FULL-TIME: Bristol City 0, Brighton & Hove Albion 0
ONCE again, the Championship proved a great leveller as Bristol City held up Brighton's promotion charge with a performance brim-full of tenacity and spirit at Ashton Gate.
Gus Poyet's Seagulls arrived in BS3 sporting the tag of the division's form team, only to have their wings clipped by hard-working opponents.
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Bristol City V Brighton and Hove Albion 18
For much of this engaging contest, spectators would have been hard-pressed to distinguish between the promotion contenders and the side propping up the table.
Although City remain firmly entrenched in the relegation zone, this latest display represented another step forward in their quest to avert relegation to League One.
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If clean sheets were impossible to come by during the first half of the season, they are now becoming almost commonplace. Having **** out Blackpool on Saturday, the Robins produced an equally disciplined display to frustrate and ultimately subdue one of the Championship's most potent attacking teams.
The only thing lacking was a cutting edge in the final third and, despite dominating possession for long periods and forcing the Seagulls to retreat, the home side lacked the quality needed to prise open a Brighton defence that, while subjected to pressure at times, was seldom stretched.
City head coach Sean O'Driscoll urged his players to render themselves difficult to beat at the same time as being effective in possession and they ticked both boxes.
Growing in confidence after four successive home wins, the Robins demonstrated a willingness to move the ball at pace and made life uncomfortable for the Seagulls, notably when Cole Skuse twice had shots charged down on the edge of the penalty area.
Denied space and time on the ball by City's five-man midfield, the visitors were unable to establish any kind of rhythm and, as a consequence, seldom threatened the home goal.
City keeper Tom Heaton was called upon to rush from his line and smother a shot from rampaging right-back Inigo Calderon but was not otherwise extended during a first half in which City kept their opponents at arms' length.
In contrast, the Robins were bright and inventive going forward and the Seagulls keeper Tomasz Kuszczak twice made acrobatic saves to keep out powerful shots from the lively Paul Anderson and Skuse, while Stephen Pearson was inches short of applying a finishing touch to Brendan Moloney's incisive centre from the right.
Brighton's discomfiture grew when former England centre-half Matthew Upson dallied on the ball and was dispossessed by Anderson, whose heavy first touch betrayed him, much to the relief of Kuszczak. A marauding presence in midfield, Marvin Elliott then headed over from a Greg Cunningham free kick as City finished the first half in the ascendancy.
City's shoot-on-sight policy yielded off-target efforts from Anderson, Liam Kelly and Pearson after the break, while Stead's shot on the turn was blocked by Bruno as Brighton were forced onto the back foot.
City's pressing game was only effective up to a point and too many balls played into the penalty area lacked the accuracy to hurt the visitors. But at least Brighton were being given no encouragement and Robins keeper Heaton was a virtual spectator.
Brighton were not at their fluent best, but then they were not allowed to be. As for City, they threw on Albert Adomah and Sam Baldock in a late bid to win the game, but will be satisfied with a point against a team that beat them comfortably in November.
Bristol City (4-5-1): Heaton; Moloney, Nyatanga, Fontaine, Cunningham; Anderson (Baldock 88), Kelly, Skuse, Elliott, Pearson (Adomah 85); Stead.
Brighton (4-3-3): Kuszczak; Bruno, El-Abd, Upson, Calderon; Lopez, Bridcutt, Hammond; Buckley, Mackail-Smith (Ulloa 45), Orlandi.
Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).
Attendance: 12,267
23 Comments
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by BCFCfinker
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:22PM
“@seagullsfan
You must have been too distraught to tell us this earlier in the week?
You're contribution? Your teddy has been thrown out of the pram.
Get over it, Brighton didn't win.”
by piledriver
Thursday, March 07 2013, 3:05PM
“@SeagullsFan:
I didn't hear or see anyone laughing when he went off.
There was some booing when CMS went down because the crowd thought he was play acting as Fontaine was nowhere near him and had dispossesed him.
The AG crowd is a tough one (nowhere near as tough as in the past)but it is also a very fair one.”
by SeagullsFan
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:17PM
“To all the City fans laughing when Craig McKail-Smith had to go off injured - you are scum and you know you are. Still I shall take great pleasure in seeing you relegated at the end the season. Then, hopefully, a couple more relegations to see you in the non-league where you belong.”
by THEIRONS
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:15PM
“Manc -- a few facts the Black Arabs were founded in 1883 not Bristol Rovers who did not come along until 1898 , where as Bristol City were founded in 1897 . So according to you the UWE is within the City of Bristol boundary no it is not , so when the Blues start their tenancy they will no longer be playing in Bristol, pedantic yes but still the facts.
As for my posting nice things about the Blues , why should I not , would you prefer me to be antagonistic , I post what I think is accurate and fair , as for my not being a City Supporter that is technically correct , but I will always be a fan of a club I first saw in season 67-68 , and from the late 70's watched home and away till 92-93 season , and who knows i may become a regular again.
As for Red and Green Arrows who cares , the scoring of a comment is not based on its quality, you always get green arrowed , as I say no indication of quality , if you take solace in the accumulation of green arrows you truly are pathetic . If this comment results in red arrows I will continue to post , I prefer to tell the truth , something you will never be accused of.”
by manchestergas
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:53AM
“some of you may try to take the mickey out of me but it's interesting that my comment still has a positive 'score', and more positive than many offering a rose tinted view that everything is shipshape and Bristol fashion after 2 draws. Also the few who personally criticise me (oh, how big...) hav lts of red arrows.
several of your own supporters say that after 4 home wins Tues was clearly a missed opportunity to ram another win home, rather than to come out feeling a little limp and wishing for a more attacking stance.
FACT - it's another game gone
FACT - despite a 'good point' other relegation rivals were more adventurous and got some handy results, including several late goals
FACT - you are bottom, and now 3 points from safety, which is 1 more than on Monday. I'm not trying to gloat because I'm not here for that and you still stand a decent chance of survival anyway. It's merely a fact.
Irons - you really are literally schizophrenic. You post 'nice' comments on gas threads, but your judgement gets totaly clouded whenever I write the truth. You aren't even a City supporter yet you write this bizzare rant - "Heres [sic] hoping for the full 3 points against M'Boro in the quest to retain tier 2 football for Bristol's oldest club and in the near future only club".
Bristol's oldest club?? Uh? no matter how you dress it up (and I'll forget 1982 just for a second to spare your blushes) we were formed in 1883 and City were formed in 1897. VERY very simple. It's called CSE History. Do you remember that?
If you mean the oldest Bristol club in the Football Lge then that's fine. that is historically accurate as you were far swifter than us to join the league, but there is NO argument about which club was founded first. It was us.
Only club? well, you are embarassing yourself now. simple.”
by BCFCfinker
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 11:42PM
“I have too much spare time on my hands this evening so I've done a rather un-scientific difficulty scoring exercise and it goes something like this.
Divide the table into three, top 8, middle 8 and bottom 8.
Looking at the run in to the end of the season, I figure the top and bottom have the most to win or lose (play offs and relegation). So if you are playing anyone in these parts of the table, both teams will be in a must win situation (I did say this was un-scientific).
So my table of difficulty goes something like this (most difficult run in at the top)
So as a percentage of their games against bottom or top:
Barnsley 82%
Peterborough 72%
Sheff Weds 72%
Wolves 60%
Birmingham 60%
Blackpool 60%
Birstol City 50%
Ipswich 50%
Since Barnsley and Peterborough are already in the bottom three, I think the writing is on the wall.
I'd say that as long as we can overhaul Wolves AND Sheffield Weds, we're in with a shout of staying up.
The fat lady is starting her warm up.”
by royaljoe
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 4:10PM
“THEGOOD THING ABOUT TODAYS MESSAGES IS THE RESPECT BEING SHOW TO SEAN O'DRISCOLL.
ANYBODY PLAYING FOR US NOW WILL KNOW WE ARE NOT PUSHOVERS, AND ANYBODY PLAYING FOR US WILL BE GIVING 100%. THE TEAM IS IN GOOD HANDS.”
by westywardy
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:50PM
“Just ignore Mancgas he has already shown himself up for not having a clue. Still he is probably getting geared up for the massive derby match tonight.
Decent point last night in a game we should of won. Onwards and upwards.”
by BCFCfinker
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:40PM
“So what, we didn't win (and we didn't lose) but this was probably one of the best games City have played this season. If this level can be sustained, we will stay up.
We are 3 points from safety, the bottom 5 are tight and anyone from Charlton down should be concerned.
If we can pull a result this weekend, we are still in with a chance.
Record so far under SO'D.
10 games - 14 points
10 games left, if we can maintain that record, we will be at 50.
If the improvement is not a blip, you've got to fancy us getting more than 14 points.
As to the Gas fans predicting our demise, this could be one of those Mark Twain moments.”
by BlueFace
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:36PM
“I was and still am hoping City go down,but O'D has you well organised and picking up points.I think you can stay up.Though bad luck :)”