Frightfully frustrating

Photo: Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH

CROWDED OUT: James Dayton, who was preferred in midfield to Carl Winchester, succumbs to the challenge of three Bristol players.

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Bristol City 1, Athletic 0

ATHLETIC caused a few frights of their own for unbeaten Bristol City, but the only goal of this game was as intricately plotted as any Hollywood Hallowe’en scare-fest.

Liam Kelly was penalised by referee Phil Gibbs for no more than a slight nudge on Luke Freeman in the 57th minute. Gibbs had a poor game, regularly getting decisions wrong, but he still wasn't really to blame for the goal.

At this crucial point, Athletic's defence was almost sedentary, with Mike Jones later picked out by manager Lee Johnson for allowing his marker – the scorer – to run past him.

Robins captain Wade Elliott teased the free-kick short into Aaron Wilbraham's orbit and with his back to goal, the well-travelled target man turned it round the corner for Kieran Agard to race free.

Given time to take aim, the former Rotherham ace pulled the ball across Paul Rachubka and inside the far post.

As it unfolded in grim fashion, it was the sort of goal best viewed by Athletic fans from behind their fingers. After it, manager Lee Johnson raged at the fourth official.

Bursting out of the blocks from the start and then managing to restrict chances for Athletic despite Johnson's side enjoying plenty of possession, the League One front-runners almost doubled their lead on the break when Agard chipped narrowly wide from 45 yards.

Johnson made two changes: Brian Wilson replaced Timothee Dieng and James Dayton came in for Carl Winchester. Experience was thus added, but with the home side pressing hard to win back the ball, Athletic struggled early on.

Athletic got going midway through the first half. Jonathan Forte passed up a shooting chance to try to tee up Dayton and Johnson's men began to look comfortable.

Forte might have done better after a terrific break down the left from Joseph Mills, his shot taking a touch off a defender to miss by a couple of yards. From the corner, the unmarked Genseric Kusunga got underneath the ball and headed over.

Generally, Athletic were holding the ball well and forcing mistakes from City.

They started the second half on the front foot. Dayton inexplicably elected to pass rather than shoot when a prime position was worked, but there was little sign Bristol City were about to break the deadlock.

Agard's strike was against the run of play. The scorer's lovely chip arrived shortly after his goal and would have signalled the end of the road for Athletic.

But Jabo Ibehre continued to stretch to find himself a yard or two away from decisive penalty-area touches and substitutions lifted Athletic.

Replacements Carl Winchester and Dominic Poleon linked well, the latter player hammering in a shot from 18 yards which forced an agile stop by Frank Fielding.

But while the ball was almost exclusively Athletic's as the game wound down, a poor left-footed strike from 35 yards from Connor Brown evoked fury from his manager and summed up the disparity between the teams.

Athletic were well intentioned throughout but also not quite good enough on the day. The test now is whether or not self-confidence survives with the 13-match unbeaten run gone.