Johnson reveals fast start was part of the plan as Robins down Swans

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Bristol City coach Lee Johnson revealed his side’s fast start was a pre-planned tactic after they secured a 1-0 win at Swansea thanks to Andreas Weimann’s strike after just 29 seconds.

Weimann bundled home a cross from Niclas Eliasson for what proved to be the only goal at the Liberty Stadium.

The Robins ended Swansea’s unbeaten Championship run with a deserved victory, leaving Johnson to celebrate his team’s first win on Welsh soil since 2010.

“It was a genuine tactic to try and get at Swansea early and disrupt them,” he said. “I’m not saying they were complacent, but we got the goal and that’s credit to the lads.

“It’s very tough to come to a place like this and win and we could have put the game to bed on three or four occasions. It’s only three points, but we showed a lot of people what we are about.

“Our team ethic means we are greater than the sum of our parts. There are a lot of experts in football who write people off, but we will keep our heads down and work hard.”

Weimann’s fifth goals in as many games this season since joining from Derby for £2million in the summer did the damage for the visitors and he – as well as winger Eliasson – were excellent.

“Andreas has found a real home here. He hasn’t played through the middle for a long time, but that was a big reason for him coming here and I wanted to give him that opportunity,” Johnson said.

“I remember when we were trying to negotiate with Derby, I said ‘For God’s sake, don’t tell them we’re signing him as a striker!’

“The last time he played up front through the middle he scored 12 goals for Aston Villa in the Premier league.”

Swansea were shocking in the first half and failed to have a shot on target as they turned around behind following Weimann’s early strike.

The Robins should have been further clear, but Eliasson, Weimann and substitute Callum O’Dowda all had efforts saved by Swansea goalkeeper Erwin Mulder.

Home boss Graham Potter responded with two half-time substitutions as the woeful Tom Carroll and Joel Asoro were replaced by Jefferson Montero and Matt Grimes.

Swansea improved after the break and had chances through Bersant Celina, Grimes, and Potter’s third substitution Leroy Fer.

Weimann showed his commitment by clearing a Mike van der Hoorn effort header off the line and it was not the home side’s day.

Potter, who has confirmed the signing of Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers on a season-long loan, said: “It wasn’t the best of starts, that’s the first thing to say. That can happen in football, but it’s disappointing and we have to improve on that.

“I thought we recovered quite well for 20 or 30 minutes although we were not quite at our normal level. At the back end of the first half Bristol were dangerous and could have added to their lead.

“In the second half we needed to change things. We were a little bit flat in the first half – it was one of those days where it wasn’t quite happening for us.

“Jeff and Matt came on and helped us. We got a bit better without being totally convincing.

“We huffed and puffed and got a bit better as the second half wore on, but the reality is we didn’t do enough to get anything from the game. Credit to Bristol City, they were the better team.”