Sent-off Jamie was 'petulant' says Bristol City boss Johnson
Bristol City boss Gary Johnson admitted his captain Jamie McCombe had been "petulant and unprofessional" for getting himself sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Derby, writes Nathan Jones.
The centre-half was yellow-carded twice in two minutes for fouls on Derby striker Rob Hulse, half-an-hour before Gary Teale fired in the only goal of the game.
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Jamie McCombe
McCombe was first booked for tripping Hulse, who then threw the ball at him. The pair then came face-to-face with McCombe falling to the floor.
Referee Mick Russell had none of it, but had little option a minute later when the former Scunthorpe man hacked Hulse down and made the long walk to the dressing room.
"It was petulant and unprofessional," said Johnson. "He (the referee) had given him an opportunity before he sent him off when he gave a foul and didn't send him off, and we were thinking maybe we have to take him off. Then, a minute later, he fouled the fella again. It didn't give us time to make the change.
"We didn't handle that very well and we have to be more professional as individuals and as a group when those things happen.
"He is as disappointed as anyone else. Over the years he has been a real stalwart for us but, as people do on occasions, they become unprofessional.
"He needed to keep his wits about him and not get involved when you are away from home.
"He will be disappointed because that's the type of he is but lad that doesn't stop me from giving him a rollicking to remind him.
"I think we will take action against him because we are missing our captain now for a game and my chairman will ask me why we are paying him this week."
There was a suggestion that McCombe had taken a dive during the inital incident with Hulse.
Johnson said: "I think they both went into each other and they got up and there was a bit of bravado and they went chest to chest and sometimes there is a little touch on somebody's face.
"But no I didn't think the lad went in to headbutt him and I don't think Jamie particularly went down because it didn't take him long to get up. I don't think it was that sort of game and
it was a shame that happened.
"He has apologised and he will do because he is a decent lad most of the time. He is captain on merit because he has had a few decent seasons but he has let his team-mates down and he knows that.
"After the game he was sitting in the dressing room on his own and I was the first one to go in. I looked him in the eye – when he was sitting down – and to be fair he made eye contact and
apologised."
McCombe will be suspended for tomorrow's home game with Blackpool so either Lewin Nyatanga or Louis Carey will replace him.
Charismatic former Rovers boss Ian Holloway is now in charge at Blackpool. "It is about Bristol City and Blackpool," insisted Johnson.
"I know Ian Holloway was at Bristol Rovers and I actually enjoy Ian's antics and I like him as a person so if he wants to entertain the crowd he will be entertaining me as well."
Meanwhile, Johnson insisted defender Andre Blackman's future at the club has not yet been decided. There has been speculation that the former Portsmouth and Arsenal man's contract will be terminated for indiscipline.
"That is something that is in-house and people are probably thinking it is worse than what it is," he said. "As a particular newspaper reported, it is not me being unimpressed with him it
is a disciplinary thing and he will take his rap and then we will see what his rap is.
"We are still deciding that. He is only a young lad and he is another one who has to grow up quickly."
ends
28 Comments
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by roger, Whitchurch
Monday, September 28 2009, 6:41PM
“I don't think Gasheads(learn to spell No name)need to comment on here C ity fans are doing quite n icely thanky ou!!”
by jibbywib, cotham
Monday, September 28 2009, 5:06PM
“It's the same old moaners on here spouting the same old shortsighted claptrap. In a few weeks if we have won a few games and are back in the play offs will these same moaners be on his back still?
True there is cause for concern over our away form and the apparent lack of squad balance, but have a little faith in the man who has done so much for us and get behind the club with things arn't going great as well as when they are.”
by Lawrence, Nanaimo B/C Canada
Monday, September 28 2009, 5:06PM
“Great morning [here] it is , We just got up here to a bunch of great comments ,
Read them twice to get the feel we were at the [last] game , & we feel the [OSCAR ] must go to david planet Earth , Realist a close 2nd, We have 2 buddys City fans that go often to games ,
But only one took in this Derby trip , & said [quote] " At times the formation on the pitch 4,3,2,1, or what ever it was , seamed like City was playing 10 men from the start,
He was so peaved after the game took him a while to come down to earth,
Speaking! as a long time City fan from afar & reading between the lines on the comments on here , one can`t deny facts , you have to ajust [tweek] the team only if things aint working ,
ln this case its now ! To have butts in the stands things, [MUST] be good/better on the pitch,
Now if only G/J or better yet S/L gets to read these comments by the folks that count the Fans ,,
2nd Coffee awaits us ,
GO City,”
by Marcus, Wilts.
Monday, September 28 2009, 4:54PM
“@Mike
IF we beat Blackpool- IF we beat Newcastle, which by the way is completely laughable, if you've been to any away matches this season you'll know there is more chance of Shergar winning the Grand National next year!
Of course you're right IF we start winning matches people will naturally back off and chill out a bit but wit hthe current mish mash tactics from Johnson it just isn't going to happen.”
by G. Ash, Twerton Park
Monday, September 28 2009, 3:38PM
“No gash eads on here please.”
by mike, Bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 3:20PM
“@Bob- Season Ticket holders effectively pay for Johnson's wages, so you're more than justified in voicing your opinon. I just think fans get a little bit short sighted after a couple of poor results. If we beat Hollway's lot tomorrow & turn over Newcastle & you'll be ready to renew your season ticket again next season! We always believe (but we don't always win!)”
by david, Planet Earth
Monday, September 28 2009, 3:03PM
“@Dolman Bob - I agree with a lot of what you say, especially selecting players out of position or fitting players in a formation which stifles their strengths.
Lots of supporters are voting with their feet because of this, and the club are now desparately giving tickets away or cutting prices to get supporters through the door.
If the current performances continue and Johnson continues to select unbalanced teams, they'll be left with no POTD supporters and just the 11,500 or so season card holders - and even some of them won't bother.
The players are not the problem, they are more than good enough for the championship.”
by dolman bob, bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:25PM
“@mike, bristol
I renewed my season ticket in the summer after garry admittedly made some great signings - i wrongly expected good, positive, attacking football this year.
I was amazed and upset we sold mcindoe, but gary assured me that the wingers would not be needed this year as the full-backs would be regularly raiding down the flanks and suppling the crosses which were in desperately short supply last season.
so, in short mark, I took a leap of faith again.
What I didn't expect was all the same problems from last season to still be evident again this year, but it's even more frustrating now because you can see lads like sno have real ability, but he is jostling for space in the middle of the park with three other midfielders. similarly clarkson - reportedly a great talent, but is stuck is some kind of attacking midfielder role.
The easy answer is to vote with my feet and not to renew my season ticket next summer, but frankly i already miss watching good live football on a saturday/tuesday night, so something has to give, and if johnson doesn't change his ways, i would be happy for steve lansdown to get shot of him.”
by mike, Bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:12PM
“Dolman Bob- I don't understand people like you? If you think Johnson is a clown & SUPPORTERS are idiots then why do you spend your saturdays in the Dolman stand? Surely you'd be happier doing something else with your valuable time?”
by dolman bob, bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 1:50PM
“@Realist Real World.
Spot on son. well said.
I'd like to see Clarkson start tomorrow night - as a striker please garry, it's not championship manager or whatever computer game you play in your office when you shoudl be sorting out the flipping tactics on the training ground.”