Bristol City fans' panel by Will Collins (From Gazette Series)

Bristol City fans' panel by Will Collins

10:15am Thursday 26th January 2012 in Gloucestershire Sport

CITY secured a vital victory over Doncaster Rovers on Saturday to lift ourselves six points clear of the Championship drop zone.

I said a few weeks ago that the key to survival would be winning our home games and McInnes and the players have really turned things around of late, taking seven points from our last three games at Ashton Gate.

Saturday was particularly encouraging as it was a sound attacking performance. City got off to an electric start having no fewer than four attempts on goal inside the first three minutes of the game.

Our first goal came on 26 minutes when new recruit Chris Wood opened his account for the club, heading home from close range following a raking cross from Cole Skuse out on the right.

The Kiwi international’s physical presence up front is something we’ve needed for a while and it’s great to see someone finally getting on the end of some crosses.

City repeated the trick minutes later, this time Neil Kilkenny delivering an accurate free kick to the head of Kalifa Cisse, who also opened his account for the club to double City’s lead.

The free kick had been awarded to City following a nasty challenge from Doncaster’s Habib Beye which resulted in a red card.

It should have been easy for City from this point but in the second half we switched off a little and Doncaster scored with 15 minutes remaining.

City held out, though, for a big result that also plunges Doncaster further into trouble.

This Saturday City travel to Reading (3pm) for a tough game against a team currently eighth in the Championship table.

Meanwhile, the future of wantaway striker Nicky Maynard is still in the balance after he turned down a lucrative move to Wigan Athletic this week. Reports suggested that a £2.2 million fee had been agreed between the two clubs.

It has been clear to me for some time that Maynard is holding out for a summer move when his contract expires at City and he can pick up a hefty signing on fee. Good luck to him, but personally I hope he does not get near the first team following this latest snub of a move.

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