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Bristol City v Birmingham City

The online matchday programme for Bristol City v Birmingham City. Jay Dasilva speaks to The Robins about his tough spell out of the team, bouncing back and the challenge ahead. Nigel Pearson also reflects on the Blues, airs his thanks to long-serving Doug Harman and as always there is a detailed looked at our opponents and features from the club's guest history writers.

The online matchday programme for Bristol City v Birmingham City. Jay Dasilva speaks to The Robins about his tough spell out of the team, bouncing back and the challenge ahead. Nigel Pearson also reflects on the Blues, airs his thanks to long-serving Doug Harman and as always there is a detailed looked at our opponents and features from the club's guest history writers.

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ROB NS<br />

2021/22 OFFICIAL BRISTOL CITY DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />

JAY<br />

DASILVA<br />

#3<br />

v BIRMINGHAM<br />

CITY<br />

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP<br />

ASHTON GATE | SAT MAR 5 | 3PM<br />

PRINCIPAL PARTNER<br />

MATCH SPONSOR


ROBINS IN<br />

FOCUS<br />

38<br />

AYMAN<br />

BENAROUS<br />

AGE: 18 | POSITION: Midfielder<br />

SIGNED: Academy, aged 7<br />

Still only 18, Benarous has enjoyed a<br />

breakthrough campaign, with nine<br />

appearances in all competitions to date.<br />

He made his debut in October’s 2-1<br />

home win against Barnsley.<br />

The <strong>Bristol</strong>-born midfielder was delighted<br />

to put pen to paper on a new contract in February,<br />

which will keep him in BS3 until 2025. The<br />

three-year deal extends his stay with the club he<br />

has been a part of since the age of seven.<br />

He said: “I have worked hard but there's still a<br />

while to go until I'm a successful <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

player. It's been a good progression through<br />

the Academy and I'm really glad about how the<br />

season has gone so far.<br />

"I would like to thank the manager for putting his<br />

trust in me and the other youngsters here as well,<br />

hopefully we can pick some results up and climb<br />

the table.<br />

“There are a few players who have been here<br />

since I started, the likes of Ryley Towler, Tommy<br />

Conway and Nathaniel Williams, so it's good to<br />

have a group of guys who have come with you all<br />

the way."


THE<br />

GAFFER<br />

NIGEL<br />

PEARSON<br />

Good afternoon and<br />

welcome to Ashton<br />

Gate for this afternoon’s<br />

match against<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong>. We<br />

welcome Lee Bowyer,<br />

his staff, players and fans and anticipate an<br />

exciting fixture between two teams closely<br />

matched in the table.<br />

We had enjoyed a mini period of winning at home<br />

prior to the Coventry <strong>City</strong> defeat, so that was an<br />

encouraging spell and after defeats in our last<br />

two fixtures I’d like a<br />

reaction this afternoon<br />

as we look to get back to<br />

winning ways.<br />

Off the back of Coventry<br />

we had a bad day<br />

against Nottingham<br />

Forest last weekend,<br />

where we were secondbest<br />

throughout that<br />

game at the <strong>City</strong> Ground.<br />

We had been effective<br />

going forward in recent<br />

performances so I want<br />

to see more of that<br />

today.<br />

It’s not often we perform<br />

so underwhelmingly for<br />

the majority of a game but we certainly did last<br />

week and we can’t afford to be second best again.<br />

Ourselves and <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> are both<br />

competing just three points apart in the table, so I<br />

expect it to be a hard-fought game of passion and<br />

quality. It was a positive start against the Blues<br />

back in November, we started well in possession<br />

AFTER DEFEATS<br />

IN OUR LAST<br />

TWO FIXTURES<br />

I’D LIKE A<br />

REACTION THIS<br />

AFTERNOON AS<br />

WE LOOK TO<br />

GET BACK TO<br />

WINNING WAYS.<br />

but in the end I was frustrated with the manner<br />

of the defeat. On Saturday, if we start well then<br />

we have to carry that through to the end of the 90<br />

minutes to give ourselves the best chance of a<br />

positive result.<br />

Away from the pitch, I would like to pass on my<br />

thanks and gratitude to Doug Harman who will<br />

become <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> Honorary Vice-President<br />

when he steps down from the Board as Executive<br />

Director in May. He is a man who is <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

through and through, he has been heavily-involved<br />

in different areas of the club for many years<br />

and I’ve enjoyed our<br />

interactions over the<br />

past year. The club has<br />

been fortunate to have<br />

Doug and we all wish<br />

him well.<br />

I would also like to<br />

take this opportunity to<br />

remind supporters that<br />

tickets for our final home<br />

games of the season<br />

are now on general<br />

sale. After <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong>, there are just four<br />

matches remaining<br />

at Ashton Gate, with<br />

the final stretch of the<br />

2021/22 campaign<br />

edging nearer: West<br />

Bromwich Albion (March 19th), Peterborough<br />

United (April 9th), Sheffield United (April 18th)<br />

and Hull <strong>City</strong> (April 30th). We hope to see you at<br />

Ashton Gate for those games.<br />

Cheers,<br />

Nige<br />

4 | THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> CIty<br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 5


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BIRMINGHAM CITY<br />

CLUB FACTS<br />

GROUND<br />

ST ANDREW'S<br />

FORMED<br />

1875, AS 'SMALL<br />

HEATH ALLIANCE'<br />

HEAD COACH<br />

LEE BOWYER<br />

NICKNAME<br />

THE BLUES<br />

HONOURS<br />

2<br />

2<br />

Highest league finish<br />

Sixth in Division One, 1955/56<br />

League Cup winners<br />

1962/63, 2010/11<br />

Second tier winners<br />

1892/93, 1920/21, 1947/48, 1954/55<br />

Third tier winners<br />

1994/95<br />

Football League Trophy winners<br />

1990/91, 1994/95<br />

Football League South winners<br />

1945/46<br />

BRISTOL CITY GET SET<br />

TO HOST LEE BOWYER’S<br />

BIRMINGHAM CITY AT ASHTON<br />

GATE ON SATURDAY…BY ORDER<br />

OF THE EFL FIXTURE LIST.<br />

Clockwise from top: Head Coach Lee Bowyer; Angolan international<br />

midfielder Jérémie Bela; 16-year-old midfielder Jobe Bellingham, brother<br />

of England international and former Blue Jude; Danish defender Kristian<br />

Pedersen; experienced striker Troy Deeney.<br />

The Robins don’t have the greatest<br />

historical head-to-head record<br />

against the Blues. Between 1912-<br />

1965 they failed to overcome<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> in 11 attempts. Again<br />

from 1994 <strong>City</strong> failed to beat them on<br />

14 consecutive occasions, until a 3-1<br />

win at home in April 2018 – the last<br />

time the Robins beat today's visitors<br />

at Ashton Gate.<br />

LEAGUE ONE CHAMPIONSHIP<br />

47<br />

GOALS<br />

SCORED<br />

66<br />

GOALS<br />

CONCEDED<br />

16<br />

TOP SCORER<br />

ANDI<br />

WEIMANN<br />

POSSESSION<br />

44.5 %<br />

PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />

69.7 %<br />

TACKLE SUCCESS<br />

66.7 %<br />

AVERAGE AERIAL<br />

DUELS WON<br />

24.5<br />

V<br />

HEAD TO HEAD<br />

LEAGUE<br />

POSITION<br />

R3<br />

YELLOW<br />

70 1<br />

CARDS<br />

70<br />

MATCHES PLAYED<br />

Best victory: 4-0,<br />

April 1908 / January 1990<br />

Worst defeat: 0-4, October 1966<br />

Last time out: 0-3, November 2021<br />

2021/22 IN NUMBERS<br />

17 TH<br />

6.98<br />

BEST AVERAGE<br />

RATING (OPTA)<br />

ANTOINE<br />

SEMENYO<br />

R1<br />

RED<br />

CARDS<br />

8<br />

MOST<br />

ASSISTS<br />

ANTOINE<br />

SEMENYO<br />

41<br />

GOALS<br />

SCORED<br />

10<br />

TOP SCORER<br />

SCOTT<br />

HOGAN<br />

W<br />

18<br />

58<br />

GOALS<br />

CONCEDED<br />

7.18<br />

BEST AVERAGE<br />

RATING (OPTA)<br />

LYLE<br />

TAYLOR<br />

CITY v BLUES<br />

D 17<br />

25.7 %<br />

WIN RATE<br />

POSITION<br />

R3<br />

20 TH<br />

YELLOW<br />

63 4<br />

CARDS<br />

POSSESSION<br />

44 %<br />

4<br />

MOST<br />

ASSISTS<br />

JÉRÉMIE<br />

BELA<br />

PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />

64.2 %<br />

TACKLE SUCCESS<br />

72.1 %<br />

AVERAGE AERIAL<br />

DUELS WON<br />

24.6<br />

L<br />

35<br />

R2<br />

RED<br />

CARDS<br />

8 | THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 9


BIRMINGHAM CITY<br />

DID YOU<br />

KNOW?<br />

Head coach Lee Bowyer starred in <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong>’s midfield between<br />

2009-2011, initially joining on loan before signing for free upon leaving<br />

West Ham United. He made 94 appearances for the Blues, scoring 12<br />

goals in all competitions. He also picked up 21 yellow cards (five in six<br />

games during the 2008/09 campaign) and was sent off once.<br />

KEY PLAYER<br />

33<br />

LYLE TAYLOR<br />

The January loan signing has made an instant<br />

impact in the Midlands with three goals from<br />

his six appearances for the Blues to date.<br />

His arrival from Nottingham Forest was timely<br />

given injuries to top scorer Scott Hogan and<br />

former Watford striker Troy Deeney, both of<br />

whom are sidelined until later in the month due<br />

to calf injuries.<br />

The 31-year-old striker scored on his<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> debut, a 2-2 draw against Derby<br />

County, before getting on the scoresheet in his<br />

next match – a 2-1 defeat by Sheffield United.<br />

He then netted in a 3-0 win over Luton Town<br />

last month.<br />

The Greenwich-born forward perviously worked<br />

with manager Lee Bowyer in a two-year spell<br />

at Charlton Athletic during which they helped<br />

secure promotion to the Championship in 2019.<br />

Prior to this he started his career at Millwall<br />

in 2007, before moves to Concord Rangers,<br />

AFC Bournemouth, Falkirk, Sheffield United,<br />

Scunthorpe United and AFC Wimbledon.<br />

He scored a stoppage-time double for Forest in<br />

their 2-1 win at Ashton Gate in October 2021.<br />

BIRMINGHAM CITY FIND THEMSELVES<br />

AT THE WRONG END OF THE TABLE<br />

AS THE FINAL STRETCH OF THE<br />

CAMPAIGN BEGINS TO REAR ITS<br />

HEAD.<br />

Prior to Friday night's fixtures,<br />

there was a 14-point gap<br />

separating <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

and the relegation zone, with<br />

Barnsley in 22nd having two<br />

games in hand.<br />

With plenty of football still to<br />

go anything can happen, but<br />

head coach Lee Bowyer will be<br />

hoping to see a pick up in form<br />

sooner rather than later to keep<br />

any threat of the drop at arms<br />

length. Since beating the Robins<br />

3-0 at St Andrew’s on November<br />

2nd, the Blues have won only<br />

three times – also drawing six<br />

and losing 11.<br />

Their latest win, a 3-0 victory<br />

over high-flying Luton Town on<br />

February 12th, was followed<br />

by a draw with Stoke <strong>City</strong><br />

before back-to-back defeats<br />

to Reading and Huddersfield<br />

Town.<br />

In mitigation, Bowyer has rarely<br />

been able to field his preferred<br />

starting line-up due to injuries.<br />

The Blues have just one fit<br />

senior defender available and<br />

have also taken a hit up front<br />

with experienced strikers<br />

Troy Deeney (absent since<br />

Matty James duels with <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong>'s Jordan Graham during the<br />

Robins' 3-0 defeat at St Andrews in November<br />

early January) and 10-goal<br />

Scott Hogan (sidelined since<br />

February 9th) both recovering<br />

from calf injuries. Lyle Taylor<br />

– averaging a goal every other<br />

game since joining on loan in<br />

January – is also struggling<br />

with a groin problem.<br />

There is more positive news<br />

off the pitch as St Andrew’s<br />

continues to undergo its<br />

remedial works. The club says it<br />

hopes to re-open at least some<br />

of the blocks of its partially<br />

closed stands in time for the<br />

start of next season. The lower<br />

tier of the Kop and Tilton Road<br />

End have remained shut since<br />

December 2020.<br />

Newly-appointed Managing<br />

Director Ian Dutton expects the<br />

works to be completed in time<br />

for the summer, when hopes<br />

will be for better fortunes next<br />

season in front of a packed<br />

home stadium.<br />

10 | THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 11


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Applause will take place on the<br />

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BRISTOL CITY<br />

WOMEN<br />

New contract:<br />

Defender Naomi Layzell<br />

CLIMBING<br />

THE TABLE<br />

Goals from<br />

scoring<br />

machine Abi<br />

Harrison,<br />

Aggie Beever-Jones and<br />

captain Aimee Palmer saw<br />

the Robins go second in the<br />

Championship table.<br />

In a gutsy 3-2 away win<br />

at London <strong>City</strong> Lionesses,<br />

Harrison’s confident penalty<br />

– her 16th goal of the season<br />

– was cancelled out before the<br />

break but Beever-Jones’ volley<br />

saw the Robins take the lead.<br />

Captain Palmer went on to make<br />

it 3-1 although the hosts pulled<br />

a goal back just five minutes<br />

later.<br />

Head Coach Lauren Smith<br />

said: “The girls were excellent<br />

in possession but also in the<br />

grittiness of the game because<br />

London <strong>City</strong> Lionesses put us<br />

under a lot of pressure so we<br />

had to be adaptable – that's<br />

where we got some success.<br />

I'm really pleased as it was a<br />

difficult game against really<br />

good opposition.”<br />

Defender Naomi Layzell has<br />

since put pen to paper on her<br />

first professional contract<br />

with the club. Layzell, 18, has<br />

made 22 appearances across<br />

the last two campaigns for the<br />

Robins and is currently on the<br />

England Player Pathway, having<br />

represented the Under-16s and<br />

Under-17s.<br />

Naomi said: “<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> is a<br />

club that has given me fantastic<br />

opportunities to develop over<br />

the last couple of seasons<br />

and that’s massively aided my<br />

growth and understanding of<br />

the game. I’m grateful to the<br />

club and Lauren for giving me<br />

the opportunity to sign my first<br />

professional deal, which is<br />

something you dream of when<br />

starting your journey in football.”<br />

Next up for Smith’s side, now<br />

unbeaten in their last three<br />

games, is an away trip to Lewes<br />

FC on Sunday (March 6th).<br />

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THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 17


PLAYER<br />

INTERVIEW<br />

Words James Crawley<br />

JAY DASILVA LOOKS BACK ON HIS SPELL<br />

OUT OF THE TEAM THIS SEASON BUT IS ALL<br />

SMILES ONCE AGAIN HAVING FORCED HIS<br />

WAY BACK INTO THE SIDE.<br />

IT'S A<br />

GOOD<br />

JAY<br />

JJay<br />

Dasilva<br />

couldn’t<br />

have<br />

sounded<br />

more like his usual chirpy<br />

self when he sat down to chat<br />

with the latest edition of<br />

THE ROB NS.<br />

While he hasn’t been shy of<br />

game time in recent weeks<br />

this was a conversation which<br />

cast Dasilva back to the period<br />

of late November through<br />

to mid-January, where the<br />

defender missed eight Sky Bet<br />

Championship matches through<br />

non-selection. He was not in the<br />

squad for the fixtures against<br />

Blackburn Rovers or Stoke<br />

<strong>City</strong>, before he was an unused<br />

substitute in the next six league<br />

fixtures, while playing 49<br />

minutes against Fulham in the<br />

Emirates FA Cup.<br />

“It wasn’t great, I’ll be honest,<br />

because as a footballer you<br />

want to play every game and<br />

you can be annoyed missing<br />

even just one game,” he said,<br />

reflecting on a difficult time.<br />

“So spending a whole two<br />

months out the team, not playing<br />

at all, I didn’t enjoy it.”4<br />

20 | THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 21


I’M REALLY HAPPY<br />

NOW. BEING<br />

BACK IN THE<br />

TEAM, COMPARED<br />

TO WHEN I<br />

WASN’T PLAYING,<br />

MY GENERAL<br />

HAPPINESS HAS<br />

COME BACK.<br />

APPEARANCES<br />

27<br />

PLAYER PROFILE<br />

2021/22 STATS<br />

ASSISTS<br />

2<br />

SQUAD NUMBER<br />

3<br />

DOB: April 22nd 1998<br />

Birthplace: Luton<br />

Position: Full-back<br />

Joined: June 2019 (after<br />

2018/19 season on loan)<br />

BEST OPTA<br />

RATING<br />

7.48<br />

v READING<br />

4However, it gave the<br />

23-year-old a chance to<br />

reflect and he remained<br />

determined to come back<br />

stronger.<br />

Dasilva explained:<br />

“Sometimes those spells<br />

happen, you come out of<br />

the team for a reason and<br />

then it was about keeping<br />

my head down, keeping my<br />

work ethic high every day<br />

in order to get back into the<br />

team when I could.<br />

“The manager told me I was<br />

out the team for now but it<br />

didn’t mean I would be out<br />

forever. It was pretty much a<br />

case of how I was going to<br />

get myself back in the team<br />

but as a footballer you don’t<br />

need much motivation to<br />

force yourself back into it.<br />

When you’re out of the team<br />

it truly is only up to you to<br />

get back in there.”<br />

Fast forward to late January<br />

and Dasilva was back in the<br />

starting XI against Fulham<br />

at Craven Cottage. He hasn’t<br />

been out of the team since<br />

and he has played maximum<br />

minutes from <strong>City</strong>’s last six<br />

outings.<br />

That’s led to a real mood<br />

shift for Dasilva who said:<br />

“I’m really happy now. Being<br />

back in the team, compared<br />

to when I wasn’t playing, my<br />

general happiness has come<br />

back. If football isn’t going<br />

well for you, then nothing<br />

else will. It shouldn’t be the<br />

case but that’s how it is in<br />

football. I’m just hoping I<br />

can stay in the team and<br />

help the boys now.<br />

“We need to bounce back<br />

after those last two losses<br />

against Nottingham Forest<br />

and Coventry <strong>City</strong>. Another<br />

win at home would be great<br />

for us, we know we’ve been<br />

decent at home and so we<br />

have to offer a response and<br />

CAREER HIGHS<br />

2013/14-2015/16<br />

Winner of the FA Youth Cup three times in a<br />

row with Chelsea<br />

2014/15-2015/16<br />

Back-to-back winner of the UEFA Youth<br />

League with Chelsea<br />

JULY 2017<br />

Captained England to the UEFA U19s<br />

European Championship title<br />

MAY 2018<br />

Named Charlton Athletic<br />

Fans’ Player of the Year<br />

JUNE 2019<br />

Signs a four-year contract for<br />

<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>, following a successful<br />

year's loan spell<br />

make sure we get back to<br />

a win against <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong>.<br />

“We know from the earlier<br />

fixture this season about<br />

the problems they can<br />

pose us. We just have to be<br />

aware of that, be on top of<br />

our game this time around<br />

and hopefully we can come<br />

away with a win.”<br />

A 97th <strong>City</strong> appearance<br />

on Saturday would edge<br />

Dasilva closer to 100 in all<br />

competitions, and he’s eager<br />

to hit triple figures sooner<br />

rather than later.<br />

He said: “I wasn’t entirely<br />

sure of my number but I<br />

knew I was close. Now I<br />

know it I'm counting down<br />

the games! Once you’re<br />

hitting a milestone number,<br />

that’s when it matters. I feel<br />

I should have hit 100 a long<br />

time ago but it’s still a great<br />

achievement.”<br />

Above<br />

Back in league<br />

action against<br />

Fulham in<br />

January<br />

Left<br />

Celebrating<br />

<strong>City</strong>'s 3-2 away<br />

win at Reading<br />

Bottom left<br />

Dasilva was<br />

named Fans<br />

Player Of The<br />

Year at Charlton<br />

Athletic in 2018<br />

Bottom right<br />

In action for<br />

England Under-<br />

21s, with whom<br />

he won 13 caps<br />

MINUTES<br />

PLAYED<br />

1,841<br />

Luton Town<br />

2012<br />

Academy<br />

Charlton<br />

July 2017<br />

Loan<br />

PASS<br />

SUCCESS<br />

RATE<br />

CAREER PATH<br />

Chelsea<br />

2014<br />

Signed<br />

<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

August 2018<br />

Loan<br />

INTERNATIONAL CAREER<br />

CAPS<br />

63<br />

AT U16-U21 AGE GROUPS<br />

INCLUDING 13 AT U21 LEVEL<br />

Captained the England<br />

team to victory at the<br />

2017 UEFA Under-19<br />

Championship<br />

75.4 %<br />

AVERAGE<br />

PASSES<br />

PER GAME<br />

24.1<br />

Charlton<br />

January 2017<br />

Loan<br />

<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

June 2019<br />

Transfer<br />

22 | THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 23


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894189418941894<br />

CITY<br />

ARCHIVES<br />

894189418941894<br />

894 HALL 1894 OF 1894 FAME 1894<br />

PAUL GAINEY PROFILES CITY LEGEND GEOFF MERRICK<br />

894189418941894<br />

Like Dorothy in<br />

by his move to left-back. As the<br />

the Wizard of<br />

club declined from Division One<br />

Oz, <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

to Division Four in successive<br />

894navigated 1894<br />

their 1894<br />

years, Merrick became 1894<br />

one of the<br />

way along their own yellow<br />

'Ashton Gate Eight’.<br />

brick road in 1976 to their<br />

promised land – the First<br />

Years earlier, on March 31st<br />

894<br />

Division. It was a lifetime 1894 1894<br />

1973, <strong>City</strong> were playing 1894<br />

achievement for all the team<br />

Sunderland in Division Two.<br />

but particularly hard-tackling<br />

Merrick turned Dick Malone's<br />

central defender and <strong>City</strong><br />

cross into an own goal on<br />

894189418941894<br />

captain Geoff Merrick shortly years of loyal service from an 35 minutes. Then, when he<br />

before his 25th birthday. associate schoolboy. He made attempted a header back to<br />

his league debut aged 17 in the keeper Ray Cashley, Dave<br />

894<br />

<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> striker John 1894<br />

Atyeo 4-2 win at Aston Villa 1894<br />

in May Watson stretched out 1894<br />

a boot to<br />

said that Merrick was the best 1968 and was the youngest touch the ball into the net.<br />

defender he had ever seen. He captain in the Football League at<br />

could play the most remarkable Blackpool on January 22nd 1972. Refusing to be defeated by his<br />

894<br />

pass, make a crunching 1894<br />

tackle 1894<br />

mistakes, Merrick rallied 1894<br />

his side<br />

or an acrobatic flying header By the end of the 1971/72 with a headed goal in the 59th<br />

and possessed every attribute season, the 'Second Division's minute. He continued to drive his<br />

required for that role.<br />

Bobby Moore' was an everpresent<br />

fixture. When<br />

team forward until the deserved<br />

8941894<br />

1894<br />

Norman equaliser came from<br />

1894<br />

midfielder<br />

Promotion was the perfect Hunter arrived from Leeds United John Emanuel who rifled the<br />

reward for Merrick’s dozen in 1976, Merrick was unfazed ball in from 25 yards on 89418941894<br />

minutes to draw the<br />

1894<br />

game 2-2.<br />

The determination and self-belief<br />

shown by Merrick that day made<br />

him the player he was and the<br />

89418941894<br />

man he is today – 1894<br />

a fighter and a<br />

true <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> legend.<br />

89418941894<br />

From left: Pictured on 1894<br />

his <strong>City</strong> debut<br />

in May 1968; Merrick in action at<br />

Sunderland in March 1973.<br />

894189418941894<br />

28 | T HE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

Joe Jordan scores for <strong>City</strong> during<br />

the 3-0 win over Brentford in the<br />

Freight Rover Trophy. Inset:<br />

Loan signing Steve Galliers<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

BIG JOE<br />

ARRIVES<br />

MIKE ADAMS CONTINUES HIS LOOK<br />

BACK AT TERRY COOPER'S SPELL<br />

IN CHARGE OF THE ROBINS<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

1894<br />

After four wins and a draw in<br />

December 1986, <strong>City</strong> were handily<br />

poised seventh in the table. But any<br />

hopes for the new year were dashed<br />

with three straight league defeats, the first a 1-0<br />

home reverse to <strong>Bristol</strong> Rovers on New Year's Day.<br />

Looking for reinforcements, Terry Cooper turned to his<br />

old pal across the <strong>City</strong> divide. Trevor Morgan arrived<br />

for what would be his second short spell with us from<br />

<strong>Bristol</strong> Rovers, where he had scored 24 goals in 55<br />

league appearances. Happily his form continued and<br />

his seven goals in 19 league games would make him<br />

third-highest goalscorer in 1986/87. His opening goal<br />

in the crunch final game of the season at home to<br />

Swindon Town should have set <strong>City</strong> on course for the<br />

play-offs, but that’s another story…<br />

Joe Jordan, then plying his trade in Southampton’s<br />

reserve side, was one of Cooper’s most astute<br />

signings looking to the future. The deal was initially<br />

on loan until the end of the season but Joe settled<br />

in and would go on to join the exclusive club to have<br />

managed <strong>City</strong> twice. On his playing debut he inspired<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

189<br />

the team to a 5-0 trouncing of Doncaster Rovers,<br />

although he did not get on the scoresheet himself. His<br />

first goals would finally come in the 3-0 victory over<br />

Brentford in the Freight Rover Trophy.<br />

An impressive 2-0 home win over high-flying<br />

Bournemouth lifted <strong>City</strong> to fourth and there was a<br />

new kid on the block. Cooper was cock-a-hoop: “I<br />

was delighted with the way we battled…and no one<br />

did more to inspire the team than loan signing Steve<br />

Galliers, who was making his debut. Steve may only<br />

be five-foot, four-inches but…he is a pocket dynamo.”<br />

<strong>City</strong> now had the steel as well as the attacking flair for<br />

a promotion…<br />

THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> CIty | 29


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8941894189418941894189418941894<br />

894 CITY 1894 IN CARTOONS 1894 1894 1894 YOU 1894 CAN 1894 1894<br />

QUOTE ME<br />

with club historian David Woods<br />

8941894189418941894<br />

ON THAT 1894 1894 1894<br />

The cartoons reproduced today are in regard to<br />

MATCH REPORT<br />

<strong>City</strong>’s exciting 1919/20 FA Cup campaign, which<br />

started somewhat unspectacularly with a 2-1<br />

8941894189418941894189418941894<br />

8941894<br />

1<br />

success at Grimsby.<br />

STEVE SMITH LOOKS BACK AT<br />

AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER<br />

However, public interest perked up with the reward being a home<br />

CITY STRIKER JOE ROYLE<br />

game with The Arsenal. This brought a totally unexpected victory,<br />

Joe Royle in action<br />

Howarth 1894 1894 1894<br />

FOLLOWING 1894<br />

HIS MOVE TO 1894 1894<br />

that eventually lead to a further giant-killing act in beating First<br />

for Norwich <strong>City</strong><br />

Division Bradford <strong>City</strong> to reach the semi-finals.<br />

NORWICH CITY IN 1980<br />

8941894189418941894In the November 1894<br />

1980 edition of 1894 1894<br />

0<br />

Unfortunately, the dream ended at Stamford Bridge where <strong>City</strong>’s<br />

philosophical about the contrast between his<br />

injury hit side lost 2-1 against a Huddersfield Town team who were<br />

Soccer Monthly, the former <strong>City</strong> Merseyside, Manchester and West County life as a<br />

destined to be one of football’s giants in the 1920s, when they won<br />

frontman Joe Royle tells of his player: “You learn to adapt to all of them. Of course,<br />

the First Division Championship in three successive campaigns.<br />

disappointment of relegation and it really goes without saying that the interest is so<br />

894<br />

Saturday, January 31st 1894<br />

1920 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />

concerns for the future of the much more intense when you are with a big city club<br />

FA Cup Second Round<br />

By comparison, <strong>City</strong> just failed to regain top-flight status the<br />

game.<br />

in Merseyside or Manchester, compared to a city<br />

following season when they finished third, but 1921/22 saw them<br />

such as <strong>Bristol</strong>. The difference is during the week<br />

Rarely did the referee have<br />

right at the bottom of the table and consigned to the recently formed<br />

8941894189418941894<br />

“Goal scoring is the key<br />

1894<br />

to football. It is what the –<br />

1894<br />

it means a limited private life and a<br />

1894<br />

phenomenal<br />

cause to intervene in this<br />

Third Division (South), from which they immediately escaped only to<br />

game is all about, what people go to see. But the amount of interest off the field.<br />

sporting contest. The Arsenal,<br />

be relegated again in 1923/24.<br />

game is getting progressively harder in terms of<br />

after winning the toss, started<br />

scoring goals. When I started 16 seasons ago, 35 “I’m wiser after last season (1979/80). It was a<br />

well without really causing<br />

8941894189418941894<br />

goals [in a season] was 1894<br />

taken for granted. Today, 30 nightmare: 1894<br />

relegation after months of 1894<br />

struggles and<br />

Frank Vallis much trouble. A fine<br />

is almost unheard of, and it’s been getting worse. problems. We started badly and gradually got worse.<br />

move, involving four players,<br />

The decline in goals and gates are, to my thinking, The whole side lacked confidence and the loss of so<br />

left Tommy Howarth to settle<br />

firmly linked.”<br />

many left-sided players upset the pattern.<br />

894<br />

matters with a steady 1894<br />

and 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />

certain shot that beat Dunn all<br />

Before his move to Norwich <strong>City</strong> in August 1980, ‘Big “I’m glad to have come to Norwich. It’s a progressive,<br />

the way.<br />

Joe’ had scored 143 goals in 431 league games for forward-thinking club and the manager (John Bond)<br />

three clubs: Everton (231 appearances / 102 goals) is an enthusiast for attacking football.”<br />

894<br />

<strong>City</strong>: Vallis; Treasure, 1894<br />

Banfield; 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />

Manchester <strong>City</strong> (99/23) and <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> (101/18).<br />

Wren, Wedlock, Marr; Reader,<br />

To bring the story up to date, Joe had this to say<br />

Neesam, Howarth, Pocock,<br />

“Every innovation in the game within the last ten about his stay at Ashton Gate following that amazing<br />

Harris.<br />

8941894189418941894<br />

years has been to the detriment 1894<br />

of the game and four-goal 1894<br />

debut against Middlesbrough 1894<br />

in Oct 1977<br />

Arsenal: Dunn; Shaw, Bradshaw;<br />

scorers. The situation has got to change; the attitude in Joe Royle – The Autobiography, published in 2005<br />

Graham, Buckley, McKinnon;<br />

has to alter. The sake of the game as it is generally by BBC Books: “It was a wonderful adventure – while<br />

Rutherford, Groves, Pagnam,<br />

known is dependent upon a reversal of this trend.” it lasted. The strain of hacking it with the big boys<br />

Blyth, Toner<br />

89418941894189418941894eventually 1894<br />

proved too great when, in 1980, 1894<br />

the club<br />

Referee: S Jones<br />

By now Royle was in the twilight of his career<br />

decided on a clear-out. Norman Hunter had retired<br />

Attendance: 25,900<br />

The cartoons of The Arsenal game are the work of FG Lewin in the ‘<strong>Bristol</strong> Sports<br />

and would spend just two more seasons as a<br />

and I was transferred to Norwich <strong>City</strong> in a £60,000<br />

(£2,031.7s.0d)<br />

Times’ and PE Barnes in the ‘<strong>Bristol</strong> Sports News’.<br />

player before moving into management. He was deal.”<br />

8941894189418941894189418941894<br />

32 | T HE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> THE ROB NS <strong>Birmingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> | 33


Football is a game of many opinions, but<br />

there is one that we must all share. There is<br />

no place for discrimination in our game. If<br />

you do not agree, then you are not welcome.<br />

If you see or hear discrimination in this<br />

stadium, please report it to the nearest<br />

steward or via the Kick it Out App.<br />

Because we are all<br />

#TogetherAgainstDiscrimination<br />

Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.<br />

EFL.com


TODAY'S<br />

SQUADS<br />

Saturday March 5th, 3pm kick-off | Ashton Gate | Sky Bet Championship<br />

v<br />

TODAY'S<br />

FIXTURES<br />

Fulham v Blackburn<br />

<strong>City</strong> v <strong>Birmingham</strong><br />

Derby v Barnsley<br />

Hull v West Brom<br />

Middlesbro v Luton<br />

Preston v Bournemouth<br />

QPR v Cardiff<br />

Reading v Millwall<br />

Stoke v Blackpool<br />

Swansea v Coventry<br />

MANAGER<br />

Nigel PEARSON<br />

BRISTOL<br />

CITY<br />

1 Dan BENTLEY<br />

2 Danny SIMPSON<br />

3 Jay DAS I LVA<br />

5 Rob ATKINSON<br />

6 Matty JAMES<br />

8 Joe WILLIAMS<br />

9 Chris MARTIN<br />

10 Andy KING<br />

11 Callum O’DOWDA<br />

12 Max O'LEARY<br />

14 Andreas WEIMANN<br />

16 Cameron PRING<br />

17 Nathan BAKER<br />

18 Antoine SEMENYO<br />

19 George TANNER<br />

21 Nahki WELLS<br />

22 Tomas KALAS<br />

24 Robbie CUNDY<br />

25 Timm KLOSE<br />

26 Zak VYNER<br />

31 Duncan IDEHEN<br />

33 Sam BELL<br />

34 Ryley TOWLER<br />

36 Alex SCOTT<br />

HOME<br />

KIT<br />

37 Tommy CONWAY<br />

38 Ayman BENAROUS<br />

42 Han-Noah MASSENGO<br />

45 Kasey PALMER<br />

BIRMINGHAM<br />

CITY<br />

HEAD COACH<br />

Lee BOWYER<br />

1 Neil ETHERIDGE<br />

2 Maxime COLIN<br />

3 Kristian PEDERSEN<br />

4 Marc ROBERTS<br />

5 George FRIEND<br />

6 Ryan WOODS<br />

7 Tahith CHONG<br />

8 Taylor RICHARDS<br />

9 Scott HOGAN<br />

10 Lukas JUTKIEWICZ<br />

11 Jérémie BELA<br />

12 Harlee DEAN<br />

18 Teden MENGI<br />

19 Jordan JAMES<br />

20 Gary GARDNER<br />

21 Juninho BACUNA<br />

24 Jordan GRAHAM<br />

25 Onel HERNANDEZ<br />

27 Connal TRUEMAN<br />

33 Lyle TAYLOR<br />

34 Ivan ŠUNJIĆ<br />

35 George HALL<br />

36 Troy DEENEY<br />

39 Jobe BELLINGHAM<br />

45 Renedi MASAMPU<br />

50 Nico GORDON<br />

HOME<br />

KIT<br />

52 Marcel OAKLEY<br />

53 Tate CAMPBELL<br />

54 Keyandra SIMMONDS<br />

Played yesterday<br />

Huddersfield v Peterboro<br />

Sheff Utd v N Forest<br />

LEAGUE<br />

TABL E<br />

P GD Pts<br />

Fulham 33 53 70<br />

Bournemouth 31 24 61<br />

Huddersfield 35 10 59<br />

Blackburn 34 12 57<br />

QPR 34 10 56<br />

Luton 33 9 54<br />

Sheff Utd 33 10 53<br />

Middlesbro 33 8 52<br />

N Forest 33 12 51<br />

Coventry 33 5 51<br />

Millwall 33 2 49<br />

Preston 35 -1 47<br />

West Brom 34 3 46<br />

Blackpool 34 -1 45<br />

Stoke 33 4 44<br />

Swansea 32 -9 41<br />

CITY 35 -18 40<br />

Cardiff 35 -13 39<br />

Hull 35 -9 37<br />

<strong>Birmingham</strong> 35 -15 37<br />

Reading* 34 -25 29<br />

Barnsley 33 -24 23<br />

Derby** 35 -5 21<br />

Peterboro 33 -42 21<br />

*deducted six points<br />

**deducted 21 points<br />

N EXT AT<br />

ASHTON<br />

G ATE<br />

Match<br />

Referee<br />

Thomas<br />

BRAMALL<br />

MATCH OFFICIALS<br />

Assistant<br />

Referee<br />

Bhupinder<br />

GILL<br />

Assistant<br />

Referee<br />

Robert<br />

MERCHANT<br />

Goalkeeper Defender Midfielder Forward<br />

Fourth<br />

Official<br />

John<br />

BUSBY<br />

WEST<br />

BROMWICH<br />

ALBION<br />

Ashton Gate<br />

Saturday March 19th,<br />

3pm kick-off<br />

Sky Bet Championship<br />

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