CITY remain at the foot of the League One table after a Jekyll and Hyde performance at home to MK Dons last Saturday.
As has been the case on many occasions this season, City started well and deservedly took an early lead with top goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia breaking the deadlock.
Young Bristolian Bobby Reid unselfishly squared the ball when in a goalscoring position and City’s French striker prodded in from close range.
Kodjia continues to be the only bright light in a bleak start to the season. City’s only permanent summer signing from French Ligue 1 side Angers SCO already looks to have the calibre to play at a higher level.
City had the better of the first half but there was little doubt MK Dons dominated the second half. City’s second-half display was inexcusable, if I’m honest.
Against a team second from bottom, who had lost five on the spin coming into this game, we sat back and invited pressure on ourselves instead of going for a killer second goal.
MK Dons were able to attack us at will and we were eventually undone by a 94th-minute Daniel Powell strike — it was the least the away side deserved.
Whether Cotterill instructed his players to sit so deep in the second half or whether the players did it naturally because they were so desperate for the win I am unsure, but it was extremely worrying to witness.
If we can’t beat, on paper, the worst team in the league at home then, coupled with our poor overall start to the season, we are in for a long, hard slog.
Ten games into the season and we are an absolute world away from the performances that enabled us to dominate League One last season.
City are without a game this weekend due to the international break and I’d like to think that as well as training hard to put things right, the club are still trying to bring in an experienced player or two on loan.
It is clear that the squad are struggling to cope with life in the Championship and something needs to change.