49 And Out... Sound familiar?

Ok, so I'm not comparing Arsenal's 49 league match unbeaten run to our promotion final from our debut Championship season... Or am I? I'm as bitterly disappointed as the next man and over the next few days will be completely inconsolable. As a wise Cardiff fan preached to me last night, it doesn't get any better than going up through the play-offs. It doesn't get any worse, either.

Perhaps it would have been better had we not had the better of the play. We controlled the possession of the game - against a like-minded footballing side - and over the course of the 90 minutes we probably forged the better chances of the two teams. Nick Carle, our talisman at the heart of midfield over the Crystal Palace semi-final legs, somehow managed to miss from all of 10 yards out, right in the centre of the goal, and on his stronger foot. It summed up our afternoon, our season, our history - so near, and yet, eventually, so far.

It's so tempting to slate the play-offs when you lose. But really, without them, it would make the Football League a lot more boring, with teams vying for 3 places rather than 6 (or 7, for those basement fans amongst us). It was our cup-final, and we screwed it up, regardless of how we played. We just couldn't win.

What really annoyed me the most about today, much more than the result, was the reaction of some Robins fans on the way out... "I would have bought Sproule on first and left Johnson on the bench." Would you, now? Just like you would have taken Bristol City from 24th in League One to 4th in The Championship in 2 years, I presume?

City's starting tactic, with Orr & McIndoe providing the width

From my perspective, the time Bradley Orr was off the field for us during the first half, a good 5 minute spell on the half hour, handed Hull the momentum. They were able to pass their way through our makeshift 4-3-2 formation and gain a foothold in the game neither side had cemented beforehand, which they kept until they scored. With Orr forced off permanently and Elliott taking his place at right back, we lost pretty much all the width we had. David Noble, great passer and finisher as he is, will never be a right winger and relies heavily on Orr's overlapping runs to offer any service from that flank, but with the more reliable but defensive Elliott in his place and left-winger McIndoe drifting inside, we were forced down the middle on too many occasions and played like putty into Hull's hands. Still, we had the chances. How Trundle's point-blank shot didn't ripple the net will bewilder me until the day I die.

Let's hope we can make such a good go of it next season.

49 games, over and out.

Ron

Comments

[Nick]

As a Hull City fan, may I say I really enjoyed this post - even though I obviously don't agree that your guys had the better of the play (and yes, I was there). It was a great final and I, along with many other City fans, wish Bristol all the best next season. Your fans were a credit to the game as well - we applauded them out of the coach park at Wembley, and it was reciprocated. Great people, who deserve success next season.

Glad we beat you though...!