Stoppage-time defeat was soul-destroying, says Bristol City boss Johnson
Gary Johnson admitted Bristol City's 3-2 stoppage-time defeat to Plymouth Argyle was soul-destroying.
Wales international Carl Fletcher's late winner – a superb long-range shot – consigned City to another heart-breaking late defeat.
Relegation-threatened Argyle had taken a half-time lead with goals from Chris Clark and Bradley Wright-Phillips, before Nicky Maynard's first goals of the year pulled City level.
However, a late red card for Jamal Campbell-Ryce, for two bookings, led to City conceding again.
"It was soul-destroying," said the City boss. "We have done it again with a last-minute goal. We didn't start well but we came out in the second half and gave it a go.
"The momentum was with us when we went to 2-2.
"The sending off was a key moment and that has cost us the game. We gave it a go but we have lost three points.
"The headline of our season is we just let in late goals. It has become a bit of a habit. That was really, really disappointing."
Johnson took heart from his side's second-half display and Maynard's well-taken double
"We came out a lot more aggressive," he said. "Our quality was a lot better, and then Nicky got his two terrific goals – one a set-play he struck well and one in open play which he also struck well. That is a good sign for us. But we need to be better than we were in the first half.
"We sent them out a lot more aggressive and they responded.
"The goalkeeper made a great save from Jamie McAllister and we were only inches away from drawing the game at the end when Marvin Elliott struck it from the kick-off and he was almost caught out."
Johnson admitted debutant striker Stefan Maierhofer, the loan signing from Wolves, was not match-fit.
"He wasn't quite ready for a local derby with that type of commitment," he said. "He hasn't had too many games recently. We thought about taking him off pretty soon after halftime, but we had the ascendancy so we kept him on.
"He needs to do a lot more to be a regular in our team. He hasn't even trained with the players so maybe that is my fault for putting him straight in."
It was the worst possible way for City to warm up for Saturday's visit of Championship leaders Newcastle United.
Fifteenth-placed City are still seven points clear of the relegation zone but are now a full 10 points off the play-off places following last night's results.
Argyle boss Paul Mariner said: "City caused us all sorts of problems.
"My heart sank at 2-2 but I knew my players were up to it. Maybe we just deserved it. If it was a boxing match we won seven rounds to five."
Meanwhile, Dutch midfielder Evander Sno made his comeback after back trouble and scored in a reserve game at home to Forest Green yesterday afternoon.
Brian Wilson, who has missed most of the season with a shin injury, featured for 80 minutes in a 1-1 draw.
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by Blue, Bristol
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 11:45PM
“New manager will be Phil Brown. Watch this space”
by Colin Li, LA
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 11:00PM
“I have a feeling the rumours of a sacking are just that - rumours only. The players are due to report to training as normal tomorrow morning, no other rumours of who might be lined up - Lansdown quiet on the subject since BBC interview on March 9.
Having said that, SL is a canny fella and not a loudmouth who states his moves before he makes them. So we'll see what happens in the morning.”
by DAVE MASSEY, LONDON
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 10:19PM
“THE CHARGE SHEET
1. club has gone backwards in terms of results, league position, player recruitment and youth development in the last 2 seasons
2. the unhealthy dad / brother / son situation was an accident waiting to happen - raised it an AGM 4 years ago, no-one wanted to know.
3. not a single player from the much vaunted academy has broken into the first team in gary's 4 years in charge. either the youth players weren't good enough, or he doesn't want to play them for what ever reason.
4. the inability to attract in strong loan signings - lets say jack wilshere for one. doncaster could do it - the arsenal lad who doncaster had was applauded off.
5. keith millen's useless comments in that regard. and why oh why was he ever brought back to the club. danny wilson got rid of him, tinnion brough him back. he just ISN'T up to the job.
6. lousy striker signings - maynard is ok but the club paid WAY over the odds for him.
7. the inability to use talents like trundle or gavin williams or nick carle. if you can't - why sign them?
8. the buying of 3 players for certain postions but ignoring left wing, left back and 'stopper' centre half positions
9. the lack of any national media profile because we'r etoo damn BORING and insignificant with what we have.
10. everyone has had enough.
that do? i liked gary - but now it's
GUILTY AS CHARGED.
we need a change - hartley as interim - and get in a 'wise head' as director of football. curbishley?
otherwise find a cute, clever and rugged italian!”
by jamie, olde city
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:43PM
“Whatever happens tonight we as Bristol City supporters on here (not the jokers who just want to write rubbish) have to get behind the players from now until the end of the season. The players are up for big games so lets make every game a big game with the crowd not leaving 10 to 15 mins before half time to get a pint or a pie, stay until the end. Come on you redz we are not far away from having a successful club here. Get behind the team and lets get the points on the board and look forward to the summer. Fair play to SL for knowing when to and when not to!
COME ON YOU REDZ”
by Pete, Australia
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:20PM
“Should have got rid of him last week. Ian Dowie was still available the.”
by Wladek, West Sussex
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 8:02PM
“With Gary Johnson going we should thank him for the good period and not let it all end on a totally sour note.
Shame it has to end like this but clearly he had lost the changing room some time ago.The Chairman should have tackled matters earlier and Millen must go too. He was responsible for defence and they let in hatfulls of goals. S Lansdown does not come out of this unscathed and what sanction is there against him for a mess of a season? Too little too late and that from a top flight business man do you believe. Does he run Hargreaves Lansdown in the same way? If he does I would be worried about my money too not just the City team!”
by Burwallian, West Sussex
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:55PM
“Agree with Chris. The players have to do the business on the pitch. Failure to 'turn up' in the first half is inexcusable as it was a 'derby match' and we should have been putting ourselves about much better. Why didn't they do so? Great turnround in second half only to fall apart again in 'overtime'. No use moaning about the ref even if it's true. Goals count not moans! Hopefully the team will put in a superb performance for Sky TV against Newcastle to increase their chances of being seen by another club and finding an exit from what is a shambles right now. My fear though is that we will lose 10-0. If Doncaster smashed us 5-2 at Ashton Gate then what hope do we have on Saturday? Maybe if we ply the Newcastleplayers with cider all day long then we will be on a par with them!”
by Lewis the Gas Head, Passing Gary his p45
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:32PM
“yes its true...just read it on the mirror website.....who will they replace him with? at least the City fans now have there wish....wonder what will happen?..”
by Blue, Bristol
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:13PM
“Johnson has tonight been sacked. Announcement due in the morning”
by Chris, Bristol
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 5:41PM
“GJ has had probably the toughest year of his career to date. The pressure is on, he has all season made some very strange decisions with formations, tactics and players. All managers at AG get my support, and he has had plenty from me this season. But this chopping and changing has to stop because even i, a rare breed of optimistic positive Bristol City fan am a little perplexed by it all. I don't think he should go, i hope he sees us safe and has a serious rethink in the summer. He has to acknowledge that whatever he attempted to do this season had gone wrong, learn from it and then come back stronger. I'm not against change, if a decent manager was guaranteed i would be happy to go ahead. But much like results, this is not always as easy as it may seem. If you purchased a season ticket purely for glory, then more fool you. We aren't a big club in this league, everyone has the same if not more resources than us. It was always going to be a bumpy ride, its just a shame some don't have the minerals for it.
Whilst GJ takes all the flak, i feel the players (LJ aside) are escaping lightly, there has been some very inept, half hearted displays this season and for some reason they don't appear to put in a full shift EVER. So whilst GJ, as manager bears the brunt of the pressure i think some players should take a good long look at themselves because i feel some of the performances on the pitch have been very sub standard and unprofessional. At the end of the day, yes the tactics and formations have been odd but once all is said its only the 11 players who take to the field that can make a difference, anyone can talk a good game but they are the players, they need to show us some passion, grit and determination. Some arrived with a big reputation and have failed to deliver often enough. Perhaps us as fans aren't doing enough to make them go that extra yard. I don't think i would be that interested if i was booed off the pitch after a draw.
I have renewed my ticket, as was one of the 6k or so who had a season ticket in our promotion year. I would wager most of the people who are not renewing have had theirs less than 3 years. I wonder why? At least, the bedrock of the season ticket holders remain. That's the meaning of support, that's the meaning of loyalty. The sad thing is, if/when we do improve the "rats" will jump back on the ship the moment it steadies!”