prob the best team in this league. Just need to add that dominant CB, certainly exciting times at the Gate.”