There's no excuse for abuse, says Bristol City boss
Late goals have cost Bristol City 10 points already this season, writes Nathan Jones.
Manager Gary Johnson has pledged his side will work "morning, noon and night" to rectify the problem after Reading claimed a 1-1 draw from Ashton Gate with a stoppage-time equaliser.
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City have conceded 10 goals after the 80th minute but Johnson remains unhappy with the "abuse" he and his colleagues received after the Robins failed to end their two-month-long search for a home win.
"Unfortunately, we have got some people out there that don't mind being abusive, let's say. Nobody has got an excuse for that," he said.
"We just have, as a club on and off the field, to keep going. We have to try to improve it when we can and we will. We will work morning, noon and night to improve it and see whether we can.
"The only improvement you can make is to make sure the opposition don't get the play at the end of the game that gives them the opportunity to score."
For what it is worth, had City not conceded the 10 late goals they would be second in the Coca-Cola Championship table.
The Robins' display was one of the worst of the season at home with City continually giving the ball away and conceding ground to opponents who had lost their manager earlier in the week.
Johnson admitted Reading deserved at least a point but insisted the late concessions are not down to a lack of fitness.
"It feels like we have lost even though we haven't," he said. "It is another home game where we have let in a late goal.
"We have played only 22 games, we have got a lot of work to do. We didn't look good enough on the day and we have got to improve.
"Late goals are late goals and once it becomes a little bit of a habit that is when people get a bit nervous, isn't it?
"We defended very well and we had to because there was 'hundreds' of opportunites for them. There were lots of crosses.
"We don't let in that many goals but when we do it is late on. It certainly isn't a fitness issue – if we don't score the second goal we let the opposition have too much play in the last five or ten minutes.
"Of course we are down but that doesn't mean we don't go back to the training ground and try to improve and improve. At the moment when things aren't going well then that brings out the people who do want to moan and be down.
"Confidence comes with winning football matches. We get a chance to put it right on Saturday and on Monday and we didn't deserve much against Reading but hopefully we will get what we deserve against QPR and Watford."
Johnson's medical staff will assess midfielder Marvin Elliott this week. The former Millwall man limped off with a twisted knee.
19 Comments
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by jamie, Olde City
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 1:16AM
“ONLY RED
Actually I understand Mr. Curbishley has intentions of finding a home with easy access to Muller Road!!”
by Trevor, Bristol
Tuesday, December 22 2009, 12:40AM
“That's the problem with City fans, no ambition.
Happy being a mid table team.
Yeak we'll stick with Johnson, two years ago his team were top of the league.
They've been rubbish ever since.
FACT
Bring on Curbishley and show some ambition.”
by James, Olde City
Monday, December 21 2009, 11:52PM
“COME ON YOU REDS
Gary Johnson is right when he says there is no need to be abusive towards himself and the team.
As Bristol City supporters we are all entitled to have our opinion. Gary Johnson is not stupid he must understand our frustrations. The fact that we are so passionate about our football club is a challenging task for him to give us success.
We all know we are not perfoming and for some we can see where, our so we think! Lets have our say but respect the Manager, he`s got us this far and like he says judge him over the season, even if we disagree with him.
Its always healthy to have your say if its constructive, but dont get personal with the man.”
by graham tisbury saint, tisbury
Monday, December 21 2009, 11:16PM
“leave gary alone you lot could not do any better.”
by Trevor Chin, Ashton
Monday, December 21 2009, 11:01PM
“To Gary Orr:
Nonsense.”
by Trevor Chin, Ashton
Monday, December 21 2009, 10:57PM
“Have a little patience all you nay-saying boo-boys. We're halfway through the season and 3 points shy of sixth spot. Not exactly Championship winning form - but equally not a bad position to build on in the latter half of the season.
The 3-5-2 worked well at the start of the season and GJ is right to keep trying it. If Orr and MacAllister are both playing well we've got more of a chance of getting the ball into the box, and it's a lot more attractive to watch decisive wing-back football than a crowded central midfield. It'd be quite easy for a team of our limited capabilities to fall back on old habits and just look to lump the ball forward, but it's when we keep it on the deck and play round the opposition as opposed to through them, that we play our most attractive and successful football.
Top of the list for the January sales would be a quality centre-back - Nyatanga is too young and needs more time, McCombe is unfortunately not up to the job at this level and Fonts will take a while to get back to the form we know him form. Second would be a decent left-sided defender who can be creative going forward. If we shore up at the back and stop conceding the late goals, we're back on track to be pushing for the top 6 in the latter half of the season - right where we need to be.
Oh and before you all say 'Johnson out' again - remember this. We are not going to attract anyone better than Gary. FACT.”
by Gary Orr, Bristol
Monday, December 21 2009, 10:25PM
“You read it here first, but Alan Curbishley has been looking at homes in the Bristol area.
Wonder why?
in Sexstone we trust.”
by Alan, BS3
Monday, December 21 2009, 8:46PM
“Deano, ivan the red, Phil and sam all of you are spot on.....
Gary do the right thing by BCFC and get lost, oh and take inch high with you!!
And you keep going about where we were 4 years ago gary, well im a season ticket holder of 23 years and i have never seen such rubbish football as you dish up!!”
by Sam, BS1
Monday, December 21 2009, 8:06PM
“Rubbish, yet another late goal.
Does Johnson know anything about fitness levels?
No he doesn't.
FACT
Johnson out, Johnson out, Johnson out...
This sticky patch has lasted nearly 2 years.”
by Nathan, Bridgwater
Monday, December 21 2009, 6:22PM
“Phil, you took the words out of my mouth, johnson's had his time, took us as far as he can (and I appreciate how far that is) and we're getting worse. The thing is Johnson has been manager at sides like Newmarket Town, Cambridge, Kettering, Latvia and Yeovil, sides with no pressure form fans and no he's proven how far out of his depth he is.”