Paul Anderson says O'Driscoll factor the key to Bristol City improvement

Paul Anderson attributes Bristol City's improved fortunes to the sheer simplicity of Sean O'Driscoll's methods.

Since his appointment as head coach last month, the 55-year-old Midlander has ordered a return to basics, organising his players, setting them targets they can achieve and preaching a clear and consistent message.

And the players have responded to his prompting in a manner which suggests City may yet be able to retain their Championship status.

They head north for a potentially hazardous assignment against Blackburn Rovers tomorrow still rooted in the bottom three, but imbued with renewed hope following revitalising wins over Ipswich Town and Watford.

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Given the transformation in the players' demeanour since O'Driscoll walked through the door, it seems reasonable to ask whether they were giving everything for the previous managerial incumbent.

Certainly, the side that fought tooth and nail to repulse Watford in midweek bore little resemblance to the one that surrendered 4-0 to Leicester just a few weeks ago, a result that earned Derek McInnes the sack.

Anderson acknowledged as much, when he told The Post: "We are more organised now.

"Derek was trying to do that and, for some reason, it was not quite clicking.

"Nothing against the manager, I think it was down to the players really. We probably let him down.

"The new manager has come in and given us a bit of life and the lads are together now, we are organised and things seem to be going our way."

"With Sean, you have to go back to basics and keep things easy and simple. His motto is 'don't complicate it' and it seems to be working."

The upshot is that City now have an opportunity to put together a three-match unbeaten run for the first time this season.

Anderson reflected: "If you can put a decent run together, things can change incredibly quickly. Last week, we were absolutely nowhere. Now we've won a couple of games and the talk is of us getting out of it.

"The swings and roundabouts of this league are amazing and we are all confident we can get out of it. If we did not believe that, there would be no point in us turning up."

Certainly, it seems reasonable to assume the Robins will put up rather more of a fight than when exiting the FA Cup with barely a whimper on their previous visit to Blackburn a few weeks ago.

City lost 2-0 in a third round tie played out before a paltry crowd of 5,000 and Anderson declared: "A lot has changed since then.

"That game was strange and it just seemed dead, from our side, from their side and from the crowd. Being at Ewood Park that day was not a great experience.

"But we are going back there with a completely different mind-set, the kind that should make us one of the most feared teams in the league.

"It feels almost as if we have nothing to lose and that makes us dangerous opponents."

There is nothing quite like winning to restore lost confidence and Anderson and his team-mates have a spring in their step these days.

He said: "Enjoyment is a big part of the game and that coincides with confidence. There seems to be a buzz about the place and it is amazing what a difference a few days can make.

"If you look around us, the likes of Peterborough, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday have all had a little run.

"We have yet to have that run and, if we take that opportunity now, it will hopefully get us away from the bottom three."