(FM14) Drink up thee cider!!!

Bristol City vs Man City - 24th September 2016
1-1
Buitrago 30 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy recalled all his first team players from the midweek League Cup fixture, including defender Eder Alvarez Balanta who was back from injury. For Man City Roberto Mancini was unable to field only captain Vincent Kompany who was absent through injury. The two teams lined up as follows:

This Sunday afternoon fixture live on Sky proved to be a tactical game and therefore not easy on the eye. Man City took the lead early in the first half through Wilfried Bony. Bristol City then came back into the game and equalised through Mario Buitrago after a clever assist from Tom Ince. The 2nd half proved to be an anti climax with neither team willing to commit to many players forward with the risk of being caught on the counter attack. This result was the Robins 5th stalemate in 6 matches in the Premier League this season leaving them in 8th position in the league.

Bristol City vs Zenit - 27th September 2016
2-2
Allione 8.8 rating
Allione pen 20, 49 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy made three changes to the side. Alvarez Balanta and Lucas Evangelista were rested for Chris Smalling and Rodrigo Gomez. Also Tom Ince was replaced by Eugene Konoplyanka on the left wing. Zenit were struggling with injuries as Robert Beric, Valon Behrami and Luka Djordjevic were all out. Denis Cheryshev was also suspended. The two teams lined up as follows:

This was City's first ever time of hosting a Champions League tie and they didn't disappoint attacking with confidence from the start. They should have scored a hatful before Agustin Allione scored from the spot after Rodrigo Gomez was fouled during a corner routine. Then two defensive errors from centre backs Smalling and Denswil allowed Hulk and Kerzhakov to score for Zenit before the break. After half time Buitrago set up Allione for his 2nd of the game but City were unable to break down Zenit again and although they had 29 shots on goal to Zenit's 4 they had to settle for a point.

September 2016 - THE REVIEW

Fixtures

CITY vs Everton - 10th September 2016 3-0
SLB vs CITY - 14th September 2016 1-2 Champions League Group
Liverpool vs CITY - 18th September 2016 2-2
Everton vs CITY - 20th September 2016 4-1 Capital One Cup 3rd Rd
CITY vs Man City - 24th September 2016 1-1
CITY vs Zenit - 27th September 2016 2-2 Champions League Group





Monthly Awards

Best Player - Agustin Allione - average rating 7.60

The right winger won the Barclays Premier League young player of the month award and scored 4 goals this month. He has begun to replicate some of the form which saw him dominate defences last season.

Coming Up.......

Man Utd vs Bristol City - 2nd October 2016
0-2
Denswil 53 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy was able to name his strongest possible starting lineup (apart from the long-term absentee Nick Powell who was unable to face his former club). The two teams lined up as follows:

It was an extremely disappointing performance from City as they were easily beaten by the Red Devils for their first loss in the league this season. Particularly disappointing was the straight red Stefano Denswil received for a horrible tackle early in the 2nd half. Goals from Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra won the game for Man Utd.

Chelsea vs Bristol City - 15th October 2016
0-1
Smalling 8.1 rating
Allione 3 mins



Manager's review
There was one change to the Bristol City starting 11 as Chris Smalling replaced Stefano Denswil who was suspended for the 1st of 3 domestic matches following his red card against Man Utd. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was able to name a full strength side that had won every league game so far this season.
The two teams lined up as follows:

The game started dreadfully for City manager Andrew Booy as Agustin Allione was sent off in the first 3 minutes for a two-footed lunge on Yaya Toure in the middle of the pitch!!! Despite this initial set back Booy went to a 4-4-1 formation and it looked like his team would hold on for a unlikely point when in the 4th minute of injury time (there was only supposed to be 3 played) Eden Hazard struck the winner for Chelsea!!!! During the game left winger Eugene Konoplyanka went down with a nasty injury and looks to be out for the next 5-6 weeks.

Ajax vs Bristol City - 18th October 2016
4-2
Buitrago 8.8 rating
Allione 6 mins
Jese 8 mins
Buitrago 18, 72 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy made two changes to the starting 11 for this must win Champions League game in Holland. Stefano Denswil replaced the tired Alvarez Balanta and Tom Ince replaced the injured Konoplyanka. Top of the table Ajax had 4 injuries to their first team squad.
The two teams lined up as follows:

A few of the Bristol City squad had this week displayed slight unrest at the teams slow start to the season. Andrew Booy was quick to reassure all players that the fixture list has not been kind but to judge him at the end of the season. There was no sign of any discontent at the Amsterdam ArenA as City quickly went in a 3-0 lead within 20 minutes thanks to goals from Allione, Jese and Buitrago. Ajax worked their way back into the game through a fine lob from Marcinho and Jesper Juelsgard's penalty. However MOTM Mario Buitrago scored his 2nd of the game with 20 minutes remaining to kill off the game and record Bristol City's first ever victory in the Champions League.

Bristol City vs QPR- 22nd October 2016
0-0
ter Stegen 7.4 rating



Manager's review
There were only two changes to the side from Bristol City's 1st ever European victory. Denswil and Allione were still serving domestic suspensions so in came Alvarez Balanta and Bogado.
The two teams lined up as follows:

It was a disappointing match in front of the Ashton Gate faithful as Bristol City were unable to break down a Rangers side which they completely dominated. They had 25 shots on goal and QPR only had one shot at City keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, so it was a surprise that the German stopper got the MOTM award. The result leaves City in 14th place in the table only 2 points above the relegation zone.

Chelsea vs Bristol City - 26th October 2016
1-2 e
Jese 31 mins



Manager's review
Bristol City named a strong line up for this Capital One 4th round clash against Jose Mourinho's top the table Chelsea. On the other hand 'the special one' decided to rest his key men and fielded a young inexperienced side.
The two teams lined up as follows:

Bristol City had the better exchanges in the first half and went 1-0 up after Mario Buitrago played a wonderful ball through the his strike partner Jese who finished with aplomb. The game looked to be drawing to an end before Jose Mourinho brought on star man Eden Hazard who made an instant impact setting up youngster Xavier Goikoetxea with 10 minutes left on the clock. In injury time MOTM Goikoetxea then scored his 2nd goal and City were unable to push forward and take the match to penalties with an equaliser. Will Andrew Booy regret not resting some players as in only 3 days time his team play a must-win match at Ashton Gate against Derby in the Premier League?

Bristol City vs Derby - 29th October 2016
4-1
Buitrago 9.8 rating
Buitrago 8, 37, 50, 72 mins



Manager's review
City manager Andrew Booy was forced into making a number of changes for this game due to the fact his side had played 120 minutes of football only 3 days prior. Squad players Martin Kaspar, Fanch Le Bras, Rodrigo Gomez, and Alvaro came into the starting 11 along with Stefano Denswil, who had served out his 3 match domestic suspension. For Derby County only Jeff Hendrick was out through injury.
The two teams lined up as follows:

Andrew Booy fired up his team for this one and they didn't disappoint. In particular captain Mario Buitrago played perhaps his best ever game for the club scoring all 4 goals in a faultless performance. Fellow striker Jese proved again how he unselfishly will set up fellow teammates assisting in two of Butirago's goals. The only blot on the performance was not being able to keep a cleansheet conceding late on to a Marc McNulty strike.

Ince pens new deal with Bristol City



There was fantastic news out of Ashton Gate this week as left winger Tom Ince signed a new contract with the club until the summer of 2020. The 24 year old has been at Bristol City since 2014 and made 91 appearances for the club scoring 14 goals. It ends prolonged discussions with the England international whose deal was due to end at the finish of the current campaign. Details of the new contract were released and shown below:



Spurs sack Martin Jol





Tottenham Hotspur have dismissed manager Martin Jol after just under one year in charge of the club. Jol saw success last season guiding Spurs to a 4th place league finish and Champions League qualification but the start of this season has seen the team occupy a relegation zone position in the Premier League.

October 2016 - THE REVIEW

Fixtures

Man Utd vs CITY - 2nd October 2016 0-2
Chelsea vs CITY - 15th October 2016 0-1
Ajax vs CITY - 18th October 2016 4-2 Champions Cup Group E
CITY vs QPR - 22nd October 2016 0-0
Chelsea vs CITY - 26th October 2016 1-2 Capital One Cup 4th round
CITY vs Derby - 29th October 2016 4-1



Monthly Awards

Best Player - Mario Buitrago - average rating 7.62
The City captain won the Premier League young player of the month award after netting 6 goals in October (in two matches against Ajax and Derby). He has 11 goals for the season and is top scorer in the league with 9 goals so far.

Highly commended
Jese - average rating 7.54
Buitrago's strike partner also had a strong October. Although he only netted twice he provided 3 assists for Buitrago and now leads the team this season with 7 assists so far.

Coming Up.......

Bristol City vs Ajax - 2nd November 2016
5-0
Allione 9.3 rating
Allione 2 mins
Jese 11 mins
Ince 16 mins
Denswil 38 mins
Buitrago 47 mins



Manager's review
Bristol City were able to name their strongest possible lineup which meant recalls to the side for first team regulars Clyne, Alvarez Balanta, Alex Sandro, Allione, and Ince. The two absentees from Ajax's squad were Landry N’Guermo and Sebastian Cristoforo.
The two teams lined up as follows:

Bristol City absolutely put the Dutch to the sword in this game with 5 goals in the first 50 mins through MOTM Agustin Allione, Jese, Tom Ince, Stefano Denswil (scoring against his old club), and Mario Buitrago. The Champions League group E table now looks as follows with two games remaining.

Wigan vs Bristol City - 5th November 2016
3-1
Allione 8.3 rating
Buitrago 4 mins
Ince 49 mins
Allione 52 mins
Denswil 57 mins



Manager's review
Bristol City made no changes to the side that smashed Ajax for 5 in the Champions League midweek game. Wigan manager Eddie Howe was without Felipe Gutierrez, Callum McManaman and Curro through injury.
The two teams lined up as follows:

Andrew Booy lead his team to a third victory in a row in all competitions with a comfortable win at Wigan's DW Stadium. Mario Buitrago got his 13th goal of the season within 4 minutes of kickoff after a sublime pass from Spanish striker Jese. Tom Ince got his 2nd goal in two games since signing his new contract after slotting into an open Wigan net following defensive confusion for the Latics. The best City goal was saved to last though as Agustin Allione scored a fantastic freekick that surely could contend for goal of the season honours. The negative point for City came as centre back Stefano Denswil was sent off for the 2nd time this season with half an hour remaining. Eugene Seleznyov was able to pull one goal back against the Robins 10 men but City held on for three points.

Cardiff vs Bristol City - 19th November 2016
0-1
Jese 40 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy made one change to the team that beat Wigan before the international break as Chris Smalling came in for the suspended Stefano Denswil. Roy Keane was very vocal with the press in the built up to the local derby and there was extra spice to the game as ex Bristol City players Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Matej Vydra lined up for the Bluebirds. The Welsh team were without Javi Garcia (suspension) and Gary Medel, Fabio and Cala (injuries).
The two teams lined up as follows:

Bristol City's loss in this one was hard to take against their bitter rivals from across the channel. It wasn't made any better by the fact that the Cardiff winning goal was scored by ex Robin Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who played under Andrew Booy in his first season in charge when they won the Sky Bet League One title. It was also a week of highs and lows for City striker Jese who earlier in the week scored his first ever goal for Spain but then in this match strained his knee ligaments and will now be out for 5-6 weeks.

Bristol City vs SLB - 22nd November 2016
3-3
Buitrago 8.7 rating
Buitrago 3, 20 mins
Alvaro 81 mins



Manager's review
Andrew Booy made three changes to his side as Domenico Berardi came in for the injured Jese and Rodrigo Gomez and Stefano Denswil came in for the tired Lucas Evangelista and Alex Sandro. The only absentee for Benfica was Filip Djuricic through injury.
The two teams lined up as follows:

This was a crazy European night in front of a packed Ashton Gate of 26,000 people. City went 2-0 up within 20 minutes thanks to a brace from MOTM Mario Buitrago. However SLB then came back with three goals themselves through Vikto Fischer, Rodrigo and Charles Aranguiz. However an inspired substitution from City manager Andrew Booy lead to two subs combining as Esteban Gabriel Jesus Bogado setup left winger Alvaro to equalise with 10 minutes remaining. The result means Bristol City have qualified for the knockout round of the Champions League with one game to spare.



Bristol City begin planning works on top of the range training facilities

The Bristol City board have forked out 4.9 million pounds to begin work on new training facilities at Ashton Gate. The work will start at the end of the season and be finished in October 2017.