BRISTOL City suffered their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday by losing 2-0 at home to Reading. This was perhaps our poorest and most concerning performance of the season to date as the team started slowly once more and created very few chances going forward. 

The goals we are conceding are all of a similar nature, which is particularly frustrating to watch. We are getting caught on the counter-attack and Reading’s first goal was a prime example of this. Freeman lost possession and Reading played the ball in behind our wing-back Bryan and centre-back Williams who was still in a forward position. Royals striker Blackman therefore had acres of space and was able to cut inside and fire the ball past Fielding. The shot did take a deflection off the unlucky Moore which didn’t help. 
Then, in the 13th minute Reading broke down the left-hand side again and this time no one got close to McCleary who fired a shot from distance past Fielding. Although City maybe could have got tighter to the winger it was a decent effort and as is our luck at the moment everything seems to be going in for the opposition.

Moore was taken off at half-time for the more attacking Burns but it didn’t seem to change the course of the game. Reid and Agard came on early in the second half and things did get a little better but our first real chances came with about 20 minutes to go. A total of just 2 shots on target isn’t good enough at home. The main positive at the moment is the performances of Kodjia upfront who really looks the part at this level. But he isn’t getting good enough service at the moment.

Looking forward, City travel to Ipswich Town on Saturday (3pm). Portman Road hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us over the years and on current form it will take a mammoth effort to get anything there at the weekend. We can however take solace from the win at Middlesbrough earlier in the season and hope for a repeat result.