Bristol City draw 1-1 with Scunthorpe
Bristol City 1 Scunthorpe United 1
Alvaro Saborio so nearly celebrated his Bristol City home debut with the winner against Scunthorpe.
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Alvaro Saborio
The Costa Rican frontman got off the mark for the Robins in his third appearance in a red shirt in fortunate circumstances.
The 50th minute goal means City are now four games unbeaten following their tricky spell last month when they lost to Cardiff and Carlisle.
But substitute Grant McCann's deflected equaliser in stoppage time earned the visitors a point.
City made just one change from the team that drew 0-0 at Swansea with top scorer Nicky Maynard returning after illness for Ivan Sproule.
But it was Scunthorpe who had the first chance when Martyn Woolfrod shot from the edge of the box but Adriano Basso was not unduly troubled.
City's first opening came after a stepover from Paul Hartley. Maynard ran onto the ball and hit a low shot that Joe Murphy palmed round the post.
City had the ball in the net in the eighth minute when a free kick found its way to Evander Sno who volleyed goalwards. Saborio knocked the ball over the line from an offside position and was rightly ruled offside.
Moments later Jonathan Forte made the net bulge for Scunthorpe but was also deemed to be in an offside position.
Basso then pulled off a superb save to deny David Mirfin's header from a left-wing free kick.
Scunthorpe threatened twice through hopeful Paul Hayes efforts from distance - the second after lax play from Jamie McAllister - but Basso was not troubled.
After the break Scunthorpe midfielder Josh Wright should have scored but shot straight at Basso after a neat pass from Michael O'Connor.
Almost immediately Maynard broke through at the other end but mis-controlled and Mirfin was able to touch the ball away from him.
Then City did break the deadlock when Marcus Williams' clearance hit midfielder Sam Togwell on the back and bounced back into the goal area presenting Saborio with a golden opportunity with only the keeper to beat.
The Costa Rican scored past Murphy at the second attempt before celebrating gleefully in front of the Atyeo Stand.
Saborio almost had a second soon after when a clever free kick from McAllister was pulled back for the striker to shoot from the penalty spot. But Saborio mis-timed his effort and the ball fell to Maynard who could not turn it in from close range.
Lee Johnson then cut in from the right and hit a left-footer from the edge of the box but it rose just too high.
Basso then saved again from Hayes, who lost his strike partner with 12 minutes to go when Gary Hooped pulled a muscle. He could not continue after Scunthorpe had used all three substitutions.
Even so McCann almost equalised with a last minute free kick and City could have added a second through Marvin Elliott, but he shot wide.
McCann then had the last word when his long range strike beat Basso and sent most of Ashton Gate home unhappy.
Bristol City (4-3-1-2): Basso; Orr, McCombe, Fontaine, McAllister; Johnson, Hartley (Skuse 85), Elliott; Sno; Maynard, Saborio (Sproule 89). Subs: Clarkson, Henderson, Ribeiro, Williams, Nyatanga.
Scunthorpe United (4-4-2): Murphy; Spence, Jones, Mirfin, Williams; O'Connor (Sparrow 67), Wright, Togwell, Woolford (McCann 67); Forte (Hooper 61), Hayes. Subs: Byrne, Slocombe, Canavan, Morris.
9 Comments
by Jimmy Rimmer, Glasgee
Sunday, September 20 2009, 7:45PM
“Oi No Gas heads on here please.”
by Lawrence, Nanaimo B/C Canada
Sunday, September 20 2009, 3:47PM
“One wonder`s , Did Gary J, have his son`s contract tied in with the length of his own ? , also Dad could say a no trade contract for the hole family , l know only of 3, is there more? tied games will only keep us in this Div , or go down , we will only go up on [WIN`S ] not draws, coulnt some one hide his little boots ?”
by Blue, Bristol
Sunday, September 20 2009, 11:55AM
“ha ha ha ha ha. So fickle!”
by Marcus, Wilts.
Sunday, September 20 2009, 10:58AM
“I must be a clairvoyant as I predicted yesterdays TOSH before it even happened
Predictable tactics which make us boring to watch and at the moment it sarting to ruin my Saturday afternoons, everyone sat around me looked so bloody bored!
Don't even get me started on mini me in midfield, again how predictable Gary found a formation that would neatly incorporate junior! I mean central midfielder's started the match? Where the balance Gary?
Time for Gary to move on. He has run out of ideals, that much is clear when you look at his current team selection and formations- WHAT A MESS!
SORT IT OUT JOHNSON AND STOP BERATING THE PEOPLE WHO PAY YOUR WAGES!”
by Hotwells Harry, Bristol
Sunday, September 20 2009, 7:47AM
“Sometime on Saturday morning Gary Johnson took out his shot-gun, aimed carefully at his feet and blasted away. Thus the tactics and team selection for Scunthorpe were decided. The midfield was cobbled together to accommodate the weakest link in his favoured central position. The immensely talented Sno thus being obliged to play for the most part wide on the right. Elliott tried hard to impress in an unaccustomed role on the left. But we still managed to play some neat football and might well have stolen the victory but for, (yet again), suicidal substitutions. Hartley, probably man of the match, was sacrificed when it was blindingly obvious that if a change was needed it had to be Skuse for Johnson. Then Saborio was hauled off when he was doing a great job holding the ball up. Sproule, his replacement, has proven himself to be the latest in a line of 'headless chicken' style wide men who promise mountains and deliver mole-hills. The inevitable equaliser was a classic: - McCombe, (an adequate 3rd division stopper), heads the ball towards his own goal to Lee Johnson. The little chap's muffed clearance was classic comedy. Got what we deserved, but it was all so unnecessary.”
by Bobby, Bristol
Saturday, September 19 2009, 11:49PM
“We've not won a game this season when Lee Johnson has started.
Today it was the case YET again, the lad isn't good enough and cost us a goal with a terrible clearance.
How did he stay on the pitch when Hartley was subbed. Crazyness!
Skuse, Elliott, Hartley & Sno are all better players than LJ and yet he gets the start in midfield. The facts this season don't lie.”
by Nobby, Bedminster
Saturday, September 19 2009, 7:51PM
“LJ will ALWAYS play while "the family" are in charge, get over it.
Note the above side, the first two Ba$$o and Bradl£y Orr have both publicly stated they don;t want to play for us in the past.
Short memories all round!!!
We deserved nothing today but the Boos at the end.”
by mikeziderhead, kingswood
Saturday, September 19 2009, 5:29PM
“stenchhhhh.we need to be rid of LJ.Well done the rest of the team!.CITY TILL I DIE.”
by Lawrence, Nanaimo B/C Canada
Saturday, September 19 2009, 4:40PM
“We dont believe it !!! Got up early Coffe in hand to read the game on BBC , Only up 1 nill ,[BUT] we need more goals if were to go anywhere in this Div, [we said it before] goals & more goals , We maybe should spy on the Rovers for tips,,,, from 2 BCSFans from afar,,,, Dont think we will phone our 2 spies [fellow fans ] that went to the game for there input , looking forward to other comments , also the coaches report !!!!, [Now goin back to bed]”