Bristol Live picks out the stand-out talking points after Bristol City stretched their winless run to four matches against Birmingham City
07:00, 26 Apr 2026
Bristol City forward Sam Bell shields the ball against Birmingham City(Image: Andy Fitzsimons)
259 days after they watched Bristol City kick off the campaign with a win over Sheffield United, the Reds faithful, bathed in the Midlands sun, packed into an away end for the final time this season at St Andrew’s on Saturday afternoon.
While the overhead conditions matched those of that August evening at Bramall Lane, the scene at the full-time whistle was different. There were no fist bumps, no chants long into the night. Instead, the City squad made their way over to applaud the fans before heading down the tunnel.
The hour and a half that had preceded such a scene on the field hadn’t managed to meet the highs of that season-opener in the Steel City. Rather than impose themselves on their hosts in an eye-catching, entertaining way, the Robins had unravelled in a manner that proved costly.
Such an outcome seemed unlikely in the opening exchanges, until Cam Pring conceded a free-kick on the left wing. In a fashion that appeared all too easy, the ball was swung onto the right foot of Phil Neumann, and like a striker, the defender volleyed into the top right corner.
READ MORE: Cam Pring to undergo surgery as Roy Hodgson issues update after Bristol City’s Birmingham lossREAD MORE: Birmingham City 2-1 Bristol City reaction: Horvat goal not enough for Hodgson’s Reds to draw
To concede in such a way was a blow, but at 1-0, the Reds were by no means down and out. When, on the half-hour mark, however, Jhon Solis latched onto a miscued Sam Morsy pass on the edge of the area, before slotting home, a comeback seemed the least likely of outcomes.
The Robins dug in after the restart, and thanks to a handful of impressive Radek Vitek saves, garnered a sliver of hope heading into the closing exchanges. Any remaining optimism developed further when, having been brought down inside the penalty area, Tomi Horvat scored his first goal in City colours from the spot.
For a matter of minutes, what had seemed impossible for much of the last 90 minutes threatened to become reality. Before anyone could truly begin to believe, though, that aforementioned whistle was blown, and Hodgson’s side’s winless run was stretched to four games.
Before our attention turns to the final outing of the campaign, here are our stand-out talking points from the Robins’ 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City…
Bristol City errors undo Robins as consistent inconsistency remains
Given the lift provided by Tuesday evening’s draw at Southampton, the type of draw that felt closer to a win than a defeat, the majority of Bristol City fans will have travelled to St Andrew’s optimistic that the Reds had a chance of claiming a result.
Of course, Birmingham City’s impressive record at home – only Coventry City and Ipswich Town have picked up more points on their own patch this term – partnered with their three-match unbeaten run always meant that if Blues were to truly hit their best levels, it would be hard for the Robins to come out on top.
Unfortunately, it felt like an afternoon where it was less so the hosts’ quality that got them over the line, but more the errors made by the Reds.
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Yes, Phil Neumann’s finish for the opening goal was superb, but he had the freedom of the penalty area from which to beat Radek Vitek, as Neto Borges appeared to lose him under the crossed free-kick.
While Chris Davies will, no doubt, suggest that his side’s press forced the mistake for the second goal, Jhon Sollis was only able to find the back of the net because of the error made by Sam Morsy. Had the midfielder got his pass right, it would have been a passage of play banished to the far reaches of everyone in attendance’s memory.
Unfortunately, such errors – and a lack of quality in the attacking third – ensured that City suffered a defeat that underpinned their consistent inconsistency this season.
Since Roy Hodgson took interim charge last month, the Reds have won twice, drawn twice and lost twice, claiming eight of a possible 18 points available. Such a fact means that, so far, the 78-year-old has secured an average of 1.3 points per game – the same rate managed by Gerhard Struber prior to his sacking.
(Image: Getty Images)
While yes, structurally and emotionally, Hodgson’s interim tenure has provided an uplift, the same issues that hampered his predecessor remain and that has been reflected in recent results. Had it not been for ‘Pick of the Match’ displays from Vitek over Easter, the change of head coach may have had little measurable impact in terms of the league table.
Such a claim is not made with the intention of undermining Hodgson. The former England boss is far too experienced and highly regarded for that to ever be my aim. Instead, I am just looking to emphasise the fact that there may be issues where work, beyond the appointment of a new manager, is required this summer for there to be significant, recognisable change.
Saturday was perhaps the clearest demonstration of that since the March international break.
Bristol City auditions continue, but judges have yet to be named
With his team selection against both Southampton and Birmingham City this week, Roy Hodgson has – self-admittedly – opted to give those who have recently been on the fringes of the Bristol City squad an opportunity to show their value.
For the likes of Sam Bell and Delano Burgzorg, Championship starts have been few and far between since they both arrived – or in Bell’s case, returned – to Ashton Gate in January. In the space of the last few days, they have been handed two and, if we’re honest, have produced mixed auditions.
Delano Burgzorg in action for Bristol City vs Southampton
At St Mary’s in midweek, both forwards looked lively and promising, particularly Bell, who took his tally to four Championship goals for the season with a brace. At St Andrew’s, on the other hand, neither player was able to leave their mark on proceedings, with the game, particularly in the final third, feeling as if it passed them by.
In normal circumstances, such displays would shape opinions, both good and bad, in the dugout and in the boardroom, about what the future, particularly this summer, will hold. Such thoughts would also, no doubt, begin to emerge around Radek Vitek, Neto Borges, Mark Sykes, Sam Morsy and George Earthy, all of whom are City players until this summer, but no longer.
Of course, Hodgson, Charlie Boss, Richard Scudamore and the Lansdown family will have been gathering such thoughts over the course of the last month or so. However, perhaps the two most important people at the club leading into next season, the yet-to-be-appointed sporting director and the yet-to-be-appointed head coach, have not yet had the opportunity to do so.
When that is the case, the question, ‘How can decisions be taken on such players?’ is a fair one to raise. Bell, Morsy and Borges may have impressed under Hodgson and won over the interim boss, but that doesn’t mean that his successor will want to use a portion of his playing budget to retain their services.
Similarly, we may not have seen the best of the likes of Earthy, Burgzorg and Sykes this term, but the new head coach and sporting director could feel that they are vital to any potential success next season.
Bristol City’s Mark Sykes in action against Norwich City at Ashton Gate(Image: Photo by Simon Galloway/Getty Images)
While things remain unclear, whatever decision the Robins take in the coming weeks over the group of players auditioning for their futures in south Bristol has the potential to be viewed as the wrong one when August rolls around. The same is true of the cohort entering the final year of their respective deals and, arguably, the majority of the squad.
Until those two key appointments are made, it is difficult to see how the Reds can hit the ground running in the off-season – something they had to navigate after Liam Manning’s exit this time 12 months ago.
With just a week of the campaign now remaining, at least half of that uncertainty, the head coach’s half, looks set to remain beyond the final day of the campaign.
Roy Hodgson talks planned beyond next week at Bristol City
While the question mark around just who his successor will be – and who they will be appointed by – looms, by this time next week, Roy Hodgson’s interim return to Bristol City will have come to an end. Well, it will have in terms of matches.
So far, the 78-year-old has made it abundantly clear in interviews and press conferences that his focus is on matches, training and the run-in, rather than the future of the Robins beyond the end of his tenure. Such an approach is only natural when you consider the fact that, from the moment he walked through the door, this has been a job for five weeks and nothing more.
Hodgson has reinforced such a school of thought when asked, over the course of the last month, if chances to provide feedback to those above him at the club on his early findings have been available. The response has always been something to the tune of, ‘That’s not my responsibility, but I’m happy and able to help if and when required.’
It seems as though such an opportunity will come after next weekend’s meeting with Stoke, though, as the former England boss explained in his post-match press conference at St Andrew’s.
Roy Hodgson’s press conference after Birmingham City vs Bristol City(Image: Andy Fitzsimons)
“My remit and my contract with Bristol City takes me through to next Saturday and a week beyond,” Hodgson explained, when asked about his future. “Because the people at the club would like to speak to me, in regard to my thoughts and maybe some things that they want to discuss.
“I’ve got two weeks, if you like, in that respect.”
It has perhaps been a point of contention amongst supporters that, despite the initial suggestion City would tap into Hodgson’s experience and knowledge to better their prospects, he has played down his involvement as an advisory or mentoring figure.
It may not have been constant over the course of the last five weeks – it was never likely to be while the sporting director search rumbled on – but his explanation on Saturday demonstrates that it is not a case of the full-time whistle blowing against the Potters and the interim head coach riding off into the sunset.
Bristol City have one more game to dictate early summer mood
It is very much a footballing cliché, but there is plenty of truth in the suggestion that in this game, you’re only as good as your last result. As supporters and people involved in football, we are naturally fickle and due to the emotional element of following your team up and down the country for nine months of the year, opinions do change on a week-by-week basis.
It is likely, therefore, that for much of the next six days leading into Bristol City’s final-day clash with Stoke City at Ashton Gate, the Robins faithful will be rather downbeat. Such a feeling is only natural after the performance and result against Birmingham City this weekend.
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Fortunately, with next Saturday’s visit of the Potters, Roy Hodgson’s side have a chance to flip the script once more. Win and perform well in front of what will be a large Ashton Gate crowd, and few on the BS3 concourse will spend the bank holiday weekend discussing the events of the trip to St Andrew’s.
Lose, however, and the tone will be set, not just for the long weekend, but for the early stages of the off-season. With the campaign and Hodgson’s tenure coming to a close, the Reds will only be as good as their result against Stoke for the next three months.
Of course, because of the vacancies in and around Ashton Gate at this current moment in time, the undercurrent of frustration that has been looming for much of the calendar year so far, will no doubt remain win, lose or draw.
What happens on the field of play, however, will likely determine whether talk of such issues dominates the conversation between supporters in the opening weeks of the summer or instead continues to bubble under the surface.
Win, and the demand for a sporting director, a new head coach, transfers and investment is probably delayed slightly, even if only for a matter of days or weeks. Lose and therefore, fail to win any of your last five games – all of which have pitted you against teams with nothing to play for, outside of Southampton – and fan unrest will be a certainty.
It may not have much bearing on the table or similar matters, but the visit of Stoke does, therefore, still hold a sense of importance.
OPINION
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