“We want to put in a reaction from the other day. We know it wasn’t good enough and we want to show that in a performance and most importantly a result.”
The last few weeks of Bristol City’s season may have been the most difficult and frustrating of the campaign so far, but it is clear Robins skipper Jason Knight is keen to look forward rather than backward.
Liam Manning’s side have failed to win any of their last four matches and have only managed to claim all three points in one of their seven games since the November international break. That dip in form has left them 12th in the table, eight points adrift from the play-off positions.
This weekend’s 2-0 loss at the hands of West Brom was perhaps the worst of that recent run as the Reds not only failed to contain the Baggies’ attacking talent but did very little to cause Carlos Corberan’s defence any problems. Though Knight knows he and his teammates haven’t done enough to turn good performances into results this term, he is eager to put things right against Luton Town on Boxing Day.
“It was definitely frustrating. We never really got going,” the Ireland international explained. “They scored two really good goals on their part, but two sloppy goals from us and they were then in the ascendency for the rest of the game.
“It was a disappointing afternoon and a disappointing performance. Thankfully around Christmas time, the games are coming thick and fast. We’ve got a big game at home against Luton in the next couple of days and we’re trying to put that right. I know it’s been a few bad results, maybe not bad performances in the last few, but yesterday was poor and we’ve got a chance to go again.
“That probably amplifies the feeling yesterday of frustration within the squad and the fans as well. We totally get that and it’s down to us to get those results when we’re on top and we’re going to try and do that as much as we can over the next six months.”
Following the departure of Andi Weimann in the summer, Knight took on the armband and became City’s captain ahead of the start of the season. Despite only being 23 years old, the midfielder already has 180 Championship appearances under his belt having been a regular at Derby before making the switch to Ashton Gate in the summer of 2023.
So far, the midfielder is one of three Bristol City players to play each and every minute of Championship football this term, with Zak Vyner and Max O’Leary the only others yet to get a break. Although some have been quick to complain about the congested schedule in the second tier over the festive period, the Robins skipper is relishing the challenge of leading his side as they look to get back to winning ways.
“I think it’s when you really need to step up, not only as a captain but as a leader and a player,” the 23-year-old explained. “People need to step up now in tough times. When things are going against you, you need to step up and you need to perform. That’s what I’ve got to worry about personally first and foremost, individually am I performing at my best to help the team perform?
“I definitely enjoy it. It does take its toll obviously physically and mentally but it’s the way the game is. You’ve got to be ready to go again every three or four days or whatever it is and to be honest, it’s probably better to roll into games rather than training so much.
“I’m enjoying it, I’m playing and I’m happy about that but I’ve got to keep showing why I’m playing and why my performances warrant that.”
In what was a busy summer transfer window at Ashton Gate, the Reds’ midfield was one of the areas to experience the most change as Max Bird, George Earthy, Josh Stokes and Marcus McGuane all arrived in the West Country looking to stake their claim for a starting role.
Ultimately, Stokes’ loan exit and an injury to Joe Williams have meant that Manning has only really utilised Knight, Bird and McGuane in the middle of the park in recent weeks. Although all three players have very different profiles, they have combined well so far to complement one another and provide a competitive foundation from which the attacking talent in Manning’s side has been able to build.
However, Knight is insistent that City’s new midfield trio has more progress to make as they continue to “grow” together and offer more in the final third between now and the end of the league campaign.
“Obviously, it’s been mixed and matched in the midfield with me and Marcus sometimes, me and Birdy while Joe’s been out injured as well,” said the ex-Derby County man. “It’s been a good collective in the midfield and we’re starting to get a grasp of each other and we’re trying to grow. That’s going to help us go forward in attacking areas as well, trying to get assists, trying to get goals ourselves.
“I think I’ve been quite lucky, to be honest. Obviously when I came in Joe was already here. Birdy I played with for a lot of years at Derby and Marcus is a really good footballer, a really intelligent footballer as well. I’m quite lucky with the midfield that I’ve got. Everyone’s experienced, everyone knows what they’re about, but they’ve all got different attributes and it’s something we’ve worked on this year and you can see that coming out as well.”
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In his role as captain, Knight has repeatedly had to face the media after difficult results and answer uncomfortable questions, a lot of which have been around the Reds’ lack of firepower in the final third this season.
While some fans have been eager to lay blame at summer signings Fally Mayulu and Sinclair Armstrong for Bristol City’s troubles in the final third, the skipper believes he and the rest of the squad have to do more to attempt to shoulder the burden with the frontmen.
“We have youngsters in the forward areas, but it’s down to us as midfielders and other players around the pitch contributing goals and taking a bit of pressure off of them as well,” Knight explained. “Obviously, Nahki has played a large part in the last while. He’s done really and he’s experienced, but it’s down to all of us, not just Sincs, Fally or whoever is playing up top.
“It’s a collective thing and we need to get them in better opportunities as well. We can’t be feeding them with one or two chances a game, maybe get five or six of them to convert so it’s on all of us.”
Knight and the rest of Manning’s side have the chance to secure a first win in four games against Luton on Boxing Day, with games against Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle to follow over the festive period. Whether it be for good reasons or not, the next few days will likely be a useful indicator of what exactly City can achieve this season.