Bristol City

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

City chalked up the expected victory against Championship basement club Sheffield Wednesday at the weeken, but the atmosphere among the crowd was tense, particularly during the first half.

Why was this so for a side that would have finished the day in sixth position were it not for Wrexham's last-minute winner at QPR?

The fans were restless because, in their eyes, the club's hierarchy is showing zero ambition in investing in the squad to secure a play-off spot and go a step further than last season's creditable achievement, even though it ended in disappointment.

The restlessness is fuelled by the fact the club have had an £11m windfall by way of a profit share following Antoine Semenyo's move from Bournemouth to Manchester City.

There was also the boost of an unexpected £3.5m following Anis Mehmeti's move to Ipswich less than 48 hours after he had played against them in City's defeat at Portman Road.

The Albanian is out of contract in June and City could have found themselves receiving no income if he departed in the summer in such circumstances.

In addition to Mehmeti leaving, a further seven players have come off the weekly wage bill since Christmas with a number of loan moves.

Few fans would shed tears over any of the departures, such has been their impact on the pitch in a season that is over two-thirds complete.

Perhaps one exception was long-serving goalkeeper Max O'Leary, although on his debut for West Brom on Friday night, his error showed why perhaps an upgrade in this position was needed and has been so ably demonstrated by the impressive Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek.

With the transfer window open for just another seven days, all eyes are now on those in charge at Ashton Gate to see if they support Gerhard Struber, who is trying to be as tactful as possible in expressing his desire for reinforcements in the media.

Struber is still without long-term absentees Luke McNally, Max Bird and Joe Williams.

And following Mehmeti's departure, Struber might be ruing sanctioning both the Yu Hirakawa and Josh Stokes loan moves.

He certainly needs no fewer than two players who are ready for Championship football, not punts like Sinclair Armstrong and Fally Mayulu clearly were.

One of the goalscorers on Saturday was Sam Bell. Recalled from his moderately successful loan spell at Wycombe, he showed composure with his finish that condemned Wednesday to defeat and a general level of energy such that it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he were offered a new contract when we all thought he would be released in June.

One thing from Saturday's game that is worthy of mention is the applause from all around the stadium as Wednesday and City fans alike gave as Barry Bannan left the field.

Bannan has been a loyal player for more than 10 years at the Sheffield club and seems likely to be joining Millwall in the final phase of his career.

He always seemed to play well against us and was a player we may have coveted over the years. I think that applause from the City fans was a recognition of that.

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast, external

Blackburn Rovers have made an improved bid of £1.5m for Barnsley forward Reyes Cleary, with Bristol City also keeping an eye on the 21-year-old Englishman. (Alan Nixon - requires subscription), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

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Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said forward Sam Bell showed that the team can "believe in him" as he scored his first goal for the club in almost two years in the win against Sheffield Wednesday.

Bell returned to the Robins earlier this month after spending the first part of the campaign on loan at Wycombe Wanderers in League One where he scored six goals in 21 games.

The 23-year-old slotted in the second goal in a 2-0 win, 13 minutes after coming off the bench.

"[He was] really good in all ball moments, also his speed behind the backline. Very brave in some moments, exactly what I want to see from him, and it was also a promotion for himself today that we can believe in him," Struber told BBC Radio Bristol.

He added he had spoken to Bell about being "brave" rather than "nice".

"He has to show in this stadium that he is the right one for Bristol City and when he goes in the game it is not nice moments [but] combined moments, moments where we have something that we can count on.

"Today we can count a goal from him and this is what we need from a striker, from a player in the attacking area."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Bristol City will be favourites to end a three-match winless streak in the Championship when they host bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Wednesday's only league win of the season so far did come on the road but it was back in September when they won 2-0 at Portsmouth.

Since that day they have taken only seven points from a possible 63.

• Bristol City will be looking to complete just a third ever league double over Wednesday following the 1971-72 and 2007-08 campaigns after winning the reverse fixture 3-0 back in September last year.

• Wednesday have failed to score in any of their past three away league games against Bristol City, never before have the Owls failed to score in four in succession.

• Bristol City have won each of their past two league games against the two teams from Sheffield (United and Wednesday) and will be looking to win three in a season against them for just the second time after doing so in the 2007-08 campaign.

• Bristol City have failed to score in each of their past three league games, last having a longer run without a goal in February 2021 (4 games).

• Wednesday are winless in their past 21 league games, their longest ever run (D7 L14). It is also the fourth longest run without a win in a single second tier campaign after Cambridge United (31 in 1983-84), Barnsley (23 in 1952-53) and Darwen (27 in 1898-99).

Image source, Getty Images

Goalkeeper Max O'Leary said he was "honoured to have lived every young Bristol City fan's dream" as he left the club after 18 years to join West Bromwich Albion.

The 29-year-old was out of contract at the Robins this summer and had fallen down the pecking order behind on loan Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek this season after an ankle injury left him on the sidelines.

He joined Bristol City's academy at under-11 stage and went on to make 179 appearances, and played every minute of their Championship campaign last season when they reached the play-offs.

"After 18 incredible years at Bristol City, it's finally time for me to close this chapter. I started this journey as a boy, not knowing where it would take me, but I've loved every minute of it," O'Leary said.

"Thank you to all of the players I've shared a dressing room with. I've made amazing friends and memories along the way.

"To all the staff I've worked with, you have all played such a big part in helping me grow both on and off the pitch. From managers and coaches to everyone who works behind-the-scenes, thank you.

"And finally, to the supporters. You've been with me through all the highs and lows. Thank you for sharing so many amazing moments, ones I hope you'll cherish as much as I will.

"Bristol will always feel like home."

Image source, Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion are set to sign Bristol City goalkeeper Max O'Leary, reports BBC Radio WM.

The 29-year-old has played only five Championship matches for the Robins this season, keeping two clean sheets, and featured in a 2-1 win at The Hawthorns on Boxing Day.

He missed the start of the season having had ankle surgery after Bristol City's play-off semi-final defeat by Sheffield United in May, and has since lost the number one spot to Manchester United loanee Radek Vitek.

West Brom have alternated between goalkeepers Joe Wildsmith and Josh Griffiths this season but have already conceded eight goals in new boss Eric Ramsay's opening two games in charge.

Only Sheffield Wednesday (54) have conceded more than the Baggies' 43 goals in the Championship so far this season.

O'Leary could sign in time for West Brom's trip to Derby County on Friday (20:00 GMT) with a six-month deal on the table.

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All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

Premier League Wolves are the latest club to express an interest in signing Bristol City attacking midfielder Anis Mehmeti. The Albania international is out of contract at the end of the season. (Football Insider), external

Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Wednesday's gossip column here.

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber felt his team were lacking in vital areas as they lost at Ipswich Town.

Struber told BBC Radio Bristol:"We expected a tough game and higher quality from Ipswich, so I'm not surprised from them but at the same time, I missed sharpness, I missed ruthlessness, the typical energy from us.

"In the end the goals they scored were really cheap, the way we gifted them, and I saw so much space for us, so many moments when we could have created much more.

"We sometimes had too much respect for them and this is a shame. We have to always be on the front foot. We had to be brave as we could not lose here.

"In the critical moments we were not on the highest level you need."

David Pottier
Fan writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

As the January transfer window enters its latter stages, there is a general feeling of disappointment among Bristol City fans.

They had been hopeful that at least some of the money from the Antoine Semenyo sell-on might lead to a signing which would signal some degree of ambition from the owners to reach the play-offs for a second successive season.

The spark provided by any new addition to the squad that is better than what we already have is very much needed.

Saturday's bore draw against Oxford at the weekend saw a team performance that was abject, and that is being polite.

With perhaps one or two exceptions, no-one was on their 'A' game and were it not for a fine save by fit-again goalkeeper Radek Vitek in the dying minutes they would have come away with nothing.

City's form, like most teams in the top half of the table, is erratic, but if the 14 points from the last 10 games is not improved upon then last season's feat will not be matched.

I am predicting 73 points as the likely requirement to secure sixth position and so, to not be chasing a requirement to secure two points per game, City are going to need to have a run of three wins in succession pretty soon.

The signings in the window so far are welcomed by most City fans. Sam Morsy brings experience to a midfield that continues to suffer with the ongoing absences of Max Bird and Joe Williams.

George Earthy is a known quantity from his initial loan spell, having already demonstrated that he will shine more under Gerhard Struber's more expansive playing style than the more cautious approach required by Liam Manning.

That being said, would City fans prefer to have seen Josh Stokes be given first-team minutes rather than be loaned out to Stockport County?

While we are talking about outgoings, there was some shock at Yu Hirakawa's loan move to Hull City. "Why would we let one of our play-off rivals have our player?" cried some sections of the fanbase.

Personally, I was not concerned, as the Japanese international has been a bit of a misfit since his arrival.

He was billed by technical director Brian Tinnion as an out-and-out winger but neither Manning nor Struber feature that position in their preferred formations, so instead we have played the lad, whose attitude cannot be faulted, in a number of alternative roles which have not allowed us to see him at his best.

If rumours are to believed there was another player from Middlesborough, Delano Burgzorg, who was going to join team-mate Neto Borges at Ashton Gate.

If he was the best the recruitment team could come up with as the solution to the club's need for extra firepower up front then I'd give them a C-minus in terms of effort.

Are my expectations of the club pulling off a surprise transfer coup before the end of the month going to be realised? I think not.

More likely is them being "typical Bristol City" by being the team that sees Sheffield Wednesday end their winless run in Saturday's game at Ashton Gate!

You can hear more from David Pottier on the Forever Bristol City podcast., external

Image source, BBC Sport

Ipswich Town are keen on signing Bristol City winger Anis Mehmeti in the January window. The 25-year-old Albania international is out of contract this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Check out Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Bristol City have agreed a deal to sign 26-year-old Sturm Graz midfielder Tomi Horvat in the summer. It's understood the Slovenia international has passed a medical. (Sky Sports), external

Image source, Opta

Ipswich Town will look to continue an impressive recent run of form in their push for automatic promotion when they host Bristol City on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT kick-off).

The Tractor Boys have won three on the bounce and are unbeaten in their past five games (W4 D1) - a run which has put them within two points of Middlesbrough in second with a game in hand.

The Robins have won just one of their previous four matches (D1 L2) and are three points behind the play-off places.

• Ipswich are unbeaten in their past four league meetings with Bristol City (W2 D2), this after losing five of their previous six beforehand (W1).

• Both sides have scored in each of Bristol City's previous six league visits to Ipswich, with the head-to-head record even at two wins each and two draws in this period.

• Bristol City have lost 15 of their past 16 Championship away games against sides relegated from the Premier League the previous season (D1) since beating Fulham 2-1 in December 2019.

• Ipswich have only lost one of their previous 19 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Championship (W12 D6), a 3-0 defeat to Charlton in October this season.

• Bristol City have only won one of their past 10 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away games in the Championship (D6 L3), beating Millwall 2-0 in March 2025.