Zak Vyner was withdrawn before Bristol City produced their impressive second-half showing to comeback and draw against LeicesterGerhard Struber applauds the Bristol City fans after the Robins’ draw with Leicester(Image: Bristol City/ Rogan)

Gerhard Struber has provided a Zak Vyner update whilst detailing his half-time message to his Bristol City squad during their draw to Leicester City, with the Robins boss admitting his changes during the break were not entirely made by choice.

City came from behind to draw 2-2 with the Foxes at Ashton Gate on Wednesday evening, as second-half goals from Mark Sykes and Emil Riis ensured the Reds avoided slipping to back-to-back Championship defeats.

The Robins had left themselves with a mountain to climb after the opening 45 minutes against Marti Cifuentes’ side. Jordan Ayew handed Leicester the lead from the penalty spot after Scott Twine brought Stephy Mavididi down inside the area, before Bobby De Cordova-Reid doubled the advantage moments before stoppage time.

READ MORE: Spirited second-half showing sees Bristol City come from behind to secure Leicester City drawREAD MORE: Bristol City 2-2 Leicester City reaction: Riis pulls Robins level late on after Sykes strike

Struber’s side’s first-half performance meant some booed City as they made their way back down the tunnel at the break. However, with just a minute played of the second period, Sykes had halved the deficit with a right-footed shot from close range, a deficit which was overturned by Riis’ sixth of the season late on.

The reaction came after the City head coach had held an honest conversation with his players during the interval, which also saw Twine replaced by Sinclair Armstrong and Vyner by Neto Borges.

“We have to be really honest, this was a game like day and night,” Struber explained in his post-match press conference. “I would say, [the] first half was on a level that surprised me completely today. We needed, in the end, 45 minutes [so] that we realised how we have to play.

“The second half, of course, was on a completely different level. It was two teams on this gameday, on the field from Bristol City. Two brandings: a very sloppy, poor branding and a very attractive, typical Bristol City branding that makes the difference and can bring opponents, on this level and this quality, under pressure.

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“It’s a shame today that we do not have the win in the pocket [that would be possible] when we would be from the first second until the last second on a level like the second half.

“At the half-time, of course, we spoke honestly, and this was [about how] we had to change everything to jump back into our world of football,” he added. “The boys know what we have to do [so] that we bring the opponent under pressure. We did it completely in the second half.

“I would say I was clear [about] what we had to change,” the head coach continued. “Also, we have the one or other personnel change. First of all, with Zaky, this was also [because] he felt a little bit in the knee.

“He was not 100 per cent ready after 25 minutes, so this was also important to save him and protect him [from] maybe an injury. We don’t know exactly what’s going on. The other one, I felt that we needed a different power on the last line, and I would say Sincs, he showed us again a really good performance.”

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Vyner, who has started every game for the Robins this term, didn’t seem to be quite himself in the opening exchanges against the Foxes. In the lead-up to De Cordova-Reid’s goal, the defender was unable to keep up with Abdul Fatawu as the Ghanaian winger burst down the right flank.

Having got the better of both the 28-year-old and Anis Mehmeti, the Leicester wideman picked out the former City star who calmly slotted beyond Radek Vitek and into the back of the net.

When asked by Bristol Live if the defender would need a scan, the City boss replied, “I don’t know. I have to speak right now with the medical team, this could be [a] yes, but on the same time, Zaky is a man.

“He can handle pain, and hopefully he’s ready for the next [game].”

READ MORE: What Gerhard Struber doesn’t want to do in January window as Bristol City aim to improve squadREAD MORE: Neto Borges addresses Bristol City future with Middlesbrough loanee ‘open’ to permanent switch