It's probably coincidental but it was around this time last year that Bristol City's season began, to coin a phrase from Joe Williams this week, "fizzle out" as an impressive away win was followed by a largely unremarkable goalless draw at home to Blackburn Rovers on March 17 and thereafter began the Robins descent into irrelevance.
It was mitigated by the concept of Nigel Pearson's "rebuild" and the volume of players leaving the club that summer but, quite simply, it cannot be permitted to happen again. These remaining 10 matches may begin to feel increasingly less important in the context of the league table - at least for City - but a drab finish to this campaign could do real damage.
A visit to Ewood Park is your trademark "tough away day" on the Championship calendar but also sort of has to be a line in the sand for City who cannot keep turning out these limp performances which reflect poorly on the players and also, increasingly, the management with fresh questions being asked of Pearson.
