Looking Back 2011/12- August

Bristol City started the season with a very crowded August, there was such a big possibility of the Robins getting off to a good start and the points were there ready for the taking.

Hopes were high that a good start could be made at home to Ipswich Town, but just 13 minutes into the game and Michael Chopra had the visitors in front in a game that eventually saw Bristol beaten 3-0. No alarm bells started to ring straight away, it was only the first game of the season Keith Millen had plenty of time to turn things around.

A week later and the Robins were off to Cardiff, I don`t think expectations were very high after a bad start, but it was a game against a team who we love to get the better of and maybe the lads would be up for this one. By half time though the game was all but over as Cardiff went into the break with a 3-0 lead.

In the second half City managed to pull a goal back through the ever hopeful Nicky Maynard late on, but that made two defeats out of two games and things were not looking too rosey.

On Wednesday 17th August, City had to travel to Leicester to take on one of the favourites to win the league and after the first couple of games you could not blame fans for fearing the worst. But after just five minutes Maynard had the Robins in front and they managed to hold onto that lead for what was left of the first half.

Dave Nugent put Leicester City level in the 56th minute, but Maynard struck again just ten minutes later and that proved to be the winner, Three points on the board at last and one of the better clubs beaten on their own patch, maybe this could be a good season?

Three days later on the Saturday and it was back to Ashton Gate to face Portsmouth, but City drew a blank in front of goal and with Pompey doing the same, it ended with a point each.

Wednesday 24th and it was Carling Cup night with City at home to Swindon Town. City started with a slightly weakened team with Millen choosing Taylor and Pitman to play up front, however despite bringing on Adomah later in the game it was the visitors who progressed to round two with a single goal from De Vita.

A pattern was beginning to emerge; we looked weak up front with only Maynard looking capable of scoring.

One more game for the Robins in August, which was the 27th when they made the trip to a struggling Doncaster Rovers and word was we were going to win this one and finish the month on a high. A drab first half saw the City fans brought to life by a goal from Adomah on the stroke of half time, now it really did look like we would get our second win of the season.

But James Hayter had the two sides level just before the 70 minute mark and City had to settle for a draw.

All in all it wasn`t the best month City could have had, they were out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle and only managed to pick up five points from a possible 15. Still, early days and things can only get better….. Cant they?