Bristol City are not going to create goals with four central midfielders
How many of the 13,000-plus City fans sat inside Ashton Gate were really that surprised to see George Boyd score Peterborough's late, late equaliser? Not me!! Unfortunately, like the first game of the season away at Preston and the recent home game against Scunthorpe, we conceded a late equaliser, dropping two points, when in a winning position.
Those six dropped points would have seen us sitting third in the league, level on points with the top two. If we are going to mount a challenge for promotion this season, we have to kill teams off when in a winning position.
Our position is still good, but I don't think we have really played anywhere near to the levels that we can.
Peterborough are an OK team and play some decent football and the truth is that the Posh deserved a draw. Craig Mackail-Smith, always seems to play well against City and only two outstanding saves from Dean Gerken presented the forward from finding the back of the net.
Gary Johnson talked about wanting his team to eat, drink and think goals. Unfortunately, with the current team selection and formation, I can't see that happening.
And it is the midfield which is causing the most concern. Gary Johnson has to stop playing four central midfielders and endeavour to get some width in the side. There was one point in the second half that Marvin Elliott won the ball and turned to his left and found no one available to receive the ball and so turned to pass the ball right, only to be faced with the same problem.
Evander Sno has to be played in the centre of the pitch – he is wasted on the right-hand side and we are not making the most of his strengths. Elliott and Lee Johnson both did OK and Cole Skuse worked tirelessly and scored a good goal, but none of the four are creating enough for the front two and too often the ball is played square or backwards.
Not having any width in the side is in my view the main reason that we are not scoring goals.
Tuesday night against Plymouth is a massive game and I would play Danny Haynes wide right and ask him to get to the by-line and provide crosses into the box. I would re-call Dave Clarkson and play him in a striking role and pair him with Maynard. In central midfield, I would play Sno and Elliott with Paul Hartley just behind.
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