Bristol City’s defensive improvement has been praised by assistant head coach Chris Hogg after the Robins kept their second clean sheet in a week with goalless draw against Leeds United.
Saves from Max O’Leary and a goal line clearance from centre back Zak Vyner kept Daniel Farke’s side from finding the net on Saturday, denying the like of Willy Gnonto and Daniel James.
City began this campaign defensively sloppy, giving up three or more goals on three separate occasions in their first five games to Millwall, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers respectively.
It took the Reds until their eighth Championship fixture to secure their first clean sheet but have since kept their opponents from scoring in three of their last five matches.
“We spoke a bit about it at the start of the season around trying to tighten up and be a little bit harder to beat,” Hogg revealed after the Leeds game.
“We had too many goals conceded at points at the start of the season, and I think if you look at the last week really, the two clean sheets out of three games, obviously Middlesbrough and today, it’s real progress.
“But the group’s got that in them. They’re a real good group to work with and they want to try and do well. One, for the manager, but two, for the football club. They really care so I think again they really showed that. The determination to try and get another clean sheet was there and I’m pleased with that aspect of the performance.”
Whilst the lack of goals at one end of the pitch has been a positive, the absence of net-rippling at the other end was not as pleasing.
Up against the joint-fourth best defence in the league, the Reds struggled to make an impact against ex-Premier League personnel in Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk and, despite their successful goalscoring exploits earlier in the week and slight change in structure against Leeds, will need to find more ways to break down the more impressive Championship defences.
“We changed shape in terms of our out of possession block today to try and shut certain spaces out of possession,” Hogg stated.
“But with our in-possession structure, the plan was pretty similar to how we play anyway, we just roll it normally from a back four.
“We had certain ideas around trying to go around them and over them early to try and then get spaces on the inside but… their counter press was top. So, managing those regains in tight areas was a real challenge for us at times. We did it well a couple of times and we managed to get out and get forward but then credit to Leeds really, they had the energy and the mentality to shut us down in those transitional moments and it was difficult.”
With City’s opponents having the majority of the possession (68 per cent) in BS3 on Saturday, set pieces could have proved an important avenue to goal for Liam Manning’s side.
Against Stoke City last Tuesday, the Robins quickly took advantage of a corner for Nahki Wells’ first goal to get begin their comeback from two goals down and so have shown they can be clever with their set piece routines, however the delivery against Leeds was left wanting.
Bristol City Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol City Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol City stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol City Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol City news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
“Corners first half, probably the delivery was a little bit off,” Hogg commented.
“The movement was a little bit off, but we had moments where we generated a few corners first half and you’re thinking, if we could just get something from those set piece moments it would be nice.”
With different unique emotions cutting through this game, though, the overriding feeling was one of positivity.
Fans, players and staff alike, the whole club was unified, with a good performance to reflect it.
“It’s around us really trusting ourselves and trying to keep consistency with the basic actions really but I think today is more than our performance with the ball,” Hogg affirmed.
“It’s the togetherness, the spirit that we showed as a club today which is the big overriding feeling I’ve got. Of the club coming together and supporting the family and the lads then expending every bit of energy they had to try and get a result and I thought they did terrifically well.”