Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber opted to substitute Sinclair Armstrong midway through the second half of the Robins’ defeat to MillwallBristol City boss Gerhard Struber opted to substitute Sinclair Armstrong during the Reds’ defeat to Millwall(Image: Getty Images)

An addition at the top end of the pitch in the January transfer window would “help” Bristol City, Gerhard Struber has admitted, with the Reds boss explaining that the decision to substitute Sinclair Armstrong against Millwall was made in part to protect the forward.

Armstrong led the line on his own as City were beaten 2-1 by the Lions at The Den on Monday evening. Goals from Camiel Neghli and Macauley Langstaff, either side of Adam Randell’s second-half strike, ensured that the Robins would end 2025 outside of the play-off places.

Having fallen behind after 16 minutes, the Reds entered the break the better of the two sides before Randell’s first goal in red and white drew them level shortly after the restart. The midfielder’s right-footed effort kick-started a spell of intense pressure, which lasted for the next 20 minutes or so.

READ MORE: Gerhard Struber left frustrated as Bristol City told ‘special story’ in ‘painful’ Millwall lossREAD MORE: Millwall 2-1 Bristol City reaction: Langstaff secures win for Lions after Randell leveller

Despite the fact that Armstrong had played an important role during that period, Struber made the call to withdraw both the Irishman and Rob Atkinson on 66 minutes, with Emil Riis and Neto Borges introduced in their place.

Though that decision has since been questioned by some fans with the benefit of hindsight, the Robins boss felt such alterations were a necessity.

“Of course, this is also a situation that we have to change some players about our game plan,” the head coach told Bristol Live in his post-match press conference. “We play on the first next, and we have to rotate, but I would say the temperature was so high in this game, and this was not so easy to jump in this game for the subs today.

“But, we have to protect also Sinclair. We have to protect, also, I would say, especially Rob Atkinson, and this was not so easy today for the subs to jump in and be, from the first second, really helpful.”

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City’s need to protect both Armstrong and Riis has grown greater over the course of the last week or so due to recent updates surrounding fellow centre-forwards Fally Mayulu and Harry Cornick.

Monday’s clash with Millwall saw Cornick serve the second of a three-match suspension dealt to the Reds forward for his role in the melee with the Lions earlier in December, while Mayulu is set to be sidelined for the next four to six weeks, having sustained a quad injury ahead of the Robins’ Boxing Day win over West Brom.

Although neither player has been a regular under Struber, or throughout their careers at Ashton Gate for that matter, they are the only senior striking alternatives at the City’s disposal. With both players currently ruled out, youngsters Ephraim Yeboah and Olly Thomas instead sit behind Riis and Armstrong in the forward pecking order.

Bristol City forward Emil Riis reacts during the Robins’ defeat to Millwall(Image: EFL)

When asked if the absence of Mayulu and Cornick made it more challenging to manage both Armstrong and Riis, Struber replied, “Yes, of course. I would like [it] when we would have here more options. Options on a higher level [so] that we can make the difference with subs.

“Of course, we know what we have with Emil Riis, but sometimes it would be also perfect when we could play with two strikers, and especially in the end, it would be perfect when we have Riis and Armstrong on the field.”

Such a desire to add more quality to the Robins’ frontline was something that Struber made no secret of during the summer transfer window.

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In the days leading up to deadline day, the Robins boss was open about his aim to sign a new defender, which he got in the shape of Borges, and an attacking option, which never quite materialised.

With the winter window now just a matter of days away from opening, the Austrian has a clear view on what would aid his and the Robins’ striker challenge heading into the new year.

“Yes, this would help,” Struber simply told Bristol Live when asked if the Robins could do with another body at the top end of the field. “This would help.”

OPINION

OPINION