Bristol City vs Burton Albion. Sky Bet Championship.
Ashton GateAttendance18,212.
Saturday 14 October 2017 13:18, UK
Burton produced a defensive masterclass to deny Bristol City second place in the Sky Bet Championship with a goalless draw at Ashton Gate.
Nigel Clough's visitors were under pressure throughout but put bodies on the line all over the field to make it a hugely frustrating night for the hosts.
Goalkeeper Stephen Bywater made some important early saves and Bobby Reid had a 66th-minute goal disallowed, and for long stretches City continually met a brick wall in and around the Burton box.
The Robins came into the game on an 11-match unbeaten run and began purposefully. Jamie Paterson fired over from 25 yards before the first clear chance of the game fell to Reid after five minutes.
His close-range shot was well saved by Bywater and the rebound fell to strike partner Famara Diedhiou, who was denied by a goal-saving tackle from Burton skipper Jake Buxton.
A Paterson volley was deflected wide and Bywater denied Reid again by keeping out his angled drive at the near post as the hosts dominated the opening 15 minutes.
But Burton began to grow into the game and managed to frustrate Lee Johnson's men for the remainder of the first half. Bywater pushed a long-range effort from Josh Brownhill around a post, but his team defended with increasing belief.
City suffered a major blow just before the break when midfield driving force Korey Smith was forced off by what looked a hamstring injury. Marlon Pack was introduced as his replacement.
Burton substitute Marvin Sordell shot wide from long distance in one of their few goal attempts. Then he almost sealed the perfect smash-and-grab performance with an 80th-minute shot that was headed clear by Flint with goalkeeper Frank Fielding beaten.
It was the small contingent of Burton fans who were cheering loudest at the end, while home supporters vented their frustration towards referee James Linington.
Lee Johnson: "If we want to progress we have to win games like that. Our crossing and final ball were not good enough against a very resolute Burton side. We have had something like 75 per cent of possession and were totally dominant for 90 minutes, but in the end we have come up short.
"The lads are on a great run and there is so much to be pleased about. We just have to improve our end product if we are to beat sides who defend in number as well as Burton did. Bobby Reid has had a goal ruled out by one of numerous questionable decisions for both teams on the night. As it turns out, we have gained a point on the leaders and will look forward to taking on Leeds United next weekend."
Nigel Clough: "The next step for us is to win games like that in the closing stages. I make no apologies for the way we set up to defend against a very good side. The plan was to try and snatch victory at the end and it so nearly happened. All over the pitch we have defended magnificently and proved that Burton Albion are again not easy to score against after a couple of poor results.
"The Bristol fans turned up expecting us to be hit for four or five and in the end they turned their frustration on the referee. I heard him blow for a foul a good three seconds before Reid put the ball in our net and it was the right decision. Bristol City are a very good team this season, but we had studied the way they played and managed to combat it successfully."
