Back to back loses are not unfamiliar for the Ashton Gate faithful this season, back to back losses under new boss Derek McInnes are.

Seven games into his tenure as Bristol City boss McInnes, having compiled a six-game unbeaten streak after a first-up home defeat hosting Europa League Birmingham, had drawn plaudits from all corners. Instilling confidence and belief from a squad dreadfully bereft of both, a home win against league leaders Southampton offered substance to the concept that safety was the least they could hope for, rather than the most.

Two frustrating, avoidable defeats later, City welcome fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on Saturday under no illusion of the task at hand. Slipping 0-1 in front of the Sky cameras to Middlesbrough followed by Saturdays lead relinquishing 1-2 collapse at Derby, McInnes had strong words for his previously kid gloves-treated squad.

“The Derby game is an indication, for anyone who doesn’t think so, we are in a relegation battle,” the former St Johnstone man stated. His displeasure, after spending his time to date pandering the battered egos of a squad with a core of sound ability, was impossible to hide.

“We let Derby off the hook with our performance and neglect in conceding two goals,” he added, after seeing his side surrender both a lead and dominant position in a game they largely controlled.

However, while fans and squad alike have taken a reality check, the fact that such a result is now viewed as disappointing is in itself sure to give heart. Operating with the same squad bar loanee Stephen Pearson as his predecessor Keith Millen, the clubs up-turn in fortune has the taste of more than the clichéd honeymoon period.

A solidifying of formation with Pearson offering a significantly lacking element of balance, the recalling of Kalifa Cisse anchored in front of a Liam Fontaine led defence and, as a consequence, the leash releasing of summer recruit Neil Kilkenny have all contributed to more attractive, positive performances.

With the potency of flying Ghanaian international winger Albert Adomah a constant worry and talisman Nicky Maynard leading the line, the fear of relegation, despite the reiterations of the grounded Scotsman, has the potential to be notably waived before the January transfer window snaps shut.

Within that time City face all three teams below them – Nottingham Forest, Coventry City and Doncaster, with Forest and Doncaster home ties. Recently overturned Millwall are also January visitors meaning that by January 31 four of the Championships surrounding bottom five shall face off as opponents for McInnes and his rejuvenated team.

While rejuvenated is perhaps an odd choice of word for a team only escaping relegation on goal difference having lost the last two, rejuvenation and hope should be the two words now simmering around Ashton Gate. Having lifted the club from the foot of the table and allayed initial concerns on his relative inexperience and somewhat unknown nature, the former central midfielder’s choice over more recognisable names has proved an instant hit.

However, with a distinct change in tone now evident to his initial, morale boosting, efforts, it is to be seen whether McInnes has, in his short time at the club, garnered the respect and trust required to gain a response at this critical stage of the season.

Having already faced down questions of an awkward nature surrounding Brett Pitman’s future the manager must make perhaps his biggest decision yet come Saturday, whether to recall the former Bournemouth hit man. Described as “a very good striker” by his new manager at last Wednesday’s supporters Q&A session, Pitman may see himself offered a precious starting berth in the Scot’s preferred 4-4-2 setup.

Stephen Pearson is likely to return after his forced exclusion against his parent club on Saturday, meaning Martyn Woolford, having netted his first goal for the club at Pride Park on Saturday, would be unfortunate in missing out. Providing injury worries over on loan Ryan McGivern and playmaker Kilkenny subside, McInnes is faced with a straight choice, two strikers or one.

Having shown he is not afraid to make attacking changes in perceived defensive situations and with visitors Forest having lost their last four games on the bounce, all of which saw them fail to score, McInnes must decide whether the risks of seeking an early goal outweigh the control and demoralisation that accompany keeping the goal shy visitors at bay.

Prediction: 2-0 City, Pitman scores from the bench.
Out Of Interest: Forest have not drawn a league game since August 20, 18 games ago.

Ashton Gate

Three defeats in four, winless in five, five losses from eight in all competitions, even considering to mention that Bristol City have not found the net at Ashton Gate this season, including pre-season, is akin to filling the salt shaker before agonisingly grinding its contents into a wound which is quickly becoming life threatening.

Overlooking the 450 minutes of inescapably non-net bulging frustration the away end has featured so far, it is hard to draw positives from the club’s inability to meet the lowest of expectations while stalemate-esque intentions on the pitch fan the already raging flames.

The location formerly know as ‘Fortress Ashton’ has descended into a hive of cautiousness and counter punching. Packing the midfield and deploying a lone front man, manager Keith Millen, compelled by defensive frailties, is personifying the club’s attitude, and perhaps his own, through his guarded tactical setup.

The overriding concern is that the manager stands all but alone, staring down the barrel within the ruins of Fortress Ashton, perhaps aptly renamed Alamo Gate.

Reacting to his side’s most recent loss, a 2-1 reverse at 10-man Leeds United, Millen showed refreshing passion with an undeniable message of anger. Describing his team’s defensive efforts as “laughable” with comparisons to the academy team being deemed disrespectful, Millen delivered an interview with intensity and determination that will buy him time with even his most harshest critics.

Renowned for his ‘clipboard’ approach and detailed analysis of games, post and pre match comment had become tiresome and repetitive. Having so far failed to convince on his credentials as a leader and seemingly lacking the nous and savvy to strike a chord through the media, assertions of his side being ‘too nice’ and ‘too naïve’ are representative of the man himself.

While the change in tone is as welcome as it is essential, its self preserving nature merely reflects the situation of a desperate man leading his charges into back-to-back home games which could ultimately decide his fate.

Memories abound of last season where a home tie versus Norwich was billed a ‘must win’ by the defiant manager. City would lose 0-3 on the day. While reference can also be drawn to critical consecutive home games where, against the odds, four points were collected from league leaders QPR and play-off bound Reading. A year on Reading once more must play their part come Tuesday week, Hull City are the visitors on Saturday.

With little alternative and perhaps already in the position, Millen’s words, although the right ones in appeasing an increasingly disgruntled fan base, have thrust himself inescapably into an all or nothing position. Such was his manner that a performance lacking in passion or aggression come Saturday must only be concluded as his disassociation with the playing staff.

Abandoning his five-man midfield hybrid and trusting his defence to eliminate the frequent lapses in concentration witnessed so far this season, a shift in shape and a partner for incumbent striker Nicky Maynard is essential, at least while at home.

Ironically it is reflective of the club’s fortunes this season that even a perceived positive in the retention of hotshot Maynard through the summer transfer window has begun to materialise itself as a cause for concern. With several bids turned down over the summer for the former Crewe man, the presumed outcome of no transfer equating to new contract has yet to develop.

While Premiership ambitions were no doubt grand motivation, the club’s decision to rebuff any and all offers, if only to court other interest, for a player who had, it could be assumed, not communicated his willingness to extend his stay for the exception of certain occurrences, is baffling in the extreme.

From a man playing for his future to a manager gambling on his present, it is stick or twist time for City. With talk of entertaining football the prelude to chess-like encounters, attendances are waning. The recent 12,496 total for the visit of Portsmouth was, remarkably, a mere 22 more attendees than the lowest home league crowd since the club’s return to the Championship, in August 2007 for the visit of Scunthorpe – Lee Trundle would score twice that day as City embarked on their rollercoaster ride to Wembley.

Baited breath will await Saturday’s figure in which, one would guess, only the shortness in time between games would absolve the manager in defeat.

By Mike Willett

On July 6, I sat and watched my first pre-season match of the new campaign. We played Man Utd… Mangotsfield United. Regardless, I couldn’t be more excited. We’re all the same at this time of year. All of last season’s disappointments seem to be a distant memory as we approach this new era under Paul Buckle.

Why are we so quick to forget the past’s troubles? Well the cynic in me might say that a change of manager and a few new players is all takes to convince a football fan “we’re back” – in the same way that a few defeats and goalless draws are all it takes to send all the positivity back the other way!

However, I genuinely believe we may be onto something here. Something seems different. The news regarding the new stadium was a huge moment during this summer. Until that point it was just another summer, stewing on our relegation. Suddenly! Pow! New stadium plans are announced and we have a future to look forward to again.

As far as the playing side goes, despite having released 17 players in the summer and Danny Coles departing for Exeter, Paul Buckle has somehow managed to form a rather large squad with weeks to spare. Very impressive. Most teams tend to do their business on the final minute of the transfer window but Buckle has realised the magnitude of the task ahead and went about his job at a lightening quick pace. Even more impressive seeing as some people were worried as to whether he would have enough ‘contacts’ in the game to do this so quickly.

So with five friendlies played at the time of writing this, we’ve managed to remain unbeaten, winning four of them (including beating Championship side Burnley 2-0) and have scored 16 goals in the process. I can safely say that I am excited.

It is worth remembering that getting excited about a few pre-season results is dangerous and can sometimes lead to ridiculous season predictions. However, I am a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy and I have every reason to feel positive about Rovers this season.

During the Burnley game the other night, I could tell there was a real eagerness to impress the new gaffer. At half time, Paul Buckle made around nine changes and I thought we might see a weaker performance from the side in the second half – I thought wrong however and the performance was just as good and we maintained dominance throughout. This is what the fans would love to see on a regular basis. Not asking too much, are we? Maybe so.

My only concern is that I would doubt that any team could keep that up for 90 minutes and continue it throughout the season. I’m sure Paul Buckle has thought about every possibility and we are very close to finding out what we’re really made of.

So who will be the captain of the ship this year? With passionate skipper Stuart Campbell taking up a player/coach role, he is likely to spend more time on the bench than before. The obvious choice would appear to be central midfielder, Matt Gill. He has all the attributes to be a real hit with the fans here. First, he doesn’t stop working; second, he has all the experience that is required to lead by example; and finally I think he’ll be a certain starter in Buckle’s midfield.

What a summer it has been, I would love to see our loyal fans get rewarded with something special this season, after everything we’ve put up with. I’m under no illusions, though. I’ve been a Gashead for way too long to know that there are no medals earned in Pre Season!

I now look forward to the opening game of the season against the REAL Dons of Wimbledon. I’ve got my ticket and I keep double checking the it’s still exactly where I left it. On an understandably historic occasion for our opponents and – more importantly – Buckle’s first match, I wouldn’t want to miss it.

Expectation is building. It’s that time of year, again.

By Stephen Coombes

In 1964 a style icon was born. Offering fresh, contemporary design to homes drabbed in similarly mundane post war decoration, Sir Terence Conran, more recently famous for spearheading his life long ambition of a “democratic British collection” for the eminently British Marks and Spencer, introduced Habitat.

On 24th June 2011, its obituary was written.

The company’s woes have long been known. Shortly under two years ago Ikano group, founded by the Swedish Kamprad family, owners of Ikea, sold the faltering brand to restructuring firm Hilco with a view to placating unsustainable losses.

A slight upturn in fortune failed to translate to an achievable, profitable, business plan, there was little alternative but to cut and run. And so it was with the announcement that Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, had purchased the brand name and three London based stores. Administration awaited what remained.

Situated opposite the Victoria rooms in Clifton, the Bristol branch, one of thirty touted stores not to be saved, has acted as a bookend to the Park Street retail stretch stranded far a field from the ever imposing shopping horizon. Marooned from the bustling Broadmead trade, a fate compounded by the reinvigorating retail revival brought about by Cabot Circus, Habitat lies forlornly gazing atop a hill watching the world go by.

Lacking the surrounding amenities that the redevelopment has brought it would be wrong to suggest that, while Friday’s announcement did reverberate profoundly, it had been an unforeseen conclusion to a company on long term life support. Persevering with high price points cushioned with interest free credit and frequent sales, pardon me, ‘promotions’, it is with great sadness that Habitat shall cease to exist as a national entity.

Dependant on a loyal, Cliftonite, customer base, the branch and company traded on a generation of consumers which had grown up revelling in its trend setting nature and unique take on homeware necessities. Emerging from the recession it could be suggested that Habitat’s end of luxury product would, to some extent, dodge the tightening of purse strings felt across the disposable income frontier due to its target market.

Whether or not the dreaded ‘R’ can be blamed directly, it certainly didn’t help.

A company-wide revamp of store management hierarchy lent to the assumption that change in shape was a conscious effort to see change in fortune. With ink still wet on training forms and travel expenses all but outstanding, quizzical glances have no doubt been cast as to why staff of all levels, at least within stores, learned of their fate in tandem with media outlets.

Despite visible difficulties in filling that much precious bottom line the store was trotting through its summer season with little sign of distress flares being fired. Installed under a year ago the flooring concession had come and gone while bonus had become an ambitious word, however the recently installed fitted kitchens department, along with the reintroduction of Habitat kitchens, had shown signs of life.

Yet with inhospitable parking, once more unerringly so in comparison to the purpose built developments across the centre, user friendly access was at a premium. Side access to the store often resembled a traffic warden’s game hunt, the nearest car park ten minutes away, everything that Cabot Circus had, Habitat, the breach between Whiteladies road and Park Street, didn’t.

Ultimately, ironically, the company which set and defined the time failed to move with it. The emergence of Ikea, rivals such as Dwell along with the neighbouring Sphere and Natuzzi, whilst not defining the cause, compounded it as a losing one.

It is utterly unambiguous that a company renowned for innovation and synonymous with style, operating at a high price point, should be consumed by one which umbrellas those who produce more generic pieces, for more modest prices. The King is dead, long live the Prince.

Ashton Vale

By Stephen Coombes

After Thursday week’s decision to follow a recommendation that only 23 of the 42-acre disputed Ashton Vale site meets the statutory tests required to deem it a village green, an eerie hush has fallen over the proceedings.

Compelled by newly submitted evidence which stated that the northern section of the land was used up until 1992 as a landfill, the council ruled in favour of the partial recommendation days after the Bristol City Supporters Trust had submitted a petition including over 30,000 signatures seeking to reject the village green application.

Hush, however, is certainly not a word that could be applied to the committee meeting itself as frequent interruptions, shouts of “scandalous” and direct questioning of chair Peter Abraham’s impartiality sullied one of the biggest decisions that a Bristol City Council has faced.

Of course those vocal few should be viewed as a minority and not used to thrash the applicants who are merely doing everything in their power to look out for their best interests.

It is of course tempting, in this bitter dispute, to trade insults or allow frustrations to boil over. However it is essential for the integrity of the process to take a step back and accept that both parties are passionate of their cause.

Whilst respect is due for the residents’ determination, their unwavering ‘all or nothing’ stance portrays them in a negative, uncooperative light when more accessible and user-friendly amenities are a negotiation away.

It is surely incontestable common sense that a solution can be found to suit both causes. Unfortunately this has proved the impassable sticking point and must call into question whether the applicants truly desire a village green for community activities or if the bureaucracy that surrounds the process is simply their last bastion of hope.

Speaking on behalf of the football club shortly after the meeting, newly installed Chief Executive Guy Price was muted in his pleasure, declaring that it was an “encouraging decision” and the “final major hurdle” overcome. The slightly subdued response was perfectly apt, and every bit as common sense as the decision itself.

For all the portrayal of this as a victory for the football club, the club had, bar being the underlying reason for the debate itself, little to do with this particular stage. Sparred between the applicants and the council, there is good cause to suggest that Steve Lansdown, landowner, Bristol City owner and driving force behind the project, may in fact push for a judicial review after having 23 acres of his land taken from him.

To hear that Lansdown was to pursue a judicial review would come as a surprise, however the matter ending in a national court is not unexpected and is one that is a probability rather that possibility.

Fans of the club would be wise to take Guy Price’s lead, rein in any exuberance or complacency, and take the developments of recent weeks as yet another step in the right direction.

Bristol Rovers UWE stadium

Wow, what a summer it has been for us Gasheads. To put it quite frankly, who’s missing the actual football these days? Normally, there are just weeks and weeks of silence – however this summer, we get REAL stories and not just ‘spin’ created to sell season tickets.

The summer kicked off with most of us pointing the finger of blame in just about any direction we could think of. It was a, shall we say, ‘poor’ season and despite Stuart Campbell’s admirable effort as the manager, another change at the top was most likely needed.

The appointment of Paul Buckle was one of the worst kept secrets in football, with everyone pretty much expecting Buckle to be donning a Rovers shirt for Torquay’s play-off final. It was a shame he wasn’t able to take the Gulls up after all the work he’s done there. I must say, I am surprised at the reaction from some Torquay supporters. Many blaming the Rovers for showing no respect in approaching him just days before the play-offs had started and others were irate at Buckle himself for even considering it at such a time.

Maybe I’m being biased here but I can’t see how Rovers have been at fault at all. We were in a downward spiral and needed to make the right appointment. As far as the board could see, that appointment was Paul Buckle. I think it’s a credit to both Paul and the Rovers that nothing was announced until after the final. At the end of the day, our job is to look after ourselves, not worry about Torquay. I’m obviously going to defend the honour of our club when it has been called into question.

Paul Buckle has got a lot of work to do and for me, I’m not expecting instant promotion. I would like to see us make a conscious effort to challenge for it and who knows what might happen. However, given his relatively late appointment and the amount of chopping and changing that needs to be done, I think next season will be more of a ‘gelling’ season – ready for our rise the following year. After what happened last time we were in League Two – who can argue with promotion in two years, this time around? I think most Gasheads would take that if offered to them now

Fast forward about a week or two and just when you thought that was it for excitement this summer, we were given some very welcome news. Bristol Rovers are to build a new stadium!

There were strong rumours the night before the announcement that ‘something’ was going to be announced but the news was a real surprise. Nick Higgs has told us that they have been working very hard for the last two years, in deep secrecy, to make plans to build a new stadium close to the Avon Ring road, on the edge of Bristol, in partnership with the University of the West of England. A 20,000-seater (which can be expanded to 35,000) is a mouth-watering prospect for us.

Many promises have been made over the last 30 years (no exaggeration) but this one feels like it COULD actually happen. There was a real feel of euphoria after the announcement and now it’s all about building for the future. We have to take this momentum and move forward. I have to hand it to Nick Higgs and the board though, for the last two years I really did feel like they might have been stringing us along when in fact they have been devising a master plan. Higgs said with a smile, to an interviewer on BBC Radio Bristol: “See, I was telling the truth.” It must have been tough for him over the past two years, not being able to reveal his plans.

Still a very long way to go and I’m sure we’ll get our fair share of problems on our journey but at last we can actually look forward to the future with some hope of real progression. You can hardly blame the Rovers fans that still feel a little sceptical but I believe that the board have shown great ambition here and it wouldn’t be through lack of trying if the stadium doesn’t get the go ahead.

Here’s to a brighter future for the famous Blue & White quarters.

Stephen Coombes

Almost a year ago to the day, newly appointed Bristol City manager Steve Coppell stated, enthused by a gathering crowd, that this was “the start of a journey”. Optimism, expectation and excitement was rife, Premier League football a genuine possibility, relegation unthinkable.

Some 73 days later, not for the first time in his career, Coppell jumped ship before it had left the dock.

Perceived as cowardly and selfish, with some foundation, it was the action of a man who choose, in his eyes, not to compound one mistake with another.

Such was the aura that Coppell carried the club was shook to its foundations. An 18,308 attendance for his solitary home game would only be rivalled by the February arrival of Leeds United. Elsewhere, on only one occasion, the visit of Crystal Palace, would numbers get to within 2,500 of that mark.

In truth the significance of Steve Coppell in the history of Bristol City Football Club is not worthy of the few paragraphs already on offer. Coming and going in a flash, doing a slight more good than bad in the transfer market, his only genuine impact on season 2010/11 was to inadvertently set the bar of expectation to a level unrealistic of his successor.

Enter Keith Millen.

His first full time stint in the manager’s chair, having deputised to conclude the 09/10 season after Gary Johnson’s departure, it seemed an understandable, if uninspiring, decision. And to this is where, for all that has already been written, the story of last season should justifiably start.

Much as his former mentor Johnson preferred, to break down the season into groups of ten games illustrates, inescapably, the complexity of a season which has shone little light on the talents of the squad or the capabilities of its manager.

Spanning Millen’s first outing away at Doncaster to a Severnside derby in Cardiff the club lost six of 10, winning only once, averaging 0.6 points per game. Between the clubs first home win versus Reading and a trip to Hull in December, won six of 10, points averaged 2.0. Reading once more, away, through to an 18,000 strong crowd hosting Leeds United, 0.9 points per game. Injury time heartbreak at Leicester to a Championship status securing point visiting Millwall, 1.9 a game. The remaining five games offer little help, one more loss than a win.

Quite simply with brash numbers, if we are to project blocks of ten onto a seasons scale, Bristol City utterly bewildered:

• 28 points, 24th placed finish
• 92 points, 1st placed finish
• 41 points, 24th placed finish
• 87 points, 2nd placed finish.

As it was City would finish 15th, at its outset a poor season, for long periods of it a perceived success. Some 18 points clear of relegation and 15 short of the play-offs, taking the efforts as one, it should be concluded as satisfactory for a rookie manager in his debut season. Projecting it as anything other, suggesting the manager has done either a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ job, is misguided.

There is therefore little alternative, next season must see a fresh start, a clean slate. And with that approach must come a change in mindset. Rewinding a full year and telling the amassing crowd waiting for Steve Coppell’s signature that, at season end, the club would sit modestly in mid table would have no doubt courted grumbles, even dismissive jeers. Certainly far from complacency and belief of conquering the league, it was expected that a strong play-off charge was the measure. Those heights must now be more modest.

It is a perilous line. If it is to be recognised that mid table safety represents acceptability, it is to accept that periods of struggle and flirting with the bottom end are part of the journey.

Enter new chairman Colin Sexstone and a revitalised boardroom.

Casting aside the looming shadow of club owner and former chairman Steve Lansdown immediately, Sexstone has already established himself with noteworthy assertions of being a “different chairman”, stating: “Everybody wants to be popular but my primary aim is to fulfil the ambitions of the investors and try and get the club into the Premier League.”

Common sense of course, the clubs off field activities are not ones of Championship also rans. But talk of top flight football is in stark contrast to the realism which, in its current state, confronts the club.

Lacking the loyalty of having appointed the man at the helm, sympathy and understanding will be at a minimum. Whilst decisions will undoubtedly pass through Lansdown and require his consent, the owner is now in a position where he can distance himself from club policy. Keith Millen is now in limbo.

Having been faced with fan discontent for long periods of last season, all the while receiving resolute backing from the chairman it may now, ironically, see a reverse. While the club’s fan base will no doubt see the coming season as one of consolidation and transition, the public parading of a Premier League mantra from the incoming chairman has, for all the unspoken realism, taken steps to address a declining level of expectation.

Compared to a year ago Bristol City prepare for a season with a new manager, new chairman and a fresh boardroom. Ironically it may be the fans, rather than the club, to which the ‘new’ manager seeks his solace.

By Sean Beynon

Following a winter clear-out which saw Gloucestershire lose many of their most experienced and talented players to the lure of first division cricket, prospects for this season seemed grim. And, while it has by no means been a perfect spring, Glos can look back on the first two months of the 2011 season with a considerable degree of pride.

The new look, younger squad has bonded exceptionally quickly, and competed well in all forms of the game. By no means has it been a perfect start, but Glos have been competitive where many thought they would not be. The youngsters have led the way – David Payne, Ian Cockbian, Liam Norwell and Ed Young have all proved their worth in tough situations, but it has been Will Gidman who has been this summer’s surprise find.

Sean Beynon

Signed from Durham in the winter, Will is the younger brother of skipper Alex. He spent a brief spell at Bristol as a youngster, before heading to Durham in 2007. In four seasons, he played only one first-class game and a handful of one-dayers. His acquisition was, therefore, somewhat of a punt and not met with universal enthusiasm.

How wrong the doubters were. Batting at six or seven, often after the top order had already folded cheaply, he has withstood intense pressure to top the averages. He hit his maiden first class century in a losing cause against Northants, and has notched four more fifties in passing 500 runs before the end of May. Almost unnoticed, he’s also chipped in with 15 useful wickets.

What has been most impressive about Gidman is his ability to pace an innings. He’s naturally a player who scores a high proportion of his runs in boundaries but, crucially, he’s not been overcome by an apparent need to reach or clear the fence. He has bundles of patience, and it appears that it’s rubbing off on his team-mates.

In seasons past, Gloucestershire’s batting has been a frenetic mess. Plenty of boundaries, high run-rates, and an unforgivable lack of application. So brittle and toothless has their batting been that ‘Glos’ could have easily entered the thesaurus as a synonym of carelessness. This season, that errant streak has shown signs of departing. There’s still work to do – the top order has been blown away too often already – but this summer’s batting has been categorised by some real pluck.

Already, Glos have recorded more Championship tons this year than they did in the whole of last summer. Along with Gidman junior, his older brother has been in the runs, while Chris Taylor has shaken off some early season rustiness to find form. New Zealander Kane Williamson has started to impress. He was held up in New Zealand while some visa issues were ironed out and has built on a very slow start to show just how talented he is. He made a patient 149 against Leicestershire, and looks good for many more runs this summer.

With the ball, Glos have stood up well to losing Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby to injury, and have coped well with an injury list of epic proportions. The fact that Will Gidman has joined that list after a finger injury sustained against Nottinghamshire yesterday will be a particular concern. Unsurprisingly, it is the ageless Jon Lewis who has led the attack. He already has 24 wickets for the season, and is without doubt an invaluable source of information for the younger bowlers.

In Ian Saxelby, Liam Norwell, David Payne and James Fuller, Glos have an abundance of talented young seamers. As the season wears on, one of them will, you feel, have to step up to lead the attack with Lewis. All have their strengths, but staying fit through the vigours of a county season won’t be easy.

A betting man would probably put most money on Saxelby or Payne breaking away from the pack. Saxelby is back from a serious injury, and is an accurate and nagging seamer who perhaps wouldn’t relish a hot summer on hard pitches. Left-armer Payne, on the other hand, hits the bat that bit harder and has been groomed for success through England’s age group cricket. He took five wickets in the second innings against Derbyshire to get Glos their first win of the season, and looks likely to trouble batsmen all summer.

After a championship game against Essex starting on Sunday, the start of the T20 comes at the right time for Glos. It’s a hectic schedule, certainly, but takes less out of the bowlers, and will free up the likes of Williamson and Hamish Marshall to find flamboyance with the bat.

The signing of Irishman Kevin O’Brien – whose devastating hundred destroyed England in the world cup – adds some power to the middle order while Muttiah Muralitharan brings star billing. Qualification out of the group stage is a must. If they can achieve that, Glos should use the momentum to continue an unlikely promotion push in the championship.

If you had told me that we would have managed just a single point from our two matches over the Bank Holiday period, I would have been upset but by no means surprised. The challenge saw us battle it out against mid-table make weights Charlton at home and playoff chasing Bournemouth away at Dean Court.

After being thoroughly outplayed for the majority of the game against Charlton, going 2-0 down just after the break and players generally looking shattered – in the minds of most Rovers fans — League Two beckoned.

For some unknown reason and after their perfect performance for the first hour of the match, the Addicks proceeded to risk everything. A horrendous tackle by Kyel Reid on James Tunnicliffe, which has quite possibly ruled him out for the season, saw him sent off for a second bookable offence. This was followed shortly by the sending off of Jose Semedo for throwing an elbow in the direction of Stuart Campbell’s face. So whilst we all stood around looking perplexed at what had just happened, it was pretty clear that we suddenly had a chance to get something from the game. Wayne Brown converted a Will Hoskins cut back and Gavin Williams carefully brought the ball down on the shoulder blade (Got to love a biased point of view!) before thumping the ball past the hapless John Sullivan to make it 2-2 and send the bewildered Gashead’s into raptures.

So, mixed feelings from me really. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to get a point when we didn’t really deserve it but… we really needed all three. We had chances at the death to, Will Hoskins missed a sitter and Chris Lines completely missed the ball when scoring looked easier in the closing stages. No time to dwell on it though, it was Bournemouth away next.

Now, this lot are good. Under previous manager Eddie Howe they had torn League Two to shreds and set about doing the same to League One. Since he left for Burnley, Lee Bradbury has taken over with club legend Steve Fletcher as his assistant. Whilst some results haven’t gone how they had liked (they lost to us recently!) they were clearly a very good side.

I was unable to get myself to Dean Court on Monday and had to endure 90 minutes of complete torture listening to BBC Radio with my best mate and fellow Gas sufferer, Daryl. It’s great coverage to be fair, but absolute hell to sit through. You end up heading and booting every imaginable ball.

Now we weren’t expecting much so when Wayne Brown raced through and latched onto a Will Hoskins through ball before firing past the ‘keeper in the 4th minute, survival suddenly seemed like a real possibility. The Daggers were losing, Walsall was drawing — we’d be clear by two points. It certainly got me and Daryl jumping around the living room like lunatics for a few minutes, before returning to our nervous positions on the sofa, staring into space. Hoping.

As the game wore on, it was becoming clear that Bournemouth were starting to turn the screw. Rovers defender Dave McCracken had got himself sent off early in the first half with an elbow on Adam Smith. Danny Hollands evened things up soon after by picking up a second booking for a late tackle on Chris Lines. They introduced Steve Fletcher on the 55th minute to take advantage of the lack of height in our back four. It worked to, because Bournemouth had resorted to ‘route one’ football — perfect for Fletcher. We start getting news that Walsall had taken the lead against Oldham. Not for the faint hearted.

As quick as a flash, on the 84th minute, Bournemouth equalise from a corner. Cross, header, goal. So simple. The sort of goal we never seem to score. My heart is in pieces. Rovers restart I’m clenching my fist so hard, just willing them forward. 88th minute and quite inevitably, Steve Fletcher broke our hearts with a scrappy finish which seemed certain to send us down. 2-1. Two goals in four minutes. Me and Daryl are absolutely crestfallen, a couple of broken men with heads in hands and with nothing to say. “Oldham has scored… 1-1″ Daryl says. This was actually crucial, as it basically keeps the dream alive for another weekend but we were hardly in the mood to even smile at the news.

So that’s how it ended — with my emotions taking a beating but we’re still in it. Just about. Sheffield Wednesday is next, at home, and we just have to give it everything. A negative result could seal our fate but we have to keep fighting until the end. Hopefully my next blog will be full of hope and belief — I much prefer to write happier Rovers stories.

So, good luck to Stuart and the boys, you’ll have thousands of Gashead’s right behind you.

Stephen Coombes

Friday, February 18, the Walkers Stadium and Leicester host struggling Bristol City who have lost five of their previous seven games, grafting a goal apiece entering added time, the spoils appear destined to be shared.

As the fourth official rises to proclaim five minutes extra remain the noise level amongst the 28,768 in attendance, a season-high for a fixture featuring the visitors, heightens. Buoyed, inspired, Martyn Waghorn would pounce for the Foxes breaking City hearts and, subsequently, leave the Robins teetering six points from the relegation zone with all around possessing games in hand.

Four days later the club was on the road again, this time Watford bound to the purists’ graveyard of the Vicarage Road pitch. Nicky Maynard, striking talisman, lined up in the starting XI for the first time in nine months.

Picking up where he left off, it would take last season’s top scorer 32 minutes to announce his return, firing home an equaliser from close range. City would go on to triumph 3-1.

Starting every game since, Maynard has scored six goals, five of which aided a winning cause. Their spearhead restored, a reinvigorated City would win six of seven outings and see relegation concerns turn to fanciful play-off murmurs. To attribute all reasoning to a single factor is short-sighted, yet to suggest anything other undermines its importance.

A recent blip in the resurgence has seen Keith Millen’s men lose two of the previous three, most recently, disappointingly, hosting ten-man Ipswich. But with a point earned during a 0-0 stalemate at Millwall little over a week ago securing their Championship status, the club has achieved, given justified ambitions at its outset and despite a great deal of turbulence, implications of success.

Inevitably attention has now turned to next season with none more pressing issue than player contracts, most notably that of Nicky Maynard. With a solitary year remaining it is common practice for clubs to open negotiations at this time, allowing an element of forewarning on a player’s intentions, ensuring that, in theory, they can, perhaps begrudgingly, cash in on a player who has set his sights elsewhere.

There is currently nothing to suggest that Maynard falls into this category. His evident ability to all who take notice will inevitably court attention and there can be little doubt that the club will receive enquiries in the summer. But it would come as a surprise to hear that the announced contract discussions have broken down.

On signing his club record £2.25 million deal in the summer of 2008 Maynard was accompanied by his mother and described as a “breath of fresh air” by then manager Gary Johnson. While football brings many surprises it would be a significant one to learn, or even hold the perception, that the man who outscored £35million Liverpool capture Andy Carroll last season has acted without the club’s interests at heart.

Make no mistake, Andy Carroll’s reference is no coincidence. Grabbing goals and headlines alike, Carroll set the Premier League alight with his no-nonsense approach. Within five net-busting months, Carroll had transformed himself from promising young striker to England international, tasked with filling the boots left by World Cup and European Championship winner Fernando Torres.

While Maynard and Carroll are inherently different players and comparisons regarding transfer fees and international call ups are premature, there is little to suggest that, injury free, Maynard could not become an established Premiership striker if offered a similar opportunity to that given to Carroll.

It is hard to envisage that, while disappointed, many would truly begrudge the fan favourite the next step in his promising career. Desirable as it may be, it will be a hard task convincing the player that his immediate future lies at a consolidating Championship side if Premiership clubs show interest. What would seem the most logical outcome, beneficial for both the player and the club, is for the player to sign a contract extension with attached clauses relating to his availability should firm offers arrive from certain quarters.

Those clauses are likely now being discussed, with the player keen not to price himself out of a move and the club keen to receive value for their prize asset. When value can conceivably be defined as the difference between hovering perilously above the relegation zone or mounting a play-off charge, it can only be hoped that a solution which benefits all parties can be found.