BRISTOL City sacked assistant manager John Pemberton just hours before Tuesday night’s home game with Norwich City leaving supporters baffled as to why the head coach Lee Johnson and the other assistant manager Dean Holden, whom Johnson brought to the club, remain in post.

Aside from this bafflement there is also increasing anger amongst City’s support that club owner Steve Lansdown has not sacked Johnson who has now presided over just one win in 17 league matches. Even that solitary victory was against bottom-of-the-league Rotherham United at Ashton Gate and in all honesty it was a laboured performance.

I thought that Saturday’s game against Burton Albion was a must-win for Johnson, but a dire 0-0 draw saw him keep his job going into Tuesday’s game against Norwich.

But bizarrely Pemberton get the boot. Pemberton was a popular figure amongst City fans due to his success in helping win City the League One title in 2015.

The press release issued by City didn’t even thank Pemberton for his service at the club, which leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth.

Although Tuesday’s attendance against Norwich was announced as 17,035, it was clear to see that hundreds of season ticket holders were not present.

Fans are beginning to vote with their feet as they can see that Johnson is taking us on a clear pathway to League One football next season.

Tuesday night’s performance was typically bland and Norwich went 1-0 up before half-time. Johnson’s decision to continue playing Wilbraham up front on his own in home games is perplexing and City only improved once he was replaced with Djuric in the second period.

City salvaged a draw through Bailey Wright and now travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday (3pm) for another crunch game at the bottom of the Championship table.