We Need You - Pemberton

Tuesday, January 19th 2016

John Pemberton has called on the Bristol City supporters to help the team through a tricky time at Ashton Gate.

The interim boss heaped praise on the club’s fanbase following Saturday’s dramatic last-gasp victory over Sky Bet Championship league leaders Middlesbrough.

The pressures of the survival fight will be lifted when City host West Brom in tonight’s Emirates FA Cup third round replay (7.45pm), but Pemberton realises the importance of the backing from the stands – regardless of the occasion.

“We need the support of the fans, who were great on Saturday,” he told Bristol City Player HD.

“We are where we are, now is the time to get behind the team. We need you behind us – with that backing, who knows where it will take us? We need everybody pulling in the same direction.

“Saturday gave us a massive lift, and it would be good to keep that feel-good factor going into this game.”

Pemberton was still in his traditional role of first team coach for the original tie at The Hawthorns ten days ago, and said the game felt like a defeat after the Baggies salvaged a replay deep into stoppage time.

“I thought on the day we played well and we were unlucky,” he reflected.

“We were obviously disappointed, because if we’d just got over the line the impact on the players would’ve been different.

“It’s not so much just getting through (in the cup), it’s the knock-on effect of how it takes you into the next game and knowing that we’d conceded again in the last seconds.

“It felt like we’d lost, but we’ve got a replay and we’ll go again with another chance to test ourselves against a Premier League team.”

Secure a seat for City’s Emirates FA Cup third round replay with West Brom tonight (7.45pm) by calling 0117 963 0600 or online.