After Bristol City's five-game winless run was brought to an end with victory over Preston North End, Nigel Pearson was keen to state that following it up on Saturday against Millwall was key.
But the Robins were beaten 2-1 by Gary Rowett’s side in a game that summed up the recent weeks; a failure to deal with set-pieces allowed Tom Bradshaw and Zion Flemming to cancel out Shaun Hutchinson’s own goal, as a more physical and direct side pulled City down to their level and made them look soft.
The two goals conceded by the Robins were described as “poor” by Pearson in his post-match press conference and it’s hard to argue with his assessment, once again City were the masters of their own downfall.
It perhaps sums up City’s season so far that Wednesday night saw them beat the previously faultless on the road Preston, only for them to be the side to offer Millwall their first win on the road this campaign as Pearson declared, “it’s the same old story I’m afraid.”
But away from the doom and gloom of what was a disappointing day at Ashton Gate, here are the moments you may have missed.
Benik Afobe feels the love
Few opposition players get as good a welcome in BS3 as Benik Afobe. Last year he was applauded as he gave the Lions the lead from the penalty spot, having had a difficult loan spell with the Robins in the 2019/20 season where he suffered an ACL injury and the passing of his young daughter.
Afobe found himself starting on the bench on Saturday which led to plenty of nice reunions on the sidelines. First, he shared a hug and a long conversation with City player liaison officer Matt Parsons, before a similar lengthy exchange with former teammate Tomas Kalas as the pair warmed up.
When he took to the field, applause rang around Ashton Gate despite the home side having only conceded in the previous passage of play, the applause was not only recognised by Afobe but returned.
He may have only played a handful of games during his loan spell in the South West, yet it’s safe to say he’ll always have the love of the City faithful. Those who had remained in their seats to see his penalty in added time saved by Max O’Leary will be even more appreciative of the striker.
Klose already in the Halloween spirit
Let’s be frank, it would have been impossible to miss the huge bandage poorly wrapped around Timm Klose’s head as he returned to the playing field in the first half.
Having disappeared down the tunnel for a couple of minutes, the former Norwich man strode into the technical area like a gladiator entering the coliseum to a huge round of applause.
But what may have slipped under the radar for some supporters was the massive grin plastered across Klose’s face as he recognised the ridiculousness of his situation. The somewhat makeshift bandage wrapped around the defender’s head even forced a laugh out of Pearson, who could only shake his head and chuckle at the state of his defender.
As Klose retook the Ashton Gate field, Scotty Murray returned to the dugout from the tunnel with a spare "Klose 25" shirt in his hands and a similar smile as he saw the state of the mummified centre-back.
It was quite impressive that Klose was able to see any of the action for the rest of the half and even more so that he completed 150 minutes across the space of a couple of days, having only played his first league game of the season against Preston on Wednesday.
Millwall coaches on blood watch
There seems to be a theme of head injuries in this list.
It was a pleasant surprise in an otherwise miserable day for the City faithful to see Kalas return to a matchday squad for the first time since March and he was his usual committed self.
While arguably at fault for the second Millwall goal, Kalas, like Klose, picked up a facial injury after a clash of heads but perhaps more fortunately than the former Norwich man there was no need for a bandage.
But for the remainder of the second half, it seemed as though the former Chelsea man could’ve done with a Terry Butcher special as he was repeatedly being told to leave the field by the referee due to the bleeding restarting from his eyebrow.
It was actually the Millwall coaching team who were keen to suggest to the fourth official that the Czech international should have leave the field, with one of the coaching staff fixated on Kalas’ situation.
It added an extra challenge for Pearson’s side as they were having to play short passages of play, including one in the lead-up to the free-kick which created the visitor’s second goal, with 10 men and without their most experienced defender.
O’Leary likes a Millwall penalty
It’s a slightly miscellaneous statistic, but of the seven penalties that O’Leary has faced in the Championship he has only saved two. Both of those saves have been against Millwall with the last one coming during the 2018/19 campaign when Jamie Paterson’s free kick earnt the Robins three points at the Den in their play-off push.
On first thought it feels as though City have got into quite a good habit of saving sport-kicks. Dan Bentley’s save at Ewood Park last year to deny Bradley Dack as well as one to deny Barry Bannan at Hillsborough a couple of seasons ago.
But the Robins have faced 11 penalties across the last two seasons, a markedly different statistic from the one they have been awarded, saving three of them. Perhaps sometimes their tackling inside the area has been too rash and clumsy.
Questions have been asked about O’Leary’s decision to come and try to claim the cross into the box for Flemming’s winning goal, as others have said his shout of “keepers” could be heard from our position at the top of the Lansdown Stand.
The Ireland international has made four saves across his three games and conceded three goals, yet he still made stops that have kept the Robins in matches and showed some calm footwork against the Lions.
Injured players in and around Ashton Gate
Before the team coach arrived at Ashton Gate, a few players made their own way to the ground in their own cars offering some early team news to those eagle-eyed enough to notice at Ashton Gate.
First to arrive was the Westbury Park Wizard, Ayman Benarous, who is edging closer to a return after an ACL injury towards the end of last season and he was joined by Harvey Wiles-Richards.
Matty James had made his own way to the ground while the likes of Han-Noah Massengo and Sam Bell were present on the coach but not involved in the matchday 18, and after the game Pearson confirmed the former James will return to the squad for the trip to West Brom.
James, Kal Naismith and Andy King were the last three of City squad of staff waiting by the tunnel as the players left the field at full-time offering commiserations and a bit of advice to the younger players especially.
We pointed out how close Naismith was to the squad for their win over Preston in the week, but arguably their experienced presence is vastly more important after what was a difficult defeat.
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