With weather more akin to watching a game at La Rosaleda [Malaga CF], a capacity crowd, an emphatic win at Bramall Lane on the opening day of the season and a predictable midweek cup success against MK Dons, the scene was surely set for a first home league win against Championship newcomers Charlton Athletic?
No, this is Bristol City and in this, my 59th season of supporting, I can safely say based upon experience that we rarely fail to disappoint on such occasions and Saturday proved no exception.
While City did not lose, their well-drilled opponents could well have won a game that ended without a goal.
City’s coach Gerhard Struber is enjoying the honeymoon period of his time in charge. He has already endeared himself to the fans with his communication skills and generally cheerful disposition but he is learning what his squad is, or is not, capable of and on Saturday he was outwitted by his Charlton counterpart as City ran out of steam long before the end, although his substitutions played a part in that.
Once the industrious Adam Randell had been taken off with half an hour remaining, to be replaced by the clearly unfit [for Struber’s all-action style] Max Bird, City’s chances of all three points looked remote.
When he brought on messieurs Armstrong and Mayulu with 10 minutes remaining, it was, in some fans’ minds, perhaps a signal to the board that he needs more firepower up front to support Emil Riis and perhaps, with the benefit of hindsight, it was a mistake not to give Nahki Wells one more year rather than let him move to Luton.
Four points from two games is fine and if it had been secured with a draw at Sheffield United followed by an emphatic win at home, the mood would be brighter than it is.
We are sat in fourth place but to be quite honest, any thoughts on how this season is going to pan out are best put away until the second international break in October and then we’ll know for sure if Struber can produce the goods.