WE'RE ONLY three games into the new campaign, but the early warning signs are there for City.

We are going to have to be a lot more clinical in both penalty areas if we want to avoid a season of struggle.

The possession statistics at City’s game at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday were embarrassingly one-sided in City’s favour.

Lee Johnson's men had as high as 71% at half-time and City had created numerous chances.

However, the visitors went into the half-time interval with the game still goalless.

Then, Bolton scored with their first shot of the game through Buckley and managed to repeat the feat with their second shot of the game just three minutes later.

Both goals were poorly defended by City and the new backline has to do better over the coming weeks if we’re to start getting some much-needed wins on the board.

The attacking response from City was good though, and it only took us four minutes to get back into the game through man-of-the-match Andi Weimann.

Marlon Pack played a wonderful ball down the middle that dissected Bolton’s defence and Weimann had time to control the ball and fire it low into the bottom left corner of the goal.

City’s deserved equaliser came with nine minutes to go as Jamie Paterson raced down the left and curled the ball past Ben Alnwick.

Really though, City never should’ve found themselves 2-0 down.

We were inches from a winner in the last minute as substitute Eisa put the ball agonisingly wide from close range.

There will be no repeat of last season’s Carabao Cup heroics for City as we were knocked out at the first round stage by Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening.

It was a similar story to Saturday at Bolton with City having plenty of possession and shots on goal but not being able to convert chances.

The Pilgrims came away with a 1-0 win following a first half goal from Songo’o.

This Saturday, City host Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough side at Ashton Gate (3pm) before travelling to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday (7.45pm).