We proved a point at the Gate, says Bristol City's Johnson
Lee Johnson believes Bristol City proved a point by beating Championship promotion favourites West Brom at Ashton Gate.
Written off by many in the wake of a depressing sequence of seven matches without a win which saw them slip into the bottom half of the table, City staged a superb second-half recovery to come from a goal behind, win 2-1 and silence the critics who have been calling for manager Gary Johnson to be replaced.
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Lee Johnson
Victory over high-flying Albion will serve as a massive shot in the arm for a City side which showed what can be achieved by hard work and determination.
"I think we've proved a massive point," said Johnson, whose first goal of the season sealed a long-overdue success.
"People outside of Bristol probably didn't give us much chance against West Brom, but there is something about being an underdog which brings out the best in Bristol City.
"West Brom are a very good team and having to come from behind against a side like that is always difficult. But we rose to the challenge in the second half and showed good character.
"We proved what can be done when you work hard for one another, play with energy and passion and get the crowd behind you.
"It's been a difficult time for the club as a whole and it had got to the stage where we knew we had to dig ourselves out of trouble. This result and performance gives us a platform and it's up to us to build on it."
On top for much of the first half, Albion appeared odds-on to take all three points when Graham Dorrans shot them in front on 24 minutes. But City came back strongly after the break and turned the tables thanks to two goals in four minutes from loan signing Chris Iwelumo and match-winner Johnson, who revealed the part played by City's supporters.
He said: "Although we were losing 1-0 at half time, the fans still cheered and clapped us off. We spoke about it in the dressing room and wanted to do it for them.
"The atmosphere was fantastic and the crowd helped us play another 10 yards further forward in the second half.
"It was a case of everyone coming together and pulling in the same direction and I'm delighted we've been able to send them home happy."
Manager Johnson described the contest as a "great advert for Championship football and for Bristol City football club". He said: "I'm proud of the boys. They put in an unbelievably good stint and a really passionate performance. It must have been a great game for the watching public. "It's important for us to get a win against a good side and West Brom are a very good side and one of the favourites to go up. We showed good quality in the second half and this result and performance will do a lot for confidence.
"You need one hell of a performance to beat a side with Premier League quality and experience and we did that. I'm pleased for the boys and it's nice to see them smiling in the dressing room."
Under fire from a minority of disgruntled City supporters following a return of two wins in 18 games, Johnson spoke of his relief at the final whistle.
He said: "It's been a difficult few weeks and I'm relieved right now. The football world has seen that Bristol City are not dead and buried and that we're still in there fighting.
"But we don't want to waste this performance by not building on it at Ipswich. What we do know is we can go into the next few games knowing that these lads are giving it a right good go."
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by david, Planet Earth
Thursday, February 25 2010, 8:37AM
“@Baggie Biii...again
WBA 2 - 3 Reading
Again, when the tough got going, your lot crumbled. Another bad day at the office was it ? Worst performance for years was it ?
No mate, you were beaten by a better team on the night.
Now's the time for your team to dig in and fight for promotion - can they do it ? I don't think so.
City have dug in and found some form at last - can they now push forwards ? Yes, I think so.
Because City have those sort of players.”
by david, Planet Earth
Wednesday, February 24 2010, 9:45AM
“@Baggie Biii
It seems the vast majority of your supporters, you included, are incapable of accepting that sometimes, just sometimes, your team gets outplayed. Not because of the way your team played, but because of the way the opposition has played.
You lot have a bit of a billy bigtime about you - with no great reason really. Yes, you've done a hell of a lot better than us in the league in recent times, but you definitely aint no Arsenal. And with the soft underbelly of some of your pampered players (some obviously believe their own hype) you'll make a swift return to the championship IF you get promoted.
Forest and Newcastle are much more resilient with players who get stuck in when it gets a bit tough - your players roll over.”
by colin, Bristol
Monday, February 22 2010, 8:24PM
“Bagiii supporter,what colour grapes shall we send you,green,or black lol.”
by bob thompson, BRISTOL
Monday, February 22 2010, 7:02PM
“Wally Hinshelwood was indeed one of my first football heroes. As a young lad i remember going to see Stanley Matthews at the Gate, Wally looked like the international that day.It does seem that all west Country teams, football and cricket have their moaners. Perhaps it is the reason we we can only turn it on from time to time.
All the ex players seem to get better after they retire!
I would like David Foot to write an editorial on the so called poor players. They are probably all heroes now.”
by MB, Bristol
Monday, February 22 2010, 5:20PM
“I thought Osman was doing TV work now, but apparently he's running a fishery on the side.”
by Benny, Worle
Monday, February 22 2010, 4:51PM
“I remember Russell Osman scoring a goal a Ashton gate and it was met with almost complete silence.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Monday, February 22 2010, 4:46PM
“The problem with Osman was that he was a class player and a carp manager.
His was the season where we scored and conceded less than a goal a game - Yaawwwwnnnn......”
by Baggie Biii, Bagshot Hants.
Monday, February 22 2010, 3:10PM
“Dont get to carried away Bristol City supporters, that was the worst Baggies performance I can remember for at least two years.”
by ben, bristol
Monday, February 22 2010, 2:16PM
“i would add Russell Osman to that list. One game the crowd were chanting for him to be sent off.”
by ziderian, cheltenham
Monday, February 22 2010, 1:57PM
“Great performance/result yesterday.
The difference in the second half was a wide man (Haynes) and an attacking mid-fielder (Johnson).. Both goals came from crosses (albeit one was a corner). In the first half we tried hard, but were a bit one-dimensional (getting very crowded as we constantly played through the middle). We also looked a bit shakey at the back first half. Second half, we had more width, were less predictable, and WBA couldn't handle it.
Well done GJ for changing things at half time, and well done the AG faithful who cheered the lads home.
Now that's what I call entertainment!
PS. To the list of players that got a rough time at the Gate, I'd add Clive Whitehead: a very talented winger. If memory serves, Whitehead got a lot of stick at various points.”