Holloway labels defeat to 10-man Bristol City worst of his managerial career

Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 by PA

Ian Holloway labelled defeat by 10-man Bristol City at Ashton Gate the worst result of his managerial career.

The Rangers boss was livid after seeing his side well beaten by a team who were a man down from the 32nd minute when Nathan Baker was sent off for a scything challenge on Josh Scowan.

Holloway said: “It was probably my worst result ever. That was not my team out there today.

“We will never have a better chance of beating Bristol City considering the effort they put in against Manchester City in midweek.

“Our performance was unacceptable and we will have a big meeting on Monday because I can’t put up with that.

“The sending-off should have helped us. Instead, it galvanised them and they were the better side.

“To see them out-running my players after what they had done against Manchester City was hard to take.

“When we did get on top we were nothing like clinical enough. I have nothing but praise for Lee Johnson and his team for what they are building, but we are better than that.”

Baker was shown a straight red card by referee Keith Stroud his late challenge on Scowen just inside the City half.

Club record signing Famara Diedhiou put City in front with a glancing header from Ryan Kent’s left wing corner just before the interval.

Holloway reacted to Diedhiou’s goal by sending on Matt Smith as a substitute for Alex Baptiste at the start of the second half and saw his side apply plenty of pressure without finding a finish.

Joe Bryan wrapped up the points after 66 minutes with a clinical left-footed finish from inside the box after Diedhiou’s shot had been brilliantly saved by Alex Smithies.

City were always dangerous on the break and it required a brilliant diving save from Smithies to keep out a low drive from Korey Smith.

Robins head coach Lee Johnson said: “The lads showed fantastic character in what could easily have been a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ for us following the Manchester City game.

“My gut feeling over the sending-off was that it was a yellow card, but I don’t see it as the type of challenge we could win an appeal over.

“I felt we controlled the game, despite being a man down and I couldn’t be happier with my squad, especially as we still have five or six players coming back from injury.

“I don’t expect to make any more signings in this window because I don’t think they are necessary.

“If anything, I will look to trim the squad over the next few days. I’m happy with where we are and that we have the players to push on from here.”