Johnson's Pride In City Young Guns

Wednesday, September 21st 2016

Lee Johnson declared his pride after seeing a much-changed City side dominate Fulham in the closing stages before finding a dramatic late winner at Craven Cottage.

The hosts went in front through Lucas Piazon’s 15th minute header, but Aaron Wilbraham’s second goal in two games drew City level just before half-time.

Debutant goalkeeper Ivan Lucic pulled off a fairytale penalty save to deny Cauley Woodrow after the interval, paving the way for substitute Tammy Abraham to score the winner in the last minute of the 90.

The result sent City into the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time in 28 seasons, setting up a home tie with Hull City in the process.

“I was really proud of the players – I thought they were superb,” Johnson told Bristol City Player HD.

“We had three lads making their debuts. Taylor Moore looked like Bobby Moore, never mind Taylor Moore!

“We knew it was too early for Gustav Engvall, but we got 60 minutes out of him so I’m delighted with that.

“For Ivan, it’s a fantastic game for him. It’s the stuff you read about in the Roy Race magazines I used to read – a movie star script.

“In the second half we were outstanding. We moved the ball excellently and we had our trump card to bring on in Tammy Abraham, and he’s provided the winner again.

“I thought it was a real team effort today and I was so proud of so many of the young ones. Brownhill was fantastic, O’Dowda in the second half was superb and we forget how young Freeman is. I really enjoyed the game.

“At half-time I had to make some in-game tactical changes and we had to beat their very organised press, but once we did that I didn’t think they could live with us.

“Our fitness and ball retention was superb. Hopefully our fans will go home and spread the word to the rest of the fans that the future’s bright.”