Saturday 23 April 2016 21:54, UK
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson got tough with his players during half-time at Blackburn and it paid off with a 2-2 draw that secured their Sky Bet Championship safety.
Bristol City manager Lee Johnson got tough with his players during half-time at Blackburn and it paid off with a 2-2 draw that secured their Sky Bet Championship safety.
Danny Graham's 17th-minute strike gave Blackburn the advantage after a dominant first-half display, but City improved hugely in the second half and turned the game on its head through substitute Jonathan Kodjia's 18th goal of the season and a close-range Aaron Wilbraham strike.
They were pegged back by Graham's sixth of the season late on and played the last five minutes with 10 men after Korey Smith's sending-off, but hung on for the point required to guarantee second-tier football next season.
After seeing his team end a run of five defeats against Blackburn in all competitions, Johnson said his half-time words and tactical changes brought a change in fortunes.
He said: "We started quite well, first 15 minutes, camped them in and had a couple of chances, and then I thought they really got a foothold in the game and we got a bit stretched.
"At half-time, there had to be a midget hair-dryer or two because it was important we livened them up. They had to dig deep and they did.
"We helped them tactically by changing the formation to a diamond. We put Jimmy Jonathan Kodjia on, we put Luke Ayling on, we put Alex Pearce on and they had an effect because they brought us a brightness and an energy that helped us move up the pitch, put an extra pass in and score two great goals."
Johnson's reign at Ashton Gate is less than three months old but he has impressively guided his team from the serious threat of relegation to guaranteed Championship football in that time - an achievement the former Robins midfielder described as his greatest.
He said: "I think as a club it's a big achievement given the situation we were in. On a personal level, probably my biggest achievement I think, with the help of the group obviously.
"I'm not saying it's all me. That's a shared achievement because the Championship is a tough league. We've picked up seven or eight wins and important points. It's a big day and we've got to enjoy it."
The result also gave Blackburn the point they needed to finally end any lingering fears of relegation, but it continues their indifferent recent form, during which time they have won just once in nine games.
In what is becoming a common theme, Graham was singled out for special praise by manager Paul Lambert, who described the on-loan Sunderland striker as a "massive player" following his fifth and sixth goals for the club.
Lambert said: "Danny's two goals were great for us and he's been excellent for us since he's been at the football club. It's very difficult for loan players when they come in and you're getting towards the tail end of the season. It's easy for them to switch off, but he has been excellent.
"His work rate, around the place, off the field, all the things you want from an experienced player ... been there, seen it, done it ... and he's been a massive player for us."
Lambert felt defeat would have been harsh on his side.
He said: "I thought in the first half we were excellent. Some of the football was very good and we should have been a couple of goals up. There was the spell in the second half where Bristol got two goals against us and I thought the defending was really poor at that point. "I think it would have been an injustice had we lost that game."
