We must show more resilience with our defending, says Bristol City boss
BRISTOL City boss Derek McInnes is urging his players to defend with more resilience against Millwall at Ashton Gate tonight.
Yet to keep a clean sheet in the npower Championship this season, the Robins have shipped 16 goals in eight games. Only Sheffield Wednesday, Peterborough and Millwall have conceded more and McInnes knows his team must tighten up at the back if City's new-found attacking potential is to be translated into a good haul of points.
-
Bristol City boss Derek McInnes
City again demonstrated their goalscoring prowess against Leeds United on Saturday, only to gift their opponents three soft goals and end up losing 3-2.
McInnes, pictured, said: "There was a lot of Saturday's performance to be pleased about, but all the positive aspects were overshadowed by the mistakes.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
"We have to limit those mistakes and show more resilience with our defending. If we can do that, and make sure we are strong at the back when asked questions, then we can get ourselves a foothold in the game, get the ball moving the way we want it and cause Millwall a lot of problems.
"It is not a balance (between attacking and defending), it is just a case of doing more as a team to defend our box. I don't think we have conceded too many goals from being too open and we are not conceding because we are being gung-ho or throwing caution to the wind.
"For me, we have to be more determined in one-on-one situations and more determined to keep the ball out of our box. And when the ball does go into the box, we have to make sure we impose ourselves on the situation with proper defending.
"I still want us to carry a goal threat, but, at the same time, I don't want us to be killing ourselves by giving away cheap goals."
Injuries are limiting the manager's options in defence and, given that left-backs Greg Cunningham, George Elokobi and Joe Bryan are all sidelined, McInnes may be forced to start with the back four that finished against Leeds.
That will mean Richard Foster switching to the left-side of defence and Louis Carey coming into the starting line-up to cover for him at right-back.
Alternatively, McInnes could recall Mark Wilson to play at right-back, redeploy Foster at left-back and move Carey into central defence to partner Liam Fontaine in an attempt to combat the physical presence of Lions forwards Andy Keogh and Chris Wood.
McInnes is appealing to the fans, some of whom have aimed criticism at the defence, to get behind his team.
He said: "No matter what the back four is, I think it is important there is no hang-up from the crowd. There should be no finger pointing and we need them to really get behind people. We know we can do better in certain situations, but they have not become bad players overnight.
"I want the fans to get behind them, because that is the only way we will work our way through this.
"The best way to get confidence in our defending is by keeping clean sheets and winning games and the fans can play a part in that."
McInnes will check on Marvin Elliott's troublesome groin before naming his starting line-up, but the game will almost certainly come too soon for Cole Skuse, who is recovering from an ankle injury sustained at Peterborough two weeks ago.
Comments
by redferryman1
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 6:20PM
“How long have we said that Fontaine, along with Nyatanga, has been a defensive liability for us? They persistently display hesitancy, poor decision-making, and dreadful distribution from defence. We would not have survived last season's debacle had we depended solely on these two as part of the team's defensive unit.
I remain totally disillusioned that Fontaine (and Nyatanga) has continued to enjoy the confidence of this manager, and the last two incumbents. We have been wilfully profligate in 'shipping-in' avoidable goals so far this season. Thank goodness we have popped-in a few more goals at the other end.”
by piledriver
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 5:28PM
“Henderson has been appearing as a sub and whilst Keogh is clever he sin't qucke or physcal.Wood will have a point to prove and could be the dangerman.
Hopefully we'll outscore them, so I'm going for City 3-1”
by piledriver
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 4:12PM
“I don't want to see Foster at LB, but with THREE others injured, choices are limited and he's marginally better there than Tango or Fonts, so it might have to happen.
A defence with Carey-Fonts-M.Wilson & Foster would have about 1,500 appearances between them, so you'd hope with even average help in midfield they'd be better.
Without Skuse I hope Elliott will be available.”
by Marksy
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 3:32PM
“I've got one of those feelings for tonight. Darius Henderson is a decent striker and puts himself about. He'll make mincemeat of our defenders if they perform as they have for the past few games. Let's hope it not gonna be another three points down the drain.”
by Red_Emerson
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 3:00PM
“It needs to be Carey and Nyatanga tonight.
Fontaine is playing like, it is a Sunday kick around in the park and not showing any commitment to defending at all costs, which is necessary.
He is not the sort of player, who should be captaining the side.
Del needs to show his ruthless side and show the players, that nobody has a guaranteed place, in the side.”
by BinRelegated
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 2:31PM
“Well said WurzelM, I also think Fontaine is a liability and have done for years. In a solid defence full of leaders (such as when we had Orr, Macca and Carey) he was carried but now his short comings have been exposed. I have also been lambasted on here for saying such things but now more and more people are agreeing with me. I think we should have signed McManus, who is a left footer and would have complimented and brought out the best in James Wilson.
I understand Fonts was the main target for McInnes "hairdryer" on Saturday and rightfully so.
Fontaine has had his chance and should be dropped.
I hope this crisis is averted soon and a priority when the window opens in January must be to get a couple of quality defenders.”
by Wurzelm
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 2:14PM
“DMAC quotes "no finger pointing"...perhaps the main culprit for our inability to keep goals out i.e. Fontaine, needs to listen. As soon as a goal is shipped, that's the first thing he does, point at others even when he's the one to blame. Fontaine has always been a liability for me, easily turned, no pace, poor in the air and poor with the ball at his feet. Until he's out of the back four, we will continue to ship goals. DMAC needs to drop him, not Wilson.
Said it before, we should've signed Amougou.
Lets just hope we get a win regardless of who DMAC starts with but please Del, stary with Baldock !!! Still early days and time to fix the problems and nice for a change to see us looking a threat going forward.
COYR!!!!”
by Casualbutcher
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 12:09PM
“Fontaine is a liability without Carey. Bring Carey back into the fold and Fontaine is 5 times the player. Got to be Carey & Fontaine at the back tonight, with Mark Wilson in at right back. I won't say Foster for LB, as I think he is liablity wherever he plays.”
by andyyandyy
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 11:16AM
“How would bringing Carey in to replace James Wilson going to make us more physical against their strikers?”
by SGRED
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 9:41AM
“Del is the man lets get behind the team coyr!”