Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has praised Ivan Sproule for his goal after their 2-0 win over Southampton.
Speedy foward delights Robins boss with composed late goal
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson has praised Ivan Sproule after his injury time goal secured a 2-0 win over Southampton at Ashton Gate.
The win was the Robin's seventh in their last eight league games and lifts them above Swansea and QPR into 7th position.
The goal materialised when Saints keeper Kelvin Davis advanced forward for a corner in a desperate attempt to salvage a point for his side.
When the ball was claimed and released immediately by City keeper Adriano Basso into Sproule's path, he embarked on a 70 yard run to slot into an empty net.
Manager Johnson said: "Ivan is the quickest player I've worked with and as soon as he got the ball I knew a goal was on.
"The only question was whether Ivan would find the net or run straight down the tunnel behind the goal! Thankfully he got the radar right in the end.
"Southampton put us under pressure in the second half and all credit to them for that. But we defended when we had to and earned our win.
"Things are going very well for us and we are confident about making the play-offs, not in an arrogant way, but because we have faith in one another."
Chances
Saints had their chances in the first half with both Morgan Schneiderlin and Jason Euell striking the post with Basso beaten.
Euell also missed a second-half sitter which would have levelled the scores and Southampton coach Mark Wottewas was rueing his side's missed opportunities.
"I cannot believe we lost the game," he said. "The least we should be going home with is a point.
"I can't fault the players for what they did in the second half. But we play to score goals and didn't get any, which is why we are in our current position.
"Dele Adebola is a typical, big Championship striker and he did what he was out there to do by scoring.
"I think we have better quality strikers, but at the moment we are finding it hard to get goals and that has to change" he added.
