Bristol Live’s stand-out talking points after Bristol City slipped to back-to-back defeats as they were beaten by Blackburn Rovers at Ashton GateBristol City head coach Gerhard Struber is dealing with a hefty injury list at this moment in time(Image: Photo by Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bristol City and Gerhard Struber entered their clash with Blackburn Rovers with the aim of putting right the weekend’s wrongs. By the time the full-time whistle was blown at Ashton Gate on Tuesday evening, however, BS3 was a cauldron of frustration, with those in the stands disheartened by a second successive defeat.

Had it been as dramatic as what had unfolded in Stoke a matter of days prior? Absolutely not, but in some ways, that made it even more irritating. This was a game that the Robins should have been more than capable of winning, but instead, they left the field having barely laid a glove on their opponents.

Unlike the weekend’s trip to the Potteries, this felt like a match City had lost, rather than one their opposition had won. At one end of the pitch, Struber’s side were too easily cut apart, and at the other, they never looked like finding a leveller, let alone a winner.

The opening 45 minutes had all the makings of a goalless stalemate. Blackburn were unable to take the chances they created as the Robins rode their luck at the back, until Yuki Ohashi turned home what proved to be the winner in the fifth minute of injury time.

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Ryoya Morishita had broken beyond Haydon Roberts and skipped past a sliding Zak Vyner challenge before lashing a low cross into his Japanese compatriot, who could not miss from a matter of yards out. It was the one real moment of quality in the contest, and it proved to be the knockout blow.

For a brief period, the Reds returned from the break energised; however, before they could take advantage of their recently acquired momentum, it had faded, and the second half descended into a frustrating watch. City had plenty of the ball, but could do little with it as Rovers did everything they could to see the game out – much to the irritation of the majority of the fans packed into Ashton Gate.

In truth, the final exchanges felt nothing short of ridiculous as Blackburn wasted time in any which way they could think of. Although that played a part in the mood as the players made their way around to clap those who had remained in their seats, it was the events of the last hour and a half that had rubbed most fans the wrong way.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, City have another chance to put things right in a little over 48 hours. Before attention turns to Watford, however, here are the stand-out talking points from the Robins’ 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers…

Flat and chanceless Bristol City showing raises attacking concerns

Before we dive into the intricate details of Tuesday night’s game, it is worth assessing Bristol City’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers as what it was: a flat and chanceless display from the Robins – the sort of which we haven’t really seen under Gerhard Struber all too often.

You’d have been forgiven for expecting fireworks when Anis Mehmeti broke onto a Neto Borges pass in the first minute, only to see his shot deflected behind for a corner, but the Reds’ display never quite met that early standard it had hinted at during those opening exchanges.

Defensively, City limited Blackburn to a couple of good chances, and Rovers were able to produce the one moment of quality needed to claim all three points when Yuki Ohashi fired home from close range late in the first half. At the other end, however, Struber’s boys didn’t muster a single shot on target in the entire contest, registering an xG of just 0.52.

If you think back to the ‘opportunities’ the Robins had, you will likely be left scratching your head. Barring a Ross McCrorie header that landed on the roof of the net in the second half and a Rob Dickie effort which was watched well wide of the post, the Red’s 50 per cent of possession led to very little.

Ross McCrorie reacts during Bristol City’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers(Image: Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

In the same manner that City’s opening day thrashing of Sheffield United was incredibly encouraging because of the attacking quality on show, Tuesday evening’s display will have raised concerns because of the bluntness that surrounded everything the Reds did in the final third.

Before their trip to Ashton Gate, Blackburn had conceded 17 goals in 12 games, but in the West Country, Balazs Toth’s – and later Aynsley Pears’ – clean sheet never looked in any real danger. Regardless of any outstanding circumstances, that is worrying from a City perspective against a side who have been in and around the relegation zone for so much of the season so far.

If you take away the seven goals scored over the course of the Robins’ impressive home wins over Hull City and Southampton, Struber’s side have found the net on just four occasions in six games in BS3.

When they’re at their best, as they were against the Tigers and the Saints, they’re capable of putting teams to the sword on their own patch. However, the evidence suggests that getting the ball in the back of the net is likely going to be their biggest issue at home when things aren’t going quite as well.

When it rains, it pours as Bristol City’s injury dominoes continue to fall

The fact that it feels as if I have written about a new Bristol City injury in almost every verdict I have penned so far this season almost perfectly sums up the situation the Robins find themselves in currently. The Reds are in the middle of a snowballing fitness crisis at this moment in time, and as issues continue to mount, it could well define their campaign.

Mark Sykes and Neto Borges became the latest names added to the absentee list against Blackburn Rovers as both players were forced off the field with separate issues. Borges’ withdrawal was more of a precaution, with the Brazilian complaining of some tightness in his calf – which City opted not to risk – but Sykes’ issue was much more serious. The Ireland international headed straight to the hospital, having been left with a gash on his shin.

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Throw in the fact that we now know Rob Atkinson will be sidelined until Christmas, at least, and there are a total of 10 first team players on the treatment table – and it must be one big table – at this moment in time.

Now, it is only fair that I emphasise the fact that Gerhard Struber has not used the injury list as an excuse once this term and is of the opinion, like most fans, that performances should be better regardless of who is or isn’t available. He may be frustrated, but he certainly isn’t ducking the blame.

However, the Robins are now in a position where their frankly ridiculous situation is not only meaning that key players are missing matches, but their absence is also increasing the chances of further names being ruled out. The likes of Borges, Atkinson, and, to a lesser degree, Sykes have been much more likely to pick up issues now than they were in August, as Struber hasn’t been able to rest and rotate them as often due to the lack of options.

The issue with such a predicament is that when you then lose the above players as well – and don’t benefit from the return of your longer-term absentees – your options become even further limited, thereby increasing the workload of the fit members of your squad. Before you know it, what started as a couple of injuries in midfield spirals into a snowball that, at the moment, has the power to throw City’s play-off push off course this term.

Neto Borges was withdrawn early in Bristol City’s defeat to Blackburn Rovers(Image: Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

“This is the domino effect,” Struber told Bristol Live on his side’s current predicament. “When you have players on the field [who] should need maybe a little bit more of a break, and then something happens; always something happens.

“The risk for injuries, at the moment, is, of course, a little bit higher. We know why, but I don’t want to moan and make this topic bigger than it is.”

Put simply, Struber and his players need reinforcements sooner rather than later. Their results against Birmingham, Southampton, and Norwich showed this restricted group can win matches and grind out results, but the last few days have demonstrated the fact that they will not be able to do so week in and week out with such limited numbers.

Gerhard Struber faces questions as Bristol City’s fringe players called upon

While all that we have stated above remains true, Bristol City’s predicament isn’t going anywhere before Friday night’s trip to Watford. Because of that, and the manner of the displays against both Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, Gerhard Struber and his coaching staff are going to have some big questions to answer over the coming days.

As mentioned at the top of this verdict, the Robins didn’t produce the moment of quality needed to claim anything against Valerien Ismael’s side, in an attacking sense, and at the other end of the pitch, they were far too easily broken down. Before Yuki Ohashi’s opener, Rovers could have and perhaps should have already taken the lead, with some poor finishing and good work from Radek Vitek the only thing keeping the deadlock intact.

On his first start of the season, Haydon Roberts was too often beaten – including for the goal – as the left-sided member of City’s back three. George Tanner similarly had a fair few shaky moments, whilst no one in red and white truly stood out for good reason.

Yes, that will in part be down to the injuries, but the last two games would suggest this current way of playing is not how the Reds will pick up wins, at least with the players currently available to Struber. It may be easier said than done, but perhaps now is the time to adapt things to fit those who remain.

The Robins would benefit from having Zak Vyner’s pace back in defence, but such a switch would then leave the question of who partners Adam Randell in the middle of the park? With no Mark Sykes and potentially no Borges, who starts at wing-back? Ross McCrorie is the natural option, but can he play another full 90 so soon after Tuesday’s game?

Are any of the academy players ready and able to step into the starting line-up? Is two days long enough to implement and become comfortable with a new formation and system whilst also attempting to recover? Should Struber opt to try something different with such a quick turnaround?

These are all questions that will likely be running through the City head coach’s mind. You will all have your own thoughts on what the solution to the current problem is, but in all honesty, Struber’s decision is the only one that matters in this scenario.

Put simply, the Robins’ individual displays against Blackburn in midweek will have left the Austrian with even more questions than answers, which you wouldn’t have thought was possible after the defeat to Stoke.

Win at Watford and the mood changes completely

Let me try to end on a slightly optimistic note, as the bulk of this verdict, and the mood around Ashton Gate feels rather negative at this moment in time.

Let’s not kid ourselves, Bristol City’s last two performances and results have been as uninspiring as anything supporters have seen under Gerhard Struber so far. While that cannot be changed now, the feeling amongst supporters will be vastly different should the Reds manage to claim all three points against Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday evening.

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“This will not be an easy game in Watford,” Struber explained at Ashton Gate on Tuesday. “We have to do everything so that everyone has the chance to come on this roof and do it again on a good level. Friday is the next chance, and then the block could look in a really good way.”

Should they get the better of the Hornets, City will have claimed 12 of a possible 18 points available during the block of games between the October and November international breaks. Considering the fact they’ve played Norwich City, Southampton, and Birmingham in that spell – who most expected to be challenging at the top end of the table this term – that would be a good, but not quite great, haul from those six games.

Of course, pulling off such a result at Vicarage Road won’t be easy. Javi Gracia’s side have lost just once at home in the league so far this term and come into Friday evening’s game off the back of a win over Middlesbrough and a draw with Ipswich Town. As the Reds’ trip to Stoke last week proved, however, such records can quite easily be broken in this rollercoaster of a division.

I understand that the concern for the majority of supporters will be the fact that it is incredibly hard to see how City will be able to find a way to beat Watford, given their current form and predicament. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to alleviate such concerns, and this will be the sort of evening where Struber really earns his corn.

The Robins boss and his players have the ability to shift the mood back towards one of optimism and hope on Friday. If they don’t manage to do so, it will feel like a long international break.

OPINION

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