Gary Johnson is promising to conduct a thorough investigation into the late goals which are threatening to undermine Bristol City's Coca-Cola Championship play-off push. Bristol City came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to draw level against Sheffield United at Ashton Gate on Saturday, only to lose to a goal scored with virtually the last kick of the game. Given that the Robins suffered a similar fate in previous games against Preston, Scunthorpe and Peterborough, Johnson has good reason to be concerned by the concession of so many late goals. But Darius Henderson's last-gasp strike, which came barely a minute after Alvaro Saborio had restored parity, has proved the final straw for the manager, who is now determined to get to the bottom of the problem. "It's happened to us in four or five games now and this latest one was an absolute killer," said Johnson. "People are asking me why it keeps happening and I can't give an answer at this minute."
Bristol Evening Post
Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown insists the club remains committed to removing the "bubble" restrictions for games against Cardiff and Swansea. Talks between the three clubs and Avon and Somerset and South Wales Police are planned for next year. But they will not come soon enough to see restrictions lifted for the FA Cup third round tie between Bristol City and Cardiff at Ashton Gate on Saturday, January 2 (3pm). And that has almost certainly put paid to City's hopes of attracting a sell-out audience for what promises to be a full-blooded derby encounter in the New Year. Under Football Association guidelines, Cardiff are entitled to 3,000 tickets for the Cup tie. But the Bluebirds have requested just 2,000. "It shows they are not confident of selling out for a bubble game," said Lansdown, who has been campaigning for travel and ticketing restrictions imposed by the police to be lifted for the last couple of seasons.
Bristol Evening Post
Boss Kevin Blackwell has hailed hat-trick hero Darius Henderson as the best striker in the Championship. The Sheffield United hitman blasted the first treble of his career in the roller coaster, 3-2 win at Bristol City on Saturday to end the Robins' long unbeaten home run. And Blackwell insists he would not swap him for any other striker in the division. He said: "I know there were a lot of people questioning why I brought Darius here. I hear them doing it all the time. But I've always known what qualities he's got and the things he is capable of."
Clubcall
Contract rebel Adriano Basso is set for showdown talks with the club after being told to stay away from last weekend's game.
Clubcall
