Johnson hails win he hopes will reignite Bristol City’s play-off bid

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by PA

Lee Johnson hailed his much-changed Bristol City team for a 3-1 victory over Birmingham he hopes will reignite their Championship play-off challenge.

After seeing his side fail to register a shot in their previous two games, the head coach made a major shake-up, fielding two big strikers, moving top scorer Bobby Reid to the left of midfield and switching Joe Bryan from left-back to the right of the defence.

It worked to good effect as Reid grabbed his 20th goal of the season and strikes from Marlon Pack and substitute Matty Taylor brought only a fourth victory since Boxing Day.

Johnson said: “We needed to be bold and I think the selection reflected that. But we also required a change of attitude after letting our fans down in the last two games.

“That was the Bristol City I know and want to see. I am sure some eyebrows were raised by moving our top scorer to the left and asking Joe Bryan to play on the right, but both responded positively.

“Bobby has now got 20 goals, which is a terrific personal achievement in his first season as a striker, while Joe had the opportunity to cut in onto his favoured left foot to deliver shots and crosses.

“We probably need to win at least three of our last four games to make the play-offs, but this could be the result and performance to give us fresh impetus.”

Midfielder Pack fired Bristol in front after 12 minutes with a right-footed free kick from 25 yards and it was 2-0 after 27 minutes when Famara Diedhiou nodded down a Bryan cross into the path of Reid, who hammered home a low drive on the half-volley.

Lukas Jutkiewicz put Birmingham back in the game seven minutes later, beating Frank Fielding at his near post with a low left-footed shot from the right side of the box.

But Taylor settled the outcome after 84 minutes, sliding to convert Reid’s low cross on his return to action after a long injury lay-off.

Birmingham paid for missed chances, particularly in the first half and manager Garry Monk admitted: “It was an opportunity lost.

“Bristol won because they were more clinical than us in front of goal. Some of the chances we missed were really clear opportunities.

“Other results have gone for us and we are in the same position as before the game, with one less match to go. But we don’t want to rely on other teams.

“We should have got more points from our last two games. We can talk all we like about performances, but at this stage of the season it is results that count.

“Our striking options have been reduced, but we have to be better in front of goal and it’s something we will work on in training this week.”